Updates to your 2013 Property Taxes

Summit County property tax bills are going to be sent out in the beginning of November, as they are each year. What is unique about the process this year is that residents will have two options to receive their tax bill; though standard mail as they have in the past, or they can choose to have them emailed, which hasn’t been an option in previous years. The reason the county has decided to provide the e-mail option (other than the fact that it is 2013!) is that many of the homes in Summit County (especially Park City) are used as second homes or investment properties. The county has experienced difficulty in getting these individuals their tax bills due to the fact that they do not live at these particular residences full time.

In addition to electronically receiving your bill, another new and exciting feature for paying your taxes this year is that Summit County has created a system to pay your taxes on a monthly basis rather than in a lump sum on November 30. They have integrated an EZpay system that allows property owners to choose a monthly amount that is reasonable for their financial situation, and pay it off in a 12-month period (yes, you still have to pay the full amount).

As you may or may not know, Summit County had a Truth in Taxation hearing on August 14, 2013. This meeting was held because the county has proposed a property tax levy increase to make up for the citizen referendum of last year, which forced a budget cut of $6 million going from $52 million to $46 million. This cut forced a $770,000 road project deferral, which will ultimately lead to greater cost when performed at a later date. The Sheriffs Department also experienced a $250,000 budget cut forcing the Sheriffs Department to reduce the number of officers and a decreased efficiency in the justice system as a whole.

During the Truth in Taxation hearing the Summit County emphasized that not all residents will see an increase in their taxes. In fact, many will see a decrease in their taxes. Those that are going to experience an increase are typically going to be in areas that do not have city police departments and require more use of the sheriffs department.

Multiple residents present at the hearing proposed that we market towards and try to get a big-box store such as Costco into the area. This will enable the county to retain the taxes from its own residents who shop at these stores. It will also attract people from other areas who wouldn’t typically come to Summit County, which would strengthen our economy. In addition, being the environmentally friendly town that we are, it would decrease our carbon footprint because Parkites would no longer have to travel as far to stock up on groceries.

In order to receive your property tax bill electronically or to get set up on EZpay, please visit summitcounty.org or contact Corrie Forsling at cforsling@summitcounty.org or (435) 336-3267.


Do you have any questions about Park City or Deer Valley Real Estate? Click here to send me an email right now -- just tell me which neighborhood you are curious about.

Search All Homes for Sale at www.viewparkcityhomes.com.

Dean D. DeLeone

Buyer's Specialist, The Wilstein Team
Keller Williams Park City Real Estate
1750 Sun Peak Dr.
Park City, UT. 84098

(c) 435-602-9093
(w) 435- 487-0151
(f) 435-487-9416

Dean@TheWilsteinTeam.com

Five Ways to Tweak your Park City/Deer Valley Real Estate Search

Right now, in the Park City and Deer Valley areas, property prices are rising, and inventory is starting to tighten. If you are a buyer, take a close look at your criteria; you may be able to tweak it to find plenty of new possibilities.

With your current list of criteria in hand, look at what has sold in the last two months. Have any properties sold that match what you are looking for? If not, your criteria might be unrealistic, and should be adjusted. The more detailed your criteria is, the fewer properties you will find that match it.

Here are five ways to tweak your search so that you have a net to throw out, and more chance to find the perfect place:

• Price. If you are searching for a property that specifically matches your ideal monthly payment, and very few properties are available in that range, you may need to adjust your search price. Have you spoken to a local lender and been pre-approved? You may be surprised and the price range he or she recommends. Also, remember that most every list price is negotiable, and properties in our area are selling for 95-98% of their list price. Adjust your price range accordingly.
• Neighborhood. Talk with your agent about your favorite neighborhoods to find out if there are neighborhoods with similar attributes that you might not know about.
• Bedrooms/Bathrooms. Are you searching for a condo with three bedrooms and two baths, but what you could really use are two bedrooms, two baths, and an office? Do you really need two full baths, or could one of them be a ¾ bathroom?
• New Construction vs. Established Building. Is your timeline flexible enough to allow you to purchase a buildable lot and construct a home to your specifications? This would enable you to have more of your personal criteria met. Conversely, are you narrowing your focus to only new construction, so you can have that new home feel? Many established homes have been recently remodeled, and can still give you that brand new sensation.
• Relocating with Unrealistic Ideas. Are you coming from a different climate, and looking in Park City for a home with a swimming pool, fruit trees/garden, or air conditioning? Keep in mind that certain criteria are regional, and our region might be very different than the one you are coming from.

If you adjust your search in just one or two areas, it can really broaden the pool of possibilities. You might find that if you take the time to review the specifics of what has recently sold, and what is currently available, there are many wonderful mountain properties to choose from in the Park City and Deer Valley areas.

Click here if you are a buyer ready to clarify your search. It will take you to our Smart Buyer page, which has a buyer form for you to complete with your search details. OR, you can send us an email with your criteria, questions, or to find out what has sold recently by clicking here.

Happy Hunting!

Lynette
Lynette@TheWilsteinTeam.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lynette Thorn
The Wilstein Team
Keller Williams Park City Real Estate
1750 Sun Peak Drive Park City, Utah 84098
435-487-0151 OR 1-800-535-0151
435-640-8994 (cell/text)

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