Choosing a Property Appraiser in Orange County
Choosing a property appraiser in Orange County can be a difficult task. There are many options available. But the question is, which one is right for you?
Lisa Barefoot
Using a local Orange County property appraiser is a must do for anyone planning on buying, selling or renting a home or a pair of shingles. Most appraisers are more than willing to provide an unbiased appraisal and a check for your hard earned cash. Using an accredited appraiser is the best way to ensure a smooth and stress free transaction. The best appraisers are akin to a close friend, if you know what I mean. Besides, an appraiser is also a good reason to take a long lunch. The best property appraisers aren’t too hard to find in and around Irvine, California.
Scott Randolph
Among the many things that Scott Randolph is responsible for as Orange County Tax Collector is ensuring that property is valued correctly. Property taxes are based on the value of property appraised by the appraiser’s office. The tax collector must ensure that all deductions are applied to the property’s value. If the value of the property is not correct, the homeowner will end up paying more in property taxes than they should.
Disney has been fighting over the value of its properties for years. Disney has filed lawsuits against the property appraiser’s office on a regular basis. The Orange County Property Appraiser’s Office has settled one of the legal disputes with Disney in 2015. Disney’s settlement does not have an exact figure on the amount of refunds the company will receive. It does, however, indicate that Disney will receive a substantial refund.
Bob Mercado
Mercado was the first Puerto Rican woman elected as Orange County’s property appraiser. She has a long and distinguished history of public policy and operational experience. Her resume includes service as director of operations for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Mango Board and ranking member of the Ways & Means Committee.
Mercado also ran for re-election to the Florida House of Representatives. The Florida Legislature has a requirement for candidates to file disclosures about their spending. However, data may be incomplete or missing.
The Orange County Property Appraiser’s Office is responsible for identifying, locating, and valuing personal and real estate property. It is a busy office, but it also has a long history of scandal. In addition, it is home to the county’s most powerful political boss, Hon. Rick Singh.
COVID-19 oaths
During Orange County’s COVID 19 a few months ago, a few harried government workers were treated to split shifts and a hefty stipend for their tenacity. A few lucky ones were also feted with a shotgun marriage and a few boozy drinks. On the home front, staff wrote a hefty 50,000 COVID relief checks. While the obscene etiquette is still a thing of the past, most employees will no longer have to put up with the plagues and the like. The COVID has done its job a few times over and is ready to return to work for the foreseeable future.
Taxation of property in a county
During tax season, you’re bound to receive a property tax bill. It’s important to know how to read the bill and understand your responsibilities. You can pay your taxes online, in person, or mail them in.
Your property tax bill is based on your home’s appraised value. You can also use the Homestead Exemption to reduce your property tax bill. If your property is eligible, you may be able to get a deduction for mortgage interest and home improvement costs.
Property taxes are a significant source of revenue for Orange County, and many homeowners struggle with paying their property taxes. To help alleviate this burden, Orange County provides a number of tax relief programs. These programs are administered by the Commissioner of Revenue and include a Disabled Veterans Exemption program. You can learn more about these programs by visiting the Orange County Tax Office website.
Disney World
Hundreds of millions of dollars in property taxes are being disputed between Walt Disney World and the Orange County Property Appraiser. These lawsuits are just the latest of a long string of disputes between the two.
In the past, the two had clashed, particularly over the use of non-traditional valuation methods, which led rates to soar. Disney is challenging those valuations, saying the just value of the properties is much higher than the market value.
The Orange County Tax Collector’s office had been instructed to hold revenues in reserve, due to a variety of tax revenue issues. However, the amount of property taxes that Disney pays is very high.
SeaWorld
Thousands of dollars in donations have been made to Orange County property appraiser Rick Singh’s political campaigns. He has been re-elected to a second four-year term. Singh was first elected in 2012 and has a long history in the real estate and real estate appraisal industries. He was certified as a property appraiser by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. In 2016, he recovered $550 million in property tax fraud from Darden Restaurants and other companies.
Singh is currently defending the value of SeaWorld’s property in Orange Circuit Court. The value of the property was set by Singh’s office at $192 million in 2014. But SeaWorld has disputed this value. It says the assessed value is too low and should be higher.
