| TAXES IN SLV I AN RECEIVING A LOT OF CALLS & EMAILS REGARDING THE TAX INCREASES IN COSTILLA COUNTY. I MAY BE INVITING A HUGE TAX INCREASE BY POSTING THIS BUT I THINK PROPERTY OWNERS NEED TO KNOW WHAT MIGHT AFFECT THEIR PROPERTY IN COLORADO, COUNTY OF COSTILLA. MANY CALLS ARE ABOUT 2 + ACRE LOTS ON WILD HORSE MESA, LOTS WHICH ARE DIFFICULT TO MARKET UNLESS THE SELLER IS LOCATED IN CALIFORNIA AND WILL FLY PROSPECTIVE BUYERS IN TO BE BOOZED AND FLOOZED AS AN INCENTIVE TO PURCHSE WHAT IS IN MY OPINION, "HIGHLY INFLATED" PROPERTY. BUT THESE BUYERS WHO FLY IN ON A PRIVATE PLANE TO SEE THSE WONDERFUL COLORADO PROPERTIES HAVE NOTHING TO "COMPARE" THESE PRICES TO OTHER THAN THE CALIFORNIA PRICES WHICH DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING IN COMMON WITH COSTILLA COUNTY! WHEN THESE OUT OF STATE AND VERY UNINFORMED BUYERS PAY THESE EXTREMELY INFLATED PRICE (PRICES WHICH WOULD BE A BARGAIN IF THE LOT BENG BOUGHT WERE LOCATED IN CALIFORNIA INSTEAD OF COSTILLA COUNTY) IS THE VERY REASON TAXES HAVE INCREASED SO DRAMATICALLY FOR ALL LAND OWNERS IN COSTILLA COUNTY. FOR INSTANCE: YOU HAVE OWNED A 2.5 ACRE LOT IN COSTILLA COUNTY FOR 20 YEARS WITH PROPERTY TAXES BASED ON SAY, $2700. VALUE OF YOUR LOT BUT NOW THERE ARE SEVERAL "TRANSACTIONS" BEING RECORDED IN THE ASSESSORS OFFICE WHERE THIS "SELLER" FROM CALIFORNIA HAS SOLD LOTS TO BUYERS WHO ARE WILLING (AND UNINFORMED) TO PAY CALIFORNIA PRICES FOR COSTILLA COUNTY PROPERTY. IT DOES NOT MATTER THAT THE ASSESSOR PROBABLY KNOWS WHAT IS HAPPENING, WHAT MATTERS TO THE COUNTY OFFICES IS THAT THEY NOW HAVE A NEW "VALUE" TO TAX YOU BY BECAUSE LOST IN THE VICINITY OF YOURS RECENTLY SOLD AT CALIFORNIA PRICES AND THEY NOW CAN ASSESS YOUR LOT AT THAT RATE. EVEN WHEN THEY KNOW WHAT THE CALIFORNIA INVESTOR/SELLER/SALESMAN IS DOING. EVEN WHEN THEY KNOW THE ONLY REASON THIS PROPERTY IS SELLING AT THE HIGHLY INFLATED PRICE IS BECAUSE OF THE MARKETING STRATEGY, A STRATEGY AVAILABLE TO THE CALIFORNIA SELLER BECAUSE OF HOW COSTILLA COUNTY HANDLES TAX DELINQUENT PROPERTIES. NOW AS A PROPERTY OWNER YOU HAVE 2 CHOICES. PAY THE HIGH TAXES OR HAVE YOUR PROPERTY PUT UP IN THE DECEMBER TAX SALE. AND GUESS WHAT ? THESE PROPERTIES ARE BOUGHT UP BY "INVESTORS/SELLERS/" WHO ONCE AGAIN BRING IN PROSPECTIVE BUYