Your Homestead - Shelby Township

As more and more people are taking advantage of great forclosure deals, they are also faced with non-homestead tax levels. If you are closing on a new home with non-homestead tax status discuss with your mortgage broker the viability of adjusting closing costs to reflect the tax obligation for the next half year to be paid at homestead rates. Make sure you apply for your homestead exemption asap. Here is an exerpt from Shelby Township , MI site page http://www.shelbytwp.org/main.cfm?location=43&parentID=2 describing the basic process of attaining homestead status.

Also, become familiar with your municipality's procedures and online services . It will help when (as if you own a home it always does) have concerns come up, such as tax bill changes, and applying to have your taxable value adjusted due to the economy, plus many services that the city may have that will benefit you.

--- Notice to Taxpayers --- (Shelby Township, MI)

Homeowner's Principal Residence (Homestead) Exemption

The status day for the Principal Residence (Homestead Exemption) or Qualified Agricultural Exemption is May 1st of the current year.

If you own and occupy your home as your principal residence as of May 1st, you may qualify for an exemption to the 18 mill school operation millage. Most people who qualify for this program have filed an affidavit and are currently receiving this exemption. If you suspect that you do in fact qualify for this program and are not sure if you are receiving the exemption, you can verify your exemption status as follows:

· Check your Assessment Change Notice (you usually receive this at the end of February each year). The exemption status should indicate 100%.
· Check your last tax bill (these are issued on July 1st and December 1st of each year). The exemption status is listed on here and there should be no amount itemized under the School Operating Millage.

If you have any questions, please call our office at (586) 731-5910. Do not wait too long to contact us as our ability to correct your exemption status is limited by State statute.

Go To http://www.michigan.gov/treasury for Property Transfer Affidavit, Homestead Affidavit or to Rescind/Withdraw Homestead Exemption

For The Homestead Guidelines Booklet (Questions and Answers) please visit http://www.michigan.gov/documents/2856_11014_7.pdf

Welcome to my new blog

I will be looking for feedback from friends and colleagues on my new blog. Please let me know if you are finding the information I post helpful and what you would like to see more of. It will contain information and links regarding current news on real estate, the communities that I am working and living in, school systems, and miscellaneous information that I believe will be helpful to anyone living or looking to live in these communities.

If your anything like me, you'll want to collect as much information (as reasonable) so that you can make educated decisions about your and your families future. I hope to make that just a little easier for you from this site.

The current economic climate is stressful to say the least and not knowing where to go for answers can make it all that more disheartening. I will strive to give you some control back. "Knowledge is power" -Francis Bacon, Sr.

A invaluable resource for me from Real Estate One - Scott Gaffan

Check out the latest videos on our Vimeo video site!
June 1, 2009 by Scott Gaffan

"I have just added three more great videos to our Vimeo video site.
Foreclosures In Today’s Market
The Eviction Process
Successfully Selling HUD Properties
Click on the link below or the Vimeo graphic above to view all of these new videos and the 4 part Short Sales series. " by Scott Gaffan
http://www.vimeo.com/user824542/videos