Austin tax burden up 25% in seven years (Pflugerville: renters, insurance)

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by tom331

The people could afford the mortgage because it should not be changed. They could not afford the property tax increasing yearly regardless bad or good years. They are being forced out from the higher property tax from the wasting spending from the taxing authorities. Travis county health district was created years ago. Please check the percentage increasing from their tax rate.

So should my home insurance premiums be frozen for 30 years (or more) as well?

[scm53]

Originally Posted by Novacek

So should my home insurance premiums be frozen for 30 years (or more) as well?

False equivalency. The government, under the force of the state, will not seize your home if you don't pay your increasing home insurance.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by scm53

False equivalency. The government, under the force of the state, will not seize your home if you don't pay your increasing home insurance.

My mortgage company, supported by the force of the state, will seize my home if I don't pay my increasing home insurance premium.

[scm53]

Originally Posted by Novacek

My mortgage company, supported by the force of the state, will seize my home if I don't pay my increasing home insurance premium.

Another false equivalency. It is your choice to finance your home, which will trigger those actions. You don't have a choice about paying your taxes.

[tom331]

Originally Posted by scm53

Another false equivalency. It is your choice to finance your home, which will trigger those actions. You don't have a choice about paying your taxes.

scm53 is absolutely right!!

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by tom331

The people could afford the mortgage because it should not be changed. They could not afford the property tax increasing yearly regardless bad or good years. They are being forced out from the higher property tax from the wasting spending from the taxing authorities. Travis county health district was created years ago. Please check the percentage increasing from their tax rate.

Although I have many beefs with the way the city and county spend money, these homeowners face higher tax bills primarily because their home values have gone up.

Someone who bought in 78704 20 years ago paid $150K for their small house. And it is now worth $550K. That is why their taxes are higher. It isn't because the city wasted a huge amount of money on a new public library.

[sojourner77]

Originally Posted by hoffdano

Although I have many beefs with the way the city and county spend money, these homeowners face higher tax bills primarily because their home values have gone up.

Someone who bought in 78704 20 years ago paid $150K for their small house. And it is now worth $550K. That is why their taxes are higher. It isn't because the city wasted a huge amount of money on a new public library.

There should be a way for existing homeowners to trade equity from appreciation for tax forgiveness.

They can freeze the accessed value from their 150K home for as long as they own the home, and when they sell for 550K, they can give that 400K profit to the city.

They claim it's not about the money, and they just want to stay in the neighborhood, so this shouldn't be a problem, right?

[sojourner77]

The biggest single aspect that ticks me off is that the people who MOST benefit from the increased value from gentrification are usually the ones who did the LEAST to make it happen.

How to make money in Austin RE:

step 1: Buy a cheap house

step 2: crack open a beer and sit on the porch, watching your neighbors give blood, sweat and tears to repair houses, and open thriving businesses over the next 10 years

step 3: complain about your tax bill

step 4: sell for a profit that far exceeds what you've earned the last 10 years at your day job.

step 5: Repeat



It takes a HUGE sense of entitlement to be angry about gentrification.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by sojourner77

There should be a way for existing homeowners to trade equity from appreciation for tax forgiveness.

They can freeze the accessed value from their 150K home for as long as they own the home, and when they sell for 550K, they can give that 400K profit to the city.

They claim it's not about the money, and they just want to stay in the neighborhood, so this shouldn't be a problem, right?

There already is, for those over-65 or disabled.

HCAD: Tax Deferral for Homeowners

More people over age 65 apply for deferrals of all property taxes | www.statesman.com


So anyone claiming that seniors are being kicked out of their homes by the government are lying.

[tom331]

Originally Posted by Novacek

There already is, for those over-65 or disabled.

HCAD: Tax Deferral for Homeowners

More people over age 65 apply for deferrals of all property taxes | www.statesman.com


So anyone claiming that seniors are being kicked out of their homes by the government are lying.

The low income home owners could not wait to 65! They are being forced out way before they reach 65. They are not lying and it is the fact! It is not just for low income home owners and the middle income home owners are also being forced out before reaching 65 at 2.65% tax rate year after year. We are all leasing our properties from the government and there is not a true home ownership.