Second Installment Property Tax Bills Arrive in Cook County

Just when you thought it was safe to venture outside again, there is that envelope from the Cook County treasurer.

The bad news: Cook County property tax bills are rising on average 3.7% for tax year 2018.

The good news: Depending on where you live, you could see a tax bill that is largely unchanged from last year. An increase in overall taxable values and assessment increases in parts of the city contributed to a 6.6% reduction in the city’s overall tax rate and helped shift the tax burden away from the South Side, according to a report by Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough.
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Illinois Legislators Pass Bill for Auto-Renewal of Senior Exemption

Illinois Legislators Pass Bill for Auto-Renewal of Senior ExemptionA bill awaiting the governor’s signature will make it easier for property owners age 65 or older to get the senior tax exemption credit, which reduces the equalized assessed value of a home by $8,000.

The exemption saves eligible property owners an average of $300 in taxes, but last year the Cook County Treasurer’s Office reported that “as many as 31,000” eligible seniors in Cook County” had failed to reapply. The new bill would make the process automatic.

Under existing law, seniors have to reapply for the exemption every year.
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Cook County Board of Review Opens For 2019 Appeals

cook-county-township-mapThe Cook County Board of Review has opened 2019 property tax appeals for the first group of 7 townships. The Board’s deadline to appeal your 2019 assessed value is July 30th. Below are the townships that are currently open in Group 1:

  • Berwyn
  • Norwood Park
  • Oak Park
  • River Forest
  • Riverside
  • Rogers Park
  • Evanston

If you missed your appeal opportunity at the Assessor’s office earlier in the year, or if you did appeal and weren’t satisfied with the result, you have a second opportunity to appeal at the Board of Review. Appealing your home’s 2019 assessed value is the only way to achieve property tax relief on your second installment property tax bill in July 2020, other than selling your home or claiming a new exemption. Assessments can be appealed every year, regardless of when a township was reassessed.
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Worth Township 2019 Assessment Notices Mailed

Worth2019 property assessment notices were mailed by the Cook County Assessor’s office on June 28th to Worth Township property owners. The following cities, towns, and villages are in Worth Township: Alsip, Blue Island, Bridgeview, Chicago Ridge, Crestwood, Evergreen Park, Hometown, Merrionette Park, Oak Lawn, Palos Heights (east half), Robbins (north ¼), and Worth (east ¾). The one month window to appeal your 2019 assessed value is now open until the deadline of July 29th.

We suggest property owners review their assessments annually and appeal whenever there is a strong evidence based argument that your home may not be assessed fairly. Worth Township’s next triennial reassessment is scheduled for 2020. However, if you feel that your assessment is not fair there is no need to wait to appeal, property owners have the right to appeal every year at the Assessor’s office and at the Board of Review. If you’d like a professional opinion on your home’s assessed value as it compares to similar properties in your neighborhood contact us for a free, no obligation, review and analysis of your home.
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West Chicago Township 2019 Assessment Notices Mailed

Cook County Property Tax AppealWest Chicago Township 2019 property assessment notices were mailed by the Cook County Assessor’s office on Wednesday, June 26th to property owners. The 30 day window to appeal your 2019 assessed value is now open until the deadline of July 26th.

West Chicago Township was reassessed in 2018 but even if you appealed last year you may appeal your assessment again this year. A successful appeal in 2019 may result in two years of savings, until West Chicago is reassessed in 2021. The best way to ensure you never pay more than your fair share in property taxes is to review your assessment every year and appeal whenever you have a strong basis for an appeal argument, no matter where your township is at in the triennial reassessment cycle.
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Leyden Township 2019 Triennial Reassessments Mailed

Leyden2019 Triennial reassessment notices were mailed to Leyden Township homeowners on June 21st. The following cities, towns, and villages are in Leyden Township: Bensenville (east portion), Elmwood Park, Franklin Park, Melrose Park (north portion), Norridge (west edge), Northlake (north portion), Park Ridge (south edge), River Grove, Rosemont (southeast ¾), and Schiller Park. Homeowners in Leyden Township have one month to appeal their assessment at the Assessor’s office (there will be a second opportunity to appeal later in the year at the Board of Review, whether you appeal at the Assessor’s office or not). The deadline for appealing at the Assessor’s office is July 22nd.

