Enhance outreach for property tax increases

Because of past speculative increases in property values that led to additional vacancies and tax delinquencies, anticipating the effects of a stronger market and create mechanisms that will work against its harmful consequences is a priority. This transl

One approach would build on existing Homeowner Association efforts to inform seniors of their ability to request both an exemption from increased valuation and a freeze on previous assessed values (Cook County Assessor, 2013). This effort requires more ex

Freeze incremental property taxes for residents who don’t move

A second more creative approach would convert the incremental property taxes into a lien on the property that would be deferred each year the homeowner continues to occupy the residence, but paid in full upon the sale of the home or discontinued use as a primary residence. The lien would be assessed by Cook County and found in a basic title search. This would enable occupancy of an owner-occupied two- to four-unit home by the same owner-occupants and tenants despite increases in neighborhoodÕs property values. The deferred lien, by design, also serves as a hedge against purely speculative rises in property values. If a household benefits from the inflated prices in selling their home, they pay the associated property taxes. If the values are not sustainable, as they were prior to the housing bubble, a household that does not move will face a predictable amount of property taxes that will prevent speculation from fueling vacancy.