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Property taxes are something every homeowner has to pay. There’s really no way to get out of paying it if you want to keep your home. Those who own a home, whether they owe on it or not, will have to continue to pay property taxes for as long as they own the home. The good news is that there are ways to get help with paying property taxes for ex-felons and others.
Paying for property taxes can be challenging at times, especially for those who are struggling financially. Those who fall behind on paying their property taxes may end up losing their home, unfortunately. Property taxes something that every homeowner has to pay and if they don’t then the home could be taken away by the government. This is something that has happened to numerous people, including those who do not owe on the house, but are struggling to pay the property taxes on it.
There are not many programs that will provide help with paying property taxes for ex-felons and others, but there are some ways that you can get help. If you owe on property taxes you can start by asking family and friends if they can help you with a loan to get them paid. You may also be able to raise the money quickly by doing things like holding a garage sale or starting a side hustle to earn more money. Doing things like washing some cars, for example, can help you raise some money quickly, and that can be used to pay your property taxes.
The average amount paid for property taxes varies by where you live. The amount is set by local and state laws and is typically influenced by the value of your home. The more valuable your home is, the higher your property tax rate is going to be. Being able to keep the property tax bill lower is going to be important for those who may struggle financially.
Help with Paying Property Taxes for Ex-Felons
When you feel you have exhausted checking with programs to help you with paying property taxes you may want to consider another option. You could use the funds you have to pay for your property taxes, and then look to other programs to provide financial relief in other ways. For example, there are many programs that provide free help with food, healthcare, clothing, paying the rent, etc. You could use the money you have to get your property taxes paid, and then reach out to those other companies to get help with those basic needs.
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – This is the largest program for getting any type of help having to do with housing. This is a federally funded agency that provides a wide range of helpful programs for those who own or rent a home, or need to find affordable housing options. They may be able to help you with paying property taxes if you meet the criteria to get assistance. To qualify, you have to have a low income and be a citizen or non-legal citizen.
HUD is the most important resource to start with when looking for help paying for property taxes. They do help homeowners who need help avoiding foreclosure, and may be able to help you with paying your property taxes, so that you do not lose your home for nonpayment. They can also help you find programs in your local area that can help with paying your property taxes. To get more information and find a HUD office in your state, click here.
Housing Authority – Around the country there are housing authority offices in or near most major cities. These are state government offices that have a mission to help people with their housing issues in the state where they are located. By contacting the housing authority closest to your area, you should be able to get information about programs that may be able to help with paying property taxes for ex-felons and others. They should have access to state funded programs that can help, as well as give you referrals to other programs in the state that can help with your situation. The funds provided through this agency are made possible through state and federal funding. To find a housing authority near you, click here.
Every city that sends out property tax bills has an office that you can contact. It is a good idea for you to contact your property tax assessor’s office to let them know you are struggling financially to pay your property taxes. You do not need to tell them you are an ex-felon, because that should not play a role in you getting assistance. Simply tell them you are struggling financially and need to know if they have a program that can help, or if they can refer you to local programs that can help you pay your property taxes.
In addition to these resources, you can contact the local churches and organizations in your area that offer programs to help those in need. Many churches and non-profit organizations will do what they can to help people in need in the community. They may be able to directly help you with paying your property taxes, or they may have referrals to other programs in your area that can help. The more places you contact, the better able you will be in finding the help you need to pay your property taxes.
It is important to not let property taxes fall behind or long, because the city and county can take legal action to take your home away from you. If they do, they are supposed to sell your home at auction, take the owed tax money out, and then give you the rest of the leftover money from selling the home. It is better to avoid this situation, because if they sell your home they will take the lowest price, because they simply want to get what is owed to them.
