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New tool helps Detroiters understand home's assessment, offers info for appeal
- rmason 4y agoOne of Detroit's many problems is that property taxes were not reduced after values declined greatly during the 2008-2009 real estate crash. As a result people are struggling under the burden and losing their homes for inability to pay their property taxes. Savvy real estate speculators are scooping up the homes and then hiring lawyers for the appeal process. The former home owners often rent their homes and the speculator gets property taxes reduced up to two thirds in some cases. In some cases employees at the county are both leading the process as well as buying up the homes. People have been wringing their hands over this problem for over a decade. I am so proud of my friends at ReGrid for making this tool available. It may not replace having a lawyer but it gives the city's poor a fighting chance at getting their taxes reduced and being able to keep their homes. This shows the power of software to accomplish societal good.