Due to the economic turmoil, uncertainty, tumult, crisis, recession, depression, obsession, it should not surprise you that many people are having a hard time.
The Financial industry from traders to messengers; the Real Estate Industry (Realtors, Builders, Suppliers & Trades), are all feeling it, and so are the people with whom they do business, and so are the people that they do business with, and on and on and forward and so forth, and the entire world is now in a tail spin.
So how are people dealing with it?
When I am not feeling quite right, I find the best thing to do is to try to get into my daily routine as closely and quickly as possible. (Up at 6am, make breakfast, make lists for the day, drive grand-daughter to school, gym, appointments or office, etc.). In the movie "Oh God," God (George Burns), appears in John Denver’s house, who starts freaking out because God just materialized in his bathroom, and he says he doesn't know what to do, so God tells him to “shave.” When you are lost and confused, do something normal. Same concept.
Getting into your routine is a lot like drinking a lot of water every day. When you drink it, the water has to go through your body, that’s a rule, which turns on all of the process’s involved in digestion, circulation, etc. Not only that, water keeps all the other junk moving too, so there is little chance that stuff will get stuck in your inners. But that’s another story, suffice it to say that it is important to shave, drink water and get into your normal routine.
But really, what I do to get rid of my stress is go to the gym. There I will do some aerobics by going on one of the machines (treadmill, lifecycle, cross trainer, stair master, etc.), and then some weight routines. While I am on the machine, I work on Sudoku Puzzles. Same theory as drinking a lot of water. On the machines, I am exercising my mind and my body. Working up a sweat, and solving puzzles. The whole body is moving, the brain is in action, functioning at its higher levels, and the mind and body are working together in high gear – (By the way- the word Yoga means union of body and mind). So while sweating, thinking, and moving and a grooving, the problem or whatever is dragging down your head comes to the forefront, but only now, it is always much clearer. Instead of being stuck “oh no, whoa is me”- or even worse- “poor me”, your internal A team (or Y team) is able to give you your best shot, and maybe come up with a solution and solve it? Definitely put it into perspective- and help to get you unstuck, and on with your day. (Same probably holds for anything athletic- but try to do something that you do well, or that you enjoy so that you get a sense of satisfaction).
Now there are other things that some people do:
My favorite is Pathmark fresh baked oatmeal raisin cookies (baked in squares like chunky- (remember- open wide for chunky?). They have to be the square ones. Sometimes they make them round, but they aren’t as good. Before you buy them though, you have to squeeze the clear plastic package to make sure that they are still soft. Anyway, you buy a package of these (or two or mix it up with chocolate chips), and eat them. It doesn’t help in getting rid of any of the problems, but they give you a sense of fullness that I can’t seem to find any place else. I’ve been let down by lots of people, lots of time, but never been let down by a good (fresh) box of cookies. (Be sure to drink a lot of water).
Now when I was a young whippersnapper (what the hell is a whippersnapper anyway?), and I found myself in a funk, I would go out and buy a new new shirt. I no longer do that. Firstly because I ran out of money, but the wisdom of my age has taught me that anticipation is 90% of satisfaction, and that once I bought the thing, the thrill was gone. I’ve learned that things really don’t make you happy. (I often get more joy from giving things away, then owning them)- but to those of you who are out there buying shoes or whatever to find some relief I say cest le vie.
There is nothing good that can be said about drugs. Whatever great feeling there may be initially, doesn’t last, and is rarely duplicated. The damage done to your mind and body is not worth it.
Same with alcohol. Lots of people drink to escape. Hey, once in a while, when you don’t to drive, okay. If you can handle one or two and stop, more power to you. (and its fattening).
Of course everyone knows that the biggest problem with alcohol and drugs is that they become bigger problems then whatever you are trying to drown out.
Now some people go for massages. The masseuse finds the places that are blocking the flow of the stuff of life (sometimes called prana) through the passageways throughout your body. (Same concept as drinking water).
