Residential Assessment Surges   Property owners in Cook County are all too familiar with the rise of their home values. In 2024, residential property in Rogers Park Township has collectively jumped from just over $4.9 billion to $6 billion, an increase of 24%. The climb in assessments is the most pronounced for homes in the highest and lowest value ranges. Residential property owners of homes in the $500K to $750K saw an average increase of 27%. Homes over the $1.5 million price point saw an increase of 17%; however, it is one of the least gains in value assessment. Commercial Values Gain Even More Pronounced   In contrast to homes, commercial property increases are the highest valued accounts in Rogers Park Township. Commercial property worth over $1.5 million in 2024 in Rogers Park Township of Cook County, Illinois was on average assessed at 38%. Property owners of commercial accounts valued between 250k to... Read More

Residential Assessment Surges Property owners in Cook County are familiar with the rise of their home values. Residential property in Lake View Township had a 20% increase showing the rise from $37 billion in 2023 to $44.6 billion to 2024. The highest and lowest-value houses get the biggest assessment increases. Residential property owners of homes of more than $1.5 million saw a high increase of 28%. Homes of $250K price point saw an increase of 22% between 2023 and 2024. Commercial Values Gain Even More Pronounced In contrast to homes, commercial property increases almost doubled in valued accounts in Lake View Township. By 2024, commercial values rose 46%.  Commercial property worth over $1.5 million in 2024 in Lake View Township of Cook County, Illinois was on average assessed at 51%. Owners of commercial properties valued between $750K and $1 million had the third highest increase of 20%. Owners of commercial property valued... Read More

Residential Assessment Surges Property owners in Cook County are all too familiar with the ascent of their home values. In 2024, residential property in West Chicago Township has collectively jumped from just over $38 billion to $45.9 billion, an increase of 21%. The climb in assessments is the most pronounced for homes in the highest and lowest value ranges. Property under $250K saw an average increase of 32%. Homes over the $1.5 million price point saw an equal escalation of 32%. It is a poor consolation to residential owners of homes in the $500K to $750K range to know that their values averaged the least gain in assessment with only a 14% rise in assessed value. Commercial Values Gain Even More Pronounced In contrast to homes, commercial property increases appear to have hit the highest valued accounts the hardest. Commercial property worth over $1.5 million in West Chicago Township of... Read More

Now that the second installment of the Cook County tax bills are out, all Residential property owners should check their bills for exemptions. Cook County is notorious for making exemption errors and not applying those to bills. The three most common errors are the Homeowners, Senior, and Senior Freeze exemptions. If you find you are missing an exemption from the 2023 tax bill or years prior, you can fill out an application to have that money refunded to you. Due to the number of exemption errors year after year, we recommend checking your tax bills for the last four years to verify you are receiving the proper exemptions. Homeowners in Cook County can apply for what’s called a “Certificate of Error” for missing exemptions and go back up to four years to recoup the money you previously paid. The qualifications for exemptions are simple:   (1) Homeowners Exemption – Must own... Read More

As a homeowner, property taxes are unavoidable. Unfortunately, recent assessments in Cook County have left many Chicago residents and landlords grappling with unprecedented increases and errors. It is important to keep track of your assessment notices and challenge them when it is appropriate. The I-Team at ABC 7 has uncovered many instances of dramatic assessment increases and Assessor’s Office errors. A Shocking 440% Tax Hike in Lincoln Park The I-Team reported on a striking case where a taxpayer and his family, who own a modest 10-unit apartment complex in Lincoln Park, experienced a jaw-dropping 440% increase in their property tax bill. The total tax for the complex soared from $23,674 in 2023 to a staggering $128,282 in 2024. This translates to a one-bedroom apartment’s annual tax jumping to $17,494. The taxpayer expressed his frustration, explaining that such a dramatic increase puts their building at risk of bankruptcy. One option that... Read More