By Craig Stevinsky

Real estate property taxes are sky-high and getting larger. When you scrutinize the quality of the property assessment, you'll likely find a huge loophole. By engaging in a property tax appeal for a client you can save your client thousands of dollars and realize thousands of dollars commissions for yourself from contingency fees. This is one of the best home based business opportunities hardly anyone is aware of.

Processing property tax appeals for clients is a recession proof business. No matter what the economic conditions there are always an abundant number of property taxes that are in error.

Winning property tax appeals for a client is not difficult and you are rewarded by a large contingency fee. If you save them $2,500 in property taxes your fee will be $2,500 spread over 2 or 3 years. That way the client sees a positive savings from your service. It's a win, win situation.

Government statistics show the state and local government hiring has accelerated in the last 12 months. Meanwhile private firms have slashing staff. Despite the economic slowdown the public-sector jobs gains have actually sped up. Increased property taxes will likely pay the price.

A budget crisis is developing in many state and local governments. Looking at the state government payrolls nationwide 338,000 new jobs have been created in the past 12 months. Result: many angry taxpaying homeowners.

With the fall in real estate prices, it pays to scan the horizon to see if a potential clients home valuation compares to the assessed price the tax assessor placed on it. All one needs to do compare recently sold homes.

Giving a quick look to The National Taxpayers Union statistics and you see where they write that as many as 60% of all homeowners are over-assessed and not in line with their home value. ("How To Fight Property Taxes" 2004 p.1

Real estate is estimated by comparing your client's property with similar sold properties. You'll look in neighborhoods that share similar characteristics of client's house and find sold homes that make your client's home compare for a lesser value.

No matter what the tax assessor says, it's a good idea to cooperate with the tax assessor. It makes no difference what the tax assessor discovers. What tests out is the market value you uncover by comparing recently sold homes.

When you look at the oversupply of lower cost sold home to compare your client's home to, this home base business proposition is a winner. It is an easy service to sell. Compared to most home businesses, the cost of entry is low and the contingency profit expectations are high. - 18098

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