Some people find relief in punching holes in walls. Others knock their heads against the wall. Still others like to kick things. Breaking things: (dishes?) or throwing things is another cool way to chill out.
Yelling is a very popular stress reliever. Work your blood up to a boil till you have a heart attack- that will solve your other problems. (When my granddaughter Skylar was about 2 years old, (before she was really talking), I took her out to the garage, and we had a screaming contest. I would yell, and she would yell, and we did long ones and short ones, and high lows, and had a great ole time. (Primal therapy?).
Speaking of little kids, a fantastic de-stressor is getting down on the floor and playing with a toddler. Pick them up, throw them in the air, play silly toddler games. Make faces, stick out your tongue as far as it will go; go to their level. That will bring your problems into perspective for you.
Speaking of being silly, be silly. Get dirty. Jump in the mud, roll in the mud, buy body paint and paint yourself or someone else, go play paint war.
How about singing in the rain?
Nothing can clear your head like diving into an ice cold pool from a diving board, when you are dry.
MAKE A LIST: Things you like about yourself. List of lists that you need to make. What you would do if you hit the lottery. Everything that you have to do. Your GOALS.
Go out disco dancing. Wear tight black clothes. Get sexy, dance and get sweaty.
Go to see someone less fortunate. “I was sad because I had no shoes, until I saw a man who had no feet”
But these days, my absolute favorite, best secret formula for feeling great is writing these emails.
Thanks for listening.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
All about Lists
My mother always said that if you need something done, ask busy people to do it.
How true.
Well I am now a busy person once again, and the busier I get, the more that I get done, and the more that I get asked to do.
I am able to do many things efficiently because I make lists, and work from them. I get an idea, I write it down. I make an appointment, I write it down. I'm driving in my car and have a brainstorm- I pull over, and write it down.
I use Microsoft Office Outlook 2007. This program has my various email programs; a calendar, task list, and reminders. There are tons of other features that I don't know how to use too, especially that allow for communicating with co-workers and/or colleagues, etc. I print it out every day and take it with me everywhere that I go. I add things to it; I cross things off when I complete them. I make notes to myself.
All my appointments are listed by date and time. I list items that I want to get done, places I need to go to file, or pick something up, or see someone, or calls that need to be made, either by time, or listed as an all day event. The calendar prints out for 7 days, so I always know what I have to do, what I need to prepare for, and I can make new appointments intelligently. I list things I need at the supermarket, drug store, dry cleaners, etc.
At night when I get home, I update the list on my computer: add in all of the notes that I made during the day, including off of the napkins and backs of business cards, cross off the completed items, and re-date the items that I didn't get to, and prioritize. (My biggest weight problem is that I come home from work, generally between 8 and 9pm, sit at my computer and work on my list for the following day. Then I go downstairs and overeat dinner. I am using the excuse that I am waiting for the weight loss group to begin before I correct this destructive behavior- which by the way the organizational first meeting will be held Thursday 2/12/09, 7:00pm; @ Our Island Real Estate, 2008 Victory Blvd.- all are welcome).
My father used to say that he was busy as a one armed paper hanger. My entire life I thought that he meant a broken coat hanger. Unfortunately my father was very disorganized. He would write down telephone numbers on envelopes, then lose the envelopes, then spend the day looking for it, and get nothing else done. My dad was many wonderful things, God rest his soul, but a list maker was not one of them!
Another column on my list is called tasks: Here I store lists of items that I need, (home fax #; access codes and passwords including the New Jersey MLS which I belong; new ideas that I am working on like the Weight Loss Support Group; people who I want to stop by and talk to; repairs and improvements for my house; longer term items from my goals list, etc. The program also provides for automatic reminders, so I have programmed every Tuesday and Friday to remind me to buy a mega millions lotto ticket (you can't win it, if you're not in it) I buy 1 ticket at a time- I realized that buying two tickets doesn't cut your odds in half- it becomes 2 in 10 million not 1 in five million..
