Property owners in New Trier, Proviso, South Chicago and West Chicago townships can now file assessment appeal complaints with the Cook County Board of Review. The appeals process for the townships opened April 30 and will close June 1.
Owners of homes, condominiums, town houses, apartment buildings and businesses may appeal their assessments to the board if they feel their assessment is too high. A lawyer is not required to file an appeal on behalf of a residential property owner.
Evidence that can be helpful to the homeowner seeking an assessment reduction includes any of the following: a photo of the taxpayer’s property; proof of recent sale prices of homes similar to the home of the taxpayer who is appealing; a real estate appraisal, if available; assessed valuations of comparable properties in your neighborhood; and evidence of flood, fire, demolition or structural damage.
Anyone interested in receiving an assessment appeal complaint form can write the Cook County Board of Review, Room 60l, 118 N. Clark St., Chicago 60602 or call 312-603-5542.
Complaint forms also can be picked up in person at the board office, or at one of the following satellite offices:
— Skokie, 2nd Municipal District Circuit Court, 5600 Old Orchard Rd., Room 155; 847-470-7522.
— Rolling Meadows, 3rd Municipal District Court, 2121 Euclid Ave., Room 237; 847-818-2067.
— Maywood, 4th Municipal District Circuit Court, 1500 Maybrook Drive, Room 082; 708-865-5509.
— Bridgeview, 5th Municipal District Circuit Court, 10200 S. 76th Ave., Room 237; 708-974-6074.
— Markham, 6th Municipal District Circuit Court, 16501 Kedzie, Room 237; 708-210-4116.
The Board of Review will notify taxpayers of a hearing date when they will be able to argue on behalf of their request for a lower assessment.
Habitat orientation
Habitat for Humanity Northern Fox Valley will conduct a homeowner orientation meeting at 10 a.m. May 8 at ReStore, 800 N. State St., Elgin, covering the eligibility requirements for Habitat homeownership.
The meeting will provide a brief overview of Habitat for Humanity, where and what types of homes are built or rehabbed, what is involved in becoming a Habitat homeowner, and the steps required to be considered for a home. Applications will be distributed at the end of the meeting and must be completed and returned within 30 days.
Habitat for Humanity is an international organization, working in partnership with families who cannot obtain conventional financing to purchase a home. Families are selected on the basis of their need for improved housing, ability to repay an interest-free loan, and their willingness to partner with Habitat in working to build their home.
Applicants must live or work in the organization’s service area, which includes portions of Kane and Cook Counties. Applicants must also meet an annual household income requirement, which varies based on the family’s size. For example, a family of four must earn at least $25,000 annually but no more than $44,000.
For information, contact Connie Kitzinger at 847-836-1432 or connie.kitzinger@hfhnfv.org, or visit hfhnfv.org.
Toll Brothers home seminar
Luxury homebuilder Toll Brothers will host a free Sell Your Home seminar from 2 to 4 p.m. May 1 in the active adult clubhouse at the builder’s Bowes Creek Country Club community in Elgin.
Participants will have the opportunity to meet with local real estate agents, home staging consultants and a representative from the builder’s in-house mortgage company to discuss programs available to Toll Brothers home buyers.
The event will be held at 3651 Centennial Dr. in Elgin, two miles west of Randall Road, on the south side of Bowes Road. To reserve a seat, call 847-695-0005.
