How about finding true tax assessments?

My wife's friend, her daughter, is not interested as she lives with her family on the east coast.The local assessor has assessed it at $500K for tax purposes.It has not been inhabited since 1986, other than a walk around and through once every couple of years.

That works a little differently for a condo, but all those same expenses occur and go into the HOA fees and special assessments.

My week in review:12/31/12 - I filtered through a list of tax records for property owners in my township, narrowing it down to only Out of State Owners with a sale date prior to 2008, and an assessed value under $300k. 1/1/13 - I printed and compiled 50 yellow letters for out of state owners, which will go in the mail tomorrow.

I know there are many companies out there that will appeal you assessment for you and typically charge 25% of what they save you the first year.

We can also choose not to let the county assessor into our house for their new assessment.

You also have governing docs (CCRs) that dictate what can and can't be done with the property in addition to paying HOA fees and possible special assessments.

The one thing I hate about condos is COA and special assessment fees.

One thing to note: You cannot put your assessment fee into escrow/deduct from your assessment fee unless there is a specific provision in the association documents or a specific provision under state law.

I invest in tax liens and recently received a notice that one of the properties I have a lien on is in violation of the housing code and fines and penalties may begin being assessed next month if the corrections are not made.Because I am not the owner, I cannot make the corrections the city has demanded.