And I have added more items to my plate. Being somewhat frustrated by my limitations in only writing emails, I have taken on writing a newspaper Island Real Estate News. In the latest edition, I wrote several articles about the bailout, short sales, etc. Chris Reno, broker at Our Island Real Estate, seeing that I have become a busy beaver, asked me to take on some of the distribution, and sales of advertisements. The newspaper will be coming out every other month, I have already begun writing new and interesting articles about interesting topics primarily Staten Island related I’m sure that you won’t be disappointed, and will look forward to each new issue. Consequently, I am still looking for a few more places where I can leave 100 copies on a stand for distribution (All of the locations will be published in the newspaper). I also have 16 1/4 page ads to sell @ $250 each (trying to cover costs). We currently distribute 50,000 copies, including rush hour at the ferry. You can also pick one up at: Queen Anne Car Wash, 101 Jewett Avenue; The Shoe Hospital 515 Bement Avenue; Sam Gregorio’s Florist 814 Forest Avenue, DMAS Insurance 1132 Forest Ave; Manor Tailoring 432 Manor Road; Family Health Foods @ 1789 Victory Blvd; A&S Deli 1720 Richmond Avenue; Dairy Palace 2210 Victory Blvd; Garber Building Supply 98 Greenfield Ave in Rosebank; all of which are on my list. ( If you can’t find one and would like a copy, let me know and I will get you one).
James Port, who is on Lasher's List and reads these emails, has asked me start a Real Estate Forum on SIChat.com, which he operates, as of I am not already busy enough. I have made an entry on my task list called SIChat, by which I remind myself every time I look at the list, generally of what I have to do, and where I will write down ideas as I get them. I didn't ask if James is a list person.
Anyway, it's really easy to start. Take out a pad and pencil, and start writing down everything that you have to do in every area of your life. It's amazing how easy it is and what you come up with. Don't worry about form, just make a big laundry list of everything that you have to do. I guarantee that by doing this, just writing it all down, you will feel a lot better. What it does is put limits on anxiety about what has to be done, now you know since you've written it down. If you don’t want to do any more than that, then work with that list and cross off the items when they are completed. The feeling is amazing. Randy Lee, Esq., another busy list person, who probably does more things than most people can even imagine doing, suggests that you start by numbering the 3 most important items, and you work on the first one, to the exclusion of everything else until it is completed, and then on to the next item.
The most important thing about lists is that on those occasions when you are totally in a daze, when you can't focus because you have become brain dead, all you have to do is to look at your list, and just begin to work.
………………..to be continued
PLEASE NOTE:
Alberta Brescia Regional Vice President of the American Cancer Society, Staten Island is looking for landlords of multifamily dwellings to sign pledges to maintain smoke free premises. Please call Alberta at 718.987.8872, and/or pass this on.
How true.
Well I am now a busy person once again, and the busier I get, the more that I get done, and the more that I get asked to do.
I am able to do many things efficiently because I make lists, and work from them. I get an idea, I write it down. I make an appointment, I write it down. I'm driving in my car and have a brainstorm- I pull over, and write it down.
I use Microsoft Office Outlook 2007. This program has my various email programs; a calendar, task list, and reminders. There are tons of other features that I don't know how to use too, especially that allow for communicating with co-workers and/or colleagues, etc. I print it out every day and take it with me everywhere that I go. I add things to it; I cross things off when I complete them. I make notes to myself.
All my appointments are listed by date and time. I list items that I want to get done, places I need to go to file, or pick something up, or see someone, or calls that need to be made, either by time, or listed as an all day event. The calendar prints out for 7 days, so I always know what I have to do, what I need to prepare for, and I can make new appointments intelligently. I list things I need at the supermarket, drug store, dry cleaners, etc.
