I don't think you quite understand the problem. My mom doesn't want to move, and her and others shouldnt be forced to sell and move to the sticks (or out of state) because they can't afford the property tax bill. That's plain wrong. Do you know how much the tax is on a house assessed at $1,000,000? Assuming the tax rate is 1%, that means the annual tax bill comes to $10,000. For someone like my mom, who is living off my father's pension (he passed away several years ago), that's A LOT of money. I don't think you quite have a grasp on what the property values are like out in California. The median home price is roughly $255,000 as of March of this year, according to the LA Times. Folks like my parents were not (and are not) millionaires, and just because the house suddenly becomes valued at $1 million doesn't mean they suddenly become rich. They bought the house when it was a reasonable $40,000 in 1970. That's over a 2,400% jump in home value. To blame the tax revolt of 1978 on racism shows a serious misunderstanding of California history.
There are some things your mother can do:
1. Pay for a professoinal appraisal of her home to see if it really is worth what the State of California claims. If the appraisal comes in substantially less than $1,000,000 (which, unless she recently updated the house with a gourmet kitchen, backyard pool/spa, renovated the master bath and added two more bathrooms, is most likely will be the case). She can take the "official" appraisal (here's a clue: counties and cities don't do professional appraisals) and go to item number 2 below. BTW: Her appraisal information is private and she doesn't need to reveal it if she doesn't want to, plus many, many times property is over-valued (actually, most of the time) by the local tax commission just so communities can increase their tax coffers.
And even if she finds out that her home is worth a bajillion dollars she has every right to:
2. Appeal the tax because, as senior living on a fixed income, she cannot afford it. This is codified in California State law. She cannot be taxed out of her primary residence. And as long as she is living at or near the national poverty level she'll probably have her property tax lowered. But she first has to file for a property tax extension and then file the appeal. And if she gets her property taxes lowered she'll discover she is eligible for a bunch of other stuff for women over 65 years of age who don't have a lot of money and live not only California, but the USA.
Then there is the another option:
3. Get off your ass and help her pay her property taxes. This is a great idea especially if you have siblings who should also kick in and help.
And FYI, I am VERY familiar with how property values and property taxes are laddered in the fabulous State of California.
Oh, and there is always a reverse mortgage option. That means she'll receive additional monthly income and never have to worry about property taxes again. But then her darling children whom she loves more than life itself will not inherit any property.
