People have been moving away from Chicago and Cook County in droves for years. Most are settling in the suburban counties around the greater Chicago area, known as the collar counties. These once-rural areas are quickly transforming into suburban, exurban, and even urban areas. While this was initially a slow process, many issues have sped it up. The pandemic, cost of living, and crime are all factors, but spiking property values and taxes are one of the major factors. Both homeowners and renters are hit hard by these increases, forcing them to look elsewhere. Will County is one of the most notable of the collar counties. Home to Joliet, Naperville, and other major towns, Will County is more than a patchwork of farming communities and suburbs. One of the largest and most valuable areas in the county is Wheatland Township. Despite the rustic name, Wheatland Township has the greatest share... Read More

What is House Bill 581 and House Bill 92? This past year, there have been major property tax developments for the state of Georgia that affect homeowners, especially for homesteaded property. In January 2025, House Bill 581 (HB 581), also known as “Save Our Homes Act,” went into effect. HB 581 created a floating homestead exemption with the goal of limiting or capping the annual increase in taxable assessed value of homestead properties to match inflation. This bill prevents or caps significant hikes in property tax due to increased property values. Local governments had the option to opt out of the homestead exemption by March 1, 2025. Most local governments have opted out of the cap. However, House Bill 92 (HB 92) was enacted on April 1, 2025, to give government entities who opted out the chance to rescind their decision by April 30 of the same year. This was... Read More

Located just south of Cook County, Will County pairs metropolitan amenities with some of the most beautiful landscapes in the nation. While known as a suburban area of Chicago, Will County boasts many cities of its own and is an economic powerhouse. From Joliet to Naperville, the county has plenty of blue-collar areas and some of the most expensive houses in Illinois, making for a diverse patchwork of towns, neighborhoods, and communities. New Lenox Township is at the heart of it all. Built around the village of New Lennox, the township acts as a suburban hub for Joliet, Mokena, and even Chicago. While not the biggest of townships, New Lenox is considered one of the wealthiest areas in Will County. Being in a prime location and with a high standard of living, New Lenox Township keeps growing every year. Already cursed with some of the highest property values in Illinois,... Read More

In Illinois, appeal deadlines are approaching fast. Specifically in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties, where O’Connor represents residential property tax protests, many appeal deadlines have already been announced for September. For Cook County, there are two deadlines, the Assessor deadline and the Board of Review (BOR) deadline. Outside of Cook County, there is only the BOR deadline, meaning it is the only opportunity to appeal for the current year. Illinois is consistently ranked among states with the highest property taxes in the nation; no doubt thousands of homeowners are paying more than their fair share. It is important to take advantage of appealing for a chance at a reduction before the deadline for your township has passed. For properties in Cook County, you may appeal first at the Assessor level, but if you are not successful at appeals, then it is important to take advantage of the... Read More

Property owners in New York are not new to notably high property taxes, but few are aware of the tax relief programs that are available to help ease some of the tax burden. Tax relief programs such as STAR can greatly benefit New York property owners by helping them save up to thousands of dollars a year if eligible. What is the STAR Program? The STAR, or School Tax Relief Program, offers property tax relief to eligible homeowners in New York by reducing school district property taxes on their home or by offering refund credits. In this way, it compensates for the relief through state funds. Through this program, homeowners can achieve tax relief either through direct credits issued as checks or exemptions. Due to the large potential savings, it’s worth checking eligibility and registering as soon as possible. Basic vs Enhanced There are two types of benefits: Basic Star... Read More