At night when I get home, I update the list on my computer: add in all of the notes that I made during the day, including off of the napkins and backs of business cards, cross off the completed items, and re-date the items that I didn't get to, and prioritize. (My biggest weight problem is that I come home from work, generally between 8 and 9pm, sit at my computer and work on my list for the following day. Then I go downstairs and overeat dinner. I am using the excuse that I am waiting for the weight loss group to begin before I correct this destructive behavior- which by the way the organizational first meeting will be held Thursday 2/12/09, 7:00pm; @ Our Island Real Estate, 2008 Victory Blvd.- all are welcome).
My father used to say that he was busy as a one armed paper hanger. My entire life I thought that he meant a broken coat hanger. Unfortunately my father was very disorganized. He would write down telephone numbers on envelopes, then lose the envelopes, then spend the day looking for it, and get nothing else done. My dad was many wonderful things, God rest his soul, but a list maker was not one of them!
Another column on my list is called tasks: Here I store lists of items that I need, (home fax #; access codes and passwords including the New Jersey MLS which I belong; new ideas that I am working on like the Weight Loss Support Group; people who I want to stop by and talk to; repairs and improvements for my house; longer term items from my goals list, etc. The program also provides for automatic reminders, so I have programmed every Tuesday and Friday to remind me to buy a mega millions lotto ticket (you can't win it, if you're not in it) I buy 1 ticket at a time- I realized that buying two tickets doesn't cut your odds in half- it becomes 2 in 10 million not 1 in five million..
And I have added more items to my plate. Being somewhat frustrated by my limitations in only writing emails, I have taken on writing a newspaper Island Real Estate News. In the latest edition, I wrote several articles about the bailout, short sales, etc. Chris Reno, broker at Our Island Real Estate, seeing that I have become a busy beaver, asked me to take on some of the distribution, and sales of advertisements. The newspaper will be coming out every other month, I have already begun writing new and interesting articles about interesting topics primarily Staten Island related I’m sure that you won’t be disappointed, and will look forward to each new issue. Consequently, I am still looking for a few more places where I can leave 100 copies on a stand for distribution (All of the locations will be published in the newspaper). I also have 16 1/4 page ads to sell @ $250 each (trying to cover costs). We currently distribute 50,000 copies, including rush hour at the ferry. You can also pick one up at: Queen Anne Car Wash, 101 Jewett Avenue; The Shoe Hospital 515 Bement Avenue; Sam Gregorio’s Florist 814 Forest Avenue, DMAS Insurance 1132 Forest Ave; Manor Tailoring 432 Manor Road; Family Health Foods @ 1789 Victory Blvd; A&S Deli 1720 Richmond Avenue; Dairy Palace 2210 Victory Blvd; Garber Building Supply 98 Greenfield Ave in Rosebank; all of which are on my list. ( If you can’t find one and would like a copy, let me know and I will get you one).
James Port, who is on Lasher's List and reads these emails, has asked me start a Real Estate Forum on SIChat.com, which he operates, as of I am not already busy enough. I have made an entry on my task list called SIChat, by which I remind myself every time I look at the list, generally of what I have to do, and where I will write down ideas as I get them. I didn't ask if James is a list person.
Anyway, it's really easy to start. Take out a pad and pencil, and start writing down everything that you have to do in every area of your life. It's amazing how easy it is and what you come up with. Don't worry about form, just make a big laundry list of everything that you have to do. I guarantee that by doing this, just writing it all down, you will feel a lot better. What it does is put limits on anxiety about what has to be done, now you know since you've written it down. If you don’t want to do any more than that, then work with that list and cross off the items when they are completed. The feeling is amazing. Randy Lee, Esq., another busy list person, who probably does more things than most people can even imagine doing, suggests that you start by numbering the 3 most important items, and you work on the first one, to the exclusion of everything else until it is completed, and then on to the next item.
The most important thing about lists is that on those occasions when you are totally in a daze, when you can't focus because you have become brain dead, all you have to do is to look at your list, and just begin to work.
