I found out that I have a neighbor that has not paid his city property
taxes for several years and he owes several thousand dollars plus
overdue penalties. This information is made public, online. He buys
a new car every two years so I know he can afford to pay property
taxes. So, I'm wondering if the city will ever do anything about
people who don't pay? How is it that property owners can get away
with this for so many years?

Phisherman wrote:
I found out that I have a neighbor that has not paid his city property
taxes for several years and he owes several thousand dollars plus
overdue penalties. This information is made public, online. He buys
a new car every two years so I know he can afford to pay property
taxes. So, I'm wondering if the city will ever do anything about
people who don't pay? How is it that property owners can get away
with this for so many years?


In many cases, the municipality will sell the rights to the money owed
on delinquent tax to investors who bid on it. The town gets the money
and the investor gets to charge interest with a lien against the
property. After a long enough period, I think they can actually
foreclose on the property if necessary.

In any case, the town usually winds up getting their tax money, because
their lien comes before everyone else.

Phisherman, 7/24/2006, 11:27:23 AM,
wrote:

I found out that I have a neighbor that has not paid his city property
taxes for several years and he owes several thousand dollars plus
overdue penalties. This information is made public, online. He buys
a new car every two years so I know he can afford to pay property
taxes. So, I'm wondering if the city will ever do anything about
people who don't pay? How is it that property owners can get away
with this for so many years?

At the least he won't be able to sell the house until back taxes are
paid.

Phisherman wrote:
I found out that I have a neighbor that has not paid his city property
taxes for several years and he owes several thousand dollars plus
overdue penalties. This information is made public, online. He buys
a new car every two years so I know he can afford to pay property
taxes. So, I'm wondering if the city will ever do anything about
people who don't pay? How is it that property owners can get away
with this for so many years?

When I was a tax collector a few years back all I ever had to do was
make a friendly call to whoever had the first mortgage. They'd send
the money and tack it onto his payments. After a couple of times
they'd pay up and foreclose it themselves. Mortgage companies don't
like unpaid taxes.

J.

"Phisherman" wrote in message
...
I found out that I have a neighbor that has not paid his city property
taxes for several years and he owes several thousand dollars plus
overdue penalties. This information is made public, online. He buys
a new car every two years so I know he can afford to pay property
taxes. So, I'm wondering if the city will ever do anything about
people who don't pay? How is it that property owners can get away
with this for so many years?

Mine got sold for taxes already twice, and I was able to redeem them.
Three years and it belongs to whomever paid the back-due taxes. It's
kind of embarassing to get your name in the paper. Some people love
going through the names to see if it's anybody they know is on there.
My friend almost lost her pitiful little house that way, too, to some
slum lord, she called them up and asked them why they wanted to take her
house. Her daughter loaned her the money and got her caught up, then
because she is poor, she got an exemption she didn't know she was
qualified for, but not before the back taxes, interest and fees were
paid.

Rather that find out what's going on with your neighbor and lending a
helping hand, most people are like sharks who will buy it right out from
under you if you are down on your luck.

I can't explain the new car though. Still it's in my category of MYOB.

Nasty business.

Looks like we don't really own our properties, anyway. Tom
Phisherman wrote:
I found out that I have a neighbor that has not paid his city property
taxes for several years and he owes several thousand dollars plus
overdue penalties. This information is made public, online. He buys
a new car every two years so I know he can afford to pay property
taxes. So, I'm wondering if the city will ever do anything about
people who don't pay? How is it that property owners can get away
with this for so many years?

On Mon, 24 Jul 2006 15:27:23 GMT, Phisherman wrote:


I found out that I have a neighbor that has not paid his city property
taxes for several years and he owes several thousand dollars plus
overdue penalties. This information is made public, online. He buys
a new car every two years so I know he can afford to pay property
taxes. So, I'm wondering if the city will ever do anything about
people who don't pay? How is it that property owners can get away
with this for so many years?

Can't you mind your own business?