Property Tax...

[ranchlandsselling]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

All I know is never move and then forget you didn't sign up for TIPP. That sucks.

Yup, did that one - coupled with the broker telling me they'd fund the first or remaining amount with my mortgage (poor at the time). 15 months later I get a rediculous bill and I'm behind on the next years. I try to set up TIPPS to get started ASAP and 6 weeks later I get notified I've been rejected as I can't be on TIPPS with outstanding balance. I explain that now I'm more behind and just start taking the current year divided by x many months and I'll sort out the prior year. Nope, we won't accept any payments until you pay in full.

FRACK!

[Smartcar]

Originally Posted by SilverGS

If you are on TIPP you are prepaying the first part of the year but then paying the remaining after being billed.

It also helps to be on TIPP if your assessment goes up more than the average and you were expecting it to be about the same as last year because you read in the papers that tax is going up 4% - but yours went up 30%. The pain gets spread out over 6 months and you don't have to pay interest.

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

Possibly a little off topic, and I don't know if Calgary and Edmonton have the same situation but I always thought it was a foregone conclusion that your property taxes will increase when you develop your basement. We're having ours done now, but my buddy who had his finished a couple months ago, was told by his contractor that Edmonton does not change it's property tax assessment if you have your basement developed. Does this sound accurate to anyone else?

Having your basement developed would presumably raise your assessment if it's done legally with appropriate permits (i.e. if the city knows it was done) - I don't know exactly how Edmonton assesses property values though.

[billybob123]

Originally Posted by Ashartus

I don't know exactly how Edmonton assesses property values though.

Sniff test?

[ken0042]

My neighbour has the exact same house as me. The only difference is I have a larger lot and the basement developed. I think my taxes are only about $50 more than his. Not enough to justify trying to get around the increase. If you develop your basement without permits you can get into trouble when you sell.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by ken0042

My neighbour has the exact same house as me. The only difference is I have a larger lot and the basement developed. I think my taxes are only about $50 more than his. Not enough to justify trying to get around the increase. If you develop your basement without permits you can get into trouble when you sell.

Contractor is totally legit and got all the proper permits, so I should be good there. Ken0042, do you live in Edmonton as well?

[ken0042]

Oh god- no!

[SilverGS]

Originally Posted by ranchlandsselling

Yup, did that one - coupled with the broker telling me they'd fund the first or remaining amount with my mortgage (poor at the time). 15 months later I get a rediculous bill and I'm behind on the next years. I try to set up TIPPS to get started ASAP and 6 weeks later I get notified I've been rejected as I can't be on TIPPS with outstanding balance. I explain that now I'm more behind and just start taking the current year divided by x many months and I'll sort out the prior year. Nope, we won't accept any payments until you pay in full.

FRACK!

Yeah they try and catch you up before putting you on TIPP but they also understand that not everyone can come up with a huge lump sum payment in advance. You can work with them and try to work out something like a smaller up front payment then larger monthly payments to catch up over the next year. They want you to go on TIPP so give them a call and see what they can work out for you.

[ranchlandsselling]

Originally Posted by SilverGS

Yeah they try and catch you up before putting you on TIPP but they also understand that not everyone can come up with a huge lump sum payment in advance. You can work with them and try to work out something like a smaller up front payment then larger monthly payments to catch up over the next year. They want you to go on TIPP so give them a call and see what they can work out for you.

Well however many year ago this was they didn't provide me that option. Just a straight out refusal to take anything escalasting the issue. I just came up with the large payment within a month or so and moved on. But it was fracking annoying.