Valuation statistics for Leyden Township will be published by the Cook County Assessor’s office here when they become available. We recommend homeowners review their assessment annually, particularly in a triennial reassessment year, to ensure they do not pay more than their fair share in property taxes. Successfully appealing in a reassessment year may provide 3 years of savings on future property tax bills. If you would like a free analysis of your Leyden Township home, in comparison to similar properties, we would be happy to conduct a “no obligation” analysis and provide you with a free estimate of how much we believe we could help you save with an appeal.
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Calumet Township 2019 Assessment Notices Mailed

Calumet2019 property assessment notices were mailed by the Cook County Assessor’s office on June 14th to Calumet Township property owners. The following cities, towns, and villages are in Calumet Township: Blue Island (east half), Calumet Park, and Riverdale. The one month window to appeal your 2019 assessed value is now open until the deadline of July 15th.

We suggest property owners review their assessments annually and appeal whenever there is a strong evidence based argument that your home may not be assessed fairly. Calumet Township’s next triennial reassessment is scheduled for 2020. However, if you feel that your assessment is not fair there is no need to wait to appeal, property owners have the right to appeal every year at the Assessor’s office and at the Board of Review. If you’d like a professional opinion on your home’s assessed value as it compares to similar properties in your neighborhood contact us for a free, no obligation, review and analysis of your home.
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5 Great Ways to Put Property Tax Savings Back into Your Property Value

When you make a successful argument for reducing your property tax assessment, your tax bill gets smaller and you pay less, potentially for up to three years.

You’ve helped protect the value of your most important investment and you’ve got money you can spend to make your home worth even more. Just how far can you stretch the value of a successful property tax appeal?

Reinvest your property tax savings into the right home improvement efforts and deliver additional ROI to the value of your home. Here are five projects experts say can deliver the biggest returns.
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Lemont Township 2019 Assessment Notices Mailed

Lemont2019 property assessment notices were mailed by the Cook County Assessor’s office on June 12th to Lemont Township property owners. The following cities, towns, and villages are in Lemont Township: Lemont, Palos Park (west edge), Willow Springs, and Woodridge. The 30 day window to appeal your 2019 assessed value is now open until the deadline of July 15th.

We recommend home owners review their assessments annually and appeal whenever there is a strong evidence based argument that your property may not be assessed fairly. Lemont Township’s next triennial reassessment is scheduled for 2020. However, if you feel that your assessment is not fair there is no need to wait to appeal, property owners have the right to appeal every year at the Assessor’s office and at the Board of Review. If you’d like a professional opinion on your home’s assessed value as it compares to similar properties in your neighborhood contact us for a free, no obligation, review and analysis of your home.
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Bremen Township 2019 Assessment Notices Mailed

Bremen township image2019 property assessment notices were mailed by the Cook County Assessor’s office on June 4th to Bremen Township property owners. The following cities, towns, and villages are in Bremen Township: Oak Forest, Midlothian, Posen, Robbins, Blue Island (portion), Homewood (portion), Orland Park (portion), Tinley Park (portion), Crestwood (portion), Hazel Crest (portion), Markham (portion), Country Club Hills (portion), and Harvey (the very Western edge). The 30 day window to appeal your 2019 assessed value is now open until the deadline of July 5th.

We suggest property owners review their assessments annually and appeal whenever there is a strong evidence based argument that your home may not be assessed fairly. Bremen Township’s next triennial reassessment is scheduled for 2020. However, if you feel that your assessment is not fair there is no need to wait to appeal, property owners have the right to appeal every year at the Assessor’s office and at the Board of Review. If you’d like a professional opinion on your home’s assessed value as it compares to similar properties in your neighborhood contact us for a free, no obligation, review and analysis of your home.
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