|
|
Post by suchamess on Jun 28, 2008 3:35:26 GMT -5
 Oh boy. We are in a real pickle here. Our property taxes were due earlier this year. Being the messy person I am, I misplaced the bill. Completely forgot about it until I got a notice saying the bill will be auctioned off on Monday. That's right...this Monday, at 8am we could be homeless. I don't know if the courthouse is open on Saturday, but I'm scared silly. WHich is why I am still awake at this hour. I am getting up at 8:30, making several phone calls and I will drive the hour and a half it takes to get there, if I have to. I'll also be there at the door 7:30am Monday morning if need be. I am so worried I will lose my house. This is by far the scariest thing that has ever happened. My husband said before he went to sleep "Please, don't let them take our home" Crap. I have to get it together. This is blazing proof of that. PLEASE please please say a prayer I can get this resolved in a few hours. We have the money, it's just a matter of me getting it to them before 8am Monday morning.
|
|
|
|
Post by readytojump on Jun 28, 2008 5:28:20 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by merrymaid on Jun 28, 2008 7:35:46 GMT -5
About 6 years ago, I went to real estate school. I remember them talking about buying houses that were being sold to pay for taxes and they said the owner has up to a year to get pay the taxes and get their house back (even after they'd moved out and someone else was living there.) This is Tennessee, so could be different in your part of the world.
ReadytoJump is right, don't panic. Just don't procrastinate any longer. You can do it.
|
|
|
|
Post by bluefrog on Jun 28, 2008 7:43:15 GMT -5
Suchamess, I don't know where you are, or how much laws differ from state to state in the U.S.; but in Maryland, you won't lose your house that quickly. Lots of years ago, I had a property tax bill sent to the wrong address, so that I didn't get it at all, and didn't realize it until I got a notice that my house had been auctioned off. Scared me silly.
What it really meant was that I had six months to pay the taxes I owed and the penalties for being late. If I failed to pay them, then the other person would own my house. Here, anyway, a "tax sale" is mostly a scare tactic--and it works. I paid right up, got the address problem straightened out, and still make sure the taxes get paid on time.
Try not to worry too much, but make those phone calls to arrange to pay your bill.
|
|
|
|
Post by suchamess on Jun 28, 2008 7:58:59 GMT -5
Thank you all for the encouragement. I did panic a bit too much and did not sleep AT ALL last night. I just made a phone call, and yes..they are open until 1pm. My husband is driving me over there since I've had no sleep.
Shew..huge load off of my shoulders..and I have learned a great lesson. It's time to clean!
|
|
|
|
Post by dragonchilde on Jun 28, 2008 8:22:59 GMT -5
Hang in there... you're not going to believe this, but I'm in EXACTLY the same position! Ours is garbage fees. Over $1500 in garbage fees, with more than $500 in interest! Yeargh. Some of it's my mom's, some of it's our fault. We've got the same problem, although we have until 11 Monday to take care of it. We had to cash out my husband's IRA to pay the $1,000 they want to keep the sale from going forward! I can't believe they would sell someone's home over $2k, but obviously they will! What's really embarrassing is all the neighbors coming by asking what's going on, since it was advertised in the paper for sale. He wasted ALL last week and didn't call the bank to get his check ready, and they procrastinated so long yesterday that he couldn't get there in time. So i'm going to have to bust my tail to get out there either today or first thing Monday morning.
So have no fear, you're not the only one who's done this!
|
|
|
|
Post by iguanamamma on Jun 28, 2008 13:43:30 GMT -5
Are you in the US? Does your state have redemption rights allowing you 30 days to pay your taxes? Luckily, most state laws are very owner freindly. In Texas we have the 30 days "right of redemption" clause. Even if your house is auctioned off on the court house steps you have 30 days to redeem the property by paying off the back taxes. In Texas getting rid of the property that was seized is expensive and time consuming. They want your money and not your property. Do you have a mortgage on your property? Most mortgage companies have the first right of redemption? Get some sleep. It is going to be allright!
|
|
|
|
Post by suchamess on Jun 28, 2008 17:19:04 GMT -5
I'm pleased to report the bill is paid. There was a long long line of people in there doing the same thing. We even saw people we knew. Which was sort of embarrassing for both parties, but at the same time let us know we were not alone. So many people were making up stories of "we didn't know we had to pay" "What? You mean I HAVE to do this?" We heard so many excuses and saw so many fights. I honestly felt bad for the woman taking care of all of us. When it was my turn to pay, she asked why it was late. I was honest with her. She had heard so many lies, I just came out and said "I am sorry. I'm very disorganized and misplaced the bill. It's entirely my fault for being so messy" She just smiled and said "But you are here. That's what matters" and processed my payment. My husband and I have learned a valuable lesson from all of this. We have sat in mess for so long, we can't see it any longer. This was an eye opener. Not only for misplacing the bill, but we took a long hard look around when the prospect of losing it all was in our face. "MY God, look at this mess! This place would get condemned if we didn't get our stuff out in time" When the sun goes down and it cools off (Even though we have a perfectly fine air unit, the humidity has crept in and made it unbearable) I am going to start cleaning. I am not going to go at it like I did in the past..."all or nothing". I will take my time, even if it takes a few weeks. I do not want to burn out this time around.  to everyone and I hope we can all make it through this journey soon! |
|
|
|
Post by Moodle on Jun 28, 2008 17:27:48 GMT -5
WHEW!!!! This one had me on the edge of my seat, sam!!!! AWESOME outcome!!  I am soo relieved for you and so excited about your journey!! Looking forward to your posts and walking the road with you as I continue to work on my house!! Love your plan!! You dodged a giant bullet and survived! Now it's time to thrive!!!  Big, big hug to you!! Rest well tonight, sam!! |
|
|
|
Post by ramatama on Jun 29, 2008 9:04:08 GMT -5
Great news ..... and now let's keep our fingers crossed (or thumbs pressed as they say here  ) for dragonchilde! |
|
|
|
Post by dragonchilde on Jun 29, 2008 13:08:17 GMT -5
I'll keep you updated. I have to get up early tomorrow to try and beat the rush to the courthouse. Sigh. I'm not looking forward to doing this with two small children. thank goodness for my sling, or it would be much worse.
|
|
|
|
Post by BDG on Jun 29, 2008 13:23:09 GMT -5
Good Luck Dragonchilde, I hope everything works out well for you. I'm sure it is going to be hectic, but try and take your time and be careful, the worst time for me was when I was getting the kids out of the car, the walking ones would always be antsy and want to run everywhere.
Believe it or not I now call those the good old days as all of mine are grown and have little ones of their own. I had never heard of a sling until one of my daughters introduced me to one, they are awesome.
|
|
|
|
Post by dragonchilde on Jun 29, 2008 17:36:50 GMT -5
Actually, I've mastered getting out of the car. I've trained my toddler to stand by the back tire when I say "don't move" and generally, she does. I'm hyper aware of parking lots. What really helps is the fact I have a sling for the baby... she's snuggled up against my chest, and I have free hands. That lets me hold the toddler's hands. What's going to be fun is wrangling all that stuff through the security checkpoint at the courthouse. Ugh. At least I'm familiar with it... I served jury duty there for two solid weeks (murder trial) so got to know my way around pretty well.
|
|
|
|
Post by messysue on Jun 29, 2008 23:09:15 GMT -5
So glad that things ended well!!
|
|
