The dreaded Cook County triennial reassessment is hitting the north and northwest hard. Property owners all around the Chicago area wait on pins and needles to see how high their property values and taxes will go up after they are put under the total scrutiny of the Cook County Assessor’s Office (CCAO). Many taxpayers are right to be fearful, as CCAO has handed out tax bills that were sometimes 700% higher or more than they were just three years ago. Maine Township is the latest to suffer the brunt of reassessment, and while it is not the horror show of what befell communities in 2023, it is still seeing value spikes of up to 41%. Chicagoans have the right to protest these values and are actively encouraged to do so by the lead Cook County Assessor. But, the people of Maine Township only have until July 18, 2025, to file... Read More

Like Sugar Grove and Geneva before it, Rutland Township is the next part of Kane County to see a rise in property values. While Illinois is becoming infamous for constantly increasing property values, Kane County is being hit particularly hard. Rutland Township itself is also on the cusp of a transition, much like the rest of Kane County. Traditionally a rural area, Rutland Township has seen some of the fastest population growth in all of Illinois, which makes property even more desirable and in-demand. To combat ever-increasing values and taxes, many in Rutland Township are turning to property tax appeals. This is the only method that allows a taxpayer to reduce their property values and, by extension, their taxes. However, the deadline for filing appeals is quickly approaching, with July 18, 2025, being the last day that it will be possible to appeal. In this article, we will inform you... Read More

As we have covered before, Illinois property taxes can increase in years outside of reassessment. While the quadrennial cycle can bring the value and tax spikes that Illinois is known for, property values can still be raised substantially in off years. While the people of Illinois will not experience reassessment until 2027, there have already been several property value hikes spotted across the state. The newest one is in Geneva Township of Kane County. The Geneva Township Assessor recently released an announcement of increases across the board, though this is not widely published. This means that most taxpayers will be struck by surprise increases when their tax bill comes next year. O’Connor will discuss the updated statistics for property values across Geneva, and how you can possibly lower these to better help your tax burden. Geneva Home Values Rise 9% No matter the size or worth of a residential property,... Read More

While Cobb, DeKalb, and Gwinnett Counties are all parts of the Atlanta metropolitan area, only Fulton County can boast of being home to the city itself. One of the fastest growing and most diverse cities in the world, Atlanta is quickly becoming an economic and cultural cornerstone on which the United States is built. With both suburban and urban areas of Fulton County growing like weeds, the future for the Atlanta area is looking brighter than ever. With only Austin possibly being the trendier city, people are flocking to Atlanta in droves. While this is usually a good thing, it is also dramatically pushing up the property values across the board. Higher property values always mean higher property taxes, and those in Fulton County are some of the fastest rising in the country. This makes it harder for traditional families to stay in their homes, while also increasing rents. Fulton... Read More

The Atlanta area is on a historic ascension, with each county seeing an influx of people and prosperity. Boasting some of the highest diversity and culture in the United States, the Atlanta area is quickly becoming a destination place to live. Of all the suburban counties, DeKalb County may be the most evocative of Atlanta. Young, vibrant, and with a reputation for food and music, DeKalb County is becoming an in-demand place to live and work. The downside of this popularity is that demand for properties brings higher valuations and taxes. The Atlanta area is becoming infamous for its soaring taxes, and while somewhat insulated, DeKalb County is seeing the same boom coming to their communities. While there are pros and cons to this change in fortunes, higher taxes can mean traditional and working families have a tougher time staying in their homes. DeKalb Residential Properties Grow 3.8% Single-family homes... Read More