………………..to be continued
PLEASE NOTE:
Alberta Brescia Regional Vice President of the American Cancer Society, Staten Island is looking for landlords of multifamily dwellings to sign pledges to maintain smoke free premises. Please call Alberta at 718.987.8872, and/or pass this on.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Real Estate Taxes
Well, here we go again, it’s that time of the year again, (no not super bowl Sunday) it’s “Real Property Tax Protest” Time.
By now you should have received the 2009-2010 Notice of Assessment for your properties, from the Department of Finance (DOF) (or you can get them online at NYC.gov). This is the notification by the city of what your property is going to be assessed at in the 2009-2010 tax year which begins on July 1, 2009.
We all know that we pay a lot of money in real estate taxes, and next year we are going to pay more than ever. The tax rate just sky rocketed to over 16% and money is tight, so it is time that you think about; learn about; and maybe even do something about; your real estate taxes; how your actual tax is calculated. (Don’t call me; this is not an advertisement, nor am I looking for tax protests business).
Staten Island, like the rest of the city, state & probably country is divided up into Blocks, which are further divided up into Lots.
(Block #1, Lot #1, is #153 Bay Street, St. George, (Staten Island’s most northerly address?). #70 Saterlee Street, in Tottenville, which is owned by the NYC Parks and Recreation, is Block 7966 Lot 75 (southernmost point?). I guarantee that your Staten Island properties are numbered between these two Block Numbers).
The blocks are divided and assigned to individual tax assessors. Every time there is a sale of property, and a new deed is recorded, a form is filled out and filed, called the NYC RPT, which contains all of the information regarding the transfer, (price, date of sale, etc). This information is given to the assessor who will evaluate it to reflect the price which was just paid. The assessor may also determine that some of the same houses in the area need to be updated based upon this one sale, or if there are several sales and the assessor notices that the property values have risen in the area. Theoretically, it is the tax assessors’ job to review every property for the following tax year. In reality, computer models are used for the most part.
The assessments are sent out the middle of January every year.
The tax rate used to be set in June, and on occasion, the rate wasn’t set until after July 1st, in which case you couldn’t pay your taxes early which created all kinds of havoc to title companies and banks). (In order to save a $400 rebate program, our tax rate almost doubled to over 16%). The assessor determines the value of the property; the Mayor and the City Council determine the tax rate
But anyway, if you don’t agree with the assessment, you have the right to object, or “protest”. This is done by filing certain forms that are available online, or at the tax department office at 350 St. Marks Place, first floor (although the assessors’ office is on the 4th floor the forms are on the first). There are different forms depending upon the different “Classes” of property.
Class 1: 1-3 family houses and units in condominiums less than 3 stories.
Class 2: All other residential properties.
Class 3: Utility-company owned property.
Class 4: All other property (commercial, apartment houses, offices buildings’, stores, vacant land, etc.).
RPI&E- In order to protest any property assessed higher than $40,000, (other than Class 1, and except vacant land, or if you just bought or built the property) you will have had to file the RPI&E (Real Property Income and Expenses form) by September 2nd, 2008. This form must be filed. If you don't file the RPI&E, you can’t protest this year. There is no such requirement for Class 1 properties.
For Class 1 properties, you must file on or before March 16th, for Class 2, 3, or 4 properties you must file on or before March 2nd. THERE ARE FEW ABSOLUTES IN LIFE, BUT THIS IS ONE OF THEM. IF YOU MISS THE DEADLINE YOU ARE OUT OF LUCK FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. NO EXCEPTIONS, PERIOD, END OF STORY! Once the protests are timely filed, the tax commission may offer you a reduction, or just schedule a hearing. At the hearing you must submit proof (sales) to the hearing officer, who is an auditor trained in real estate assessment. Used to be that the tax commissioner heard all of the protests, were political guys, and you could schmooze with them, and get reductions. Those days are gone. You can mention things that they don’t know about, like the brook running through the property, or the uranium buried in the rear yard, but you have to have proof. The worst argument you can make is that everyone else on the block has a lower assessment. They don't care. They want to know why YOUR property is valued too high.
