Wayne vs Oakland

[USER876]

We have been looking in wayne for some time now, but the property taxes don't seem to have any rhyme or reason to them. Seems that the newer the house the more the taxes are even if an older house is worth more today and has more land. When are they going to reassess? In the same price range, I've seen taxes anywhere from 8K to 15K...crazy!!!

[luckyshoes]

Call the tax assessor and ask them when they are going to reassess. It sounds like they are overdue if you are seeing things like that.

[USER876]

All the realtors have been telling me that, but nothing is in sight.

[Ninjahedge]

You re-assess everyone, you will get a LOT of people angry, pretty much all at the same time.

The key to doing it right would be to have a comprehensive reassesment that would be able to determine your actual tax base and adjust accordingly. SOme o fthe new places would go down, and some of the old would go up.


But the question is, would that get you votes in the next election? Who votes more in those, long time residents or newcomers?




As for the comment about Oakland being possibly car-free... um...no.

I lived there for about 15 years (only part time when I went to college) and the one thing Oakland isn't is non-car friendly. It has MANy roads without sidewalks! And a lot of hills. Even biknig can be difficult!

As for commuting, there is a bus stop, I believe, down by the Coppertree mall, but all other places you need to drive to (Allendale train station still has parking I think.... YMMV).

As for the town center... It is cute, but it is not a real center. It has a few shops, and you can get by, but there really are no places to buy furnature or other itsms, so it is off to the mall you go!!!!

I like the town, but saying it can be done w/o a car is wishful thinking!!!!!

[luckyshoes]

Originally Posted by USER876

All the realtors have been telling me that, but nothing is in sight.

Well, then the taxes are what they are for now. Eventually when things get really out-of-whack, the state of NJ will force towns to do a re-val, but politically speaking, local pols don't like to do reassessments.

[USER876]

It's hurting the home owner too...I've seen newer homes in wayne listed for 100-200K lower than their market value and still not selling because no one wants to pay the 18K in property taxes when across the street the homes are jsut as big and as nice but were built 20 yrs earlier...and because taxes are lower, are actually selling for more than the new house!