Keep in mind that the only thing you can protest is the assessed value, not the market value listed. The assessed value does not usually fall in line directly with the market value. In fact, it may reflect a lower market value.
The criterion is to establish the value of the property as of January 5th, 2009. Second of all, to show that properties are lower, these days, you would have to show sales, or perhaps if you know about them, contracts of sale, may be acceptable with the proper documentation. You can establish that there were properties in contract of sale on January 5th, for less money, that may have closed by the time of the hearing.
After the hearing, you may be offered a reduction. If you accept it, then you have to agree to withdraw your protest. If you do not agree, then your protest may continue. Generally what is done however, is you protest again the following year. If you have filed an appeal on Class 2, 3, or 4 properties, if you agree to the settlement the second year, the hearing officer will probably require that you withdraw the year before protest/appeal.
Since he stopped being the tax commissioner, I’ve been using Jay Goldberg, Esq. (212) 344-1048) to handle my commercial protests, because his practice is primarily limited to tax protests, writs of certiorari, and litigating real estate taxes, and he knows what he’s doing. (his office is in Manhattan, but he lives on Staten Island, so he will meet you here. (By the way, he gets paid by taking a percentage of the savings). There probably are others, but I don’t know who they are.
Egon Salmon was tax commissioner for awhile in the late 1980's and early 1990's. His son Jon Salmon handled protests for a number of years after his father resigned as commissioner, but became tired of the mountains of paperwork required. He says at heart he's a salesman, not a paper pusher. He no longer does them, nor does he want to do them again (I already asked him).
Tony Gaeta, the late Borough President started in the tax assessor’s office, before he became the assistant to Congressman Murphy. Ray Vomero, who died this past week, was the head tax assessor before becoming a real estate appraiser. May they both rest in peace.
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to interject much humor into this email because there isn’t anything funny about it. But I would like to leave you all with something that I saw on the wall of my granddaughter’s guidance counselor’s office, which has absolutely nothing to do with tax protests:
Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles
It empties today of its strength
By now you should have received the 2009-2010 Notice of Assessment for your properties, from the Department of Finance (DOF) (or you can get them online at NYC.gov). This is the notification by the city of what your property is going to be assessed at in the 2009-2010 tax year which begins on July 1, 2009.
We all know that we pay a lot of money in real estate taxes, and next year we are going to pay more than ever. The tax rate just sky rocketed to over 16% and money is tight, so it is time that you think about; learn about; and maybe even do something about; your real estate taxes; how your actual tax is calculated. (Don’t call me; this is not an advertisement, nor am I looking for tax protests business).
Staten Island, like the rest of the city, state & probably country is divided up into Blocks, which are further divided up into Lots.
(Block #1, Lot #1, is #153 Bay Street, St. George, (Staten Island’s most northerly address?). #70 Saterlee Street, in Tottenville, which is owned by the NYC Parks and Recreation, is Block 7966 Lot 75 (southernmost point?). I guarantee that your Staten Island properties are numbered between these two Block Numbers).
The blocks are divided and assigned to individual tax assessors. Every time there is a sale of property, and a new deed is recorded, a form is filled out and filed, called the NYC RPT, which contains all of the information regarding the transfer, (price, date of sale, etc). This information is given to the assessor who will evaluate it to reflect the price which was just paid. The assessor may also determine that some of the same houses in the area need to be updated based upon this one sale, or if there are several sales and the assessor notices that the property values have risen in the area. Theoretically, it is the tax assessors’ job to review every property for the following tax year. In reality, computer models are used for the most part.
The assessments are sent out the middle of January every year.
The tax rate used to be set in June, and on occasion, the rate wasn’t set until after July 1st, in which case you couldn’t pay your taxes early which created all kinds of havoc to title companies and banks). (In order to save a $400 rebate program, our tax rate almost doubled to over 16%). The assessor determines the value of the property; the Mayor and the City Council determine the tax rate
But anyway, if you don’t agree with the assessment, you have the right to object, or “protest”. This is done by filing certain forms that are available online, or at the tax department office at 350 St. Marks Place, first floor (although the assessors’ office is on the 4th floor the forms are on the first). There are different forms depending upon the different “Classes” of property.
Class 1: 1-3 family houses and units in condominiums less than 3 stories.
Class 2: All other residential properties.
Class 3: Utility-company owned property.
Class 4: All other property (commercial, apartment houses, offices buildings’, stores, vacant land, etc.).
RPI&E- In order to protest any property assessed higher than $40,000, (other than Class 1, and except vacant land, or if you just bought or built the property) you will have had to file the RPI&E (Real Property Income and Expenses form) by September 2nd, 2008. This form must be filed. If you don't file the RPI&E, you can’t protest this year. There is no such requirement for Class 1 properties.
For Class 1 properties, you must file on or before March 16th, for Class 2, 3, or 4 properties you must file on or before March 2nd. THERE ARE FEW ABSOLUTES IN LIFE, BUT THIS IS ONE OF THEM. IF YOU MISS THE DEADLINE YOU ARE OUT OF LUCK FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. NO EXCEPTIONS, PERIOD, END OF STORY! Once the protests are timely filed, the tax commission may offer you a reduction, or just schedule a hearing. At the hearing you must submit proof (sales) to the hearing officer, who is an auditor trained in real estate assessment. Used to be that the tax commissioner heard all of the protests, were political guys, and you could schmooze with them, and get reductions. Those days are gone. You can mention things that they don’t know about, like the brook running through the property, or the uranium buried in the rear yard, but you have to have proof. The worst argument you can make is that everyone else on the block has a lower assessment. They don't care. They want to know why YOUR property is valued too high.
Keep in mind that the only thing you can protest is the assessed value, not the market value listed. The assessed value does not usually fall in line directly with the market value. In fact, it may reflect a lower market value.
The criterion is to establish the value of the property as of January 5th, 2009. Second of all, to show that properties are lower, these days, you would have to show sales, or perhaps if you know about them, contracts of sale, may be acceptable with the proper documentation. You can establish that there were properties in contract of sale on January 5th, for less money, that may have closed by the time of the hearing.
After the hearing, you may be offered a reduction. If you accept it, then you have to agree to withdraw your protest. If you do not agree, then your protest may continue. Generally what is done however, is you protest again the following year. If you have filed an appeal on Class 2, 3, or 4 properties, if you agree to the settlement the second year, the hearing officer will probably require that you withdraw the year before protest/appeal.
Since he stopped being the tax commissioner, I’ve been using Jay Goldberg, Esq. (212) 344-1048) to handle my commercial protests, because his practice is primarily limited to tax protests, writs of certiorari, and litigating real estate taxes, and he knows what he’s doing. (his office is in Manhattan, but he lives on Staten Island, so he will meet you here. (By the way, he gets paid by taking a percentage of the savings). There probably are others, but I don’t know who they are.
Egon Salmon was tax commissioner for awhile in the late 1980's and early 1990's. His son Jon Salmon handled protests for a number of years after his father resigned as commissioner, but became tired of the mountains of paperwork required. He says at heart he's a salesman, not a paper pusher. He no longer does them, nor does he want to do them again (I already asked him).
Tony Gaeta, the late Borough President started in the tax assessor’s office, before he became the assistant to Congressman Murphy. Ray Vomero, who died this past week, was the head tax assessor before becoming a real estate appraiser. May they both rest in peace.
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to interject much humor into this email because there isn’t anything funny about it. But I would like to leave you all with something that I saw on the wall of my granddaughter’s guidance counselor’s office, which has absolutely nothing to do with tax protests:
Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles
It empties today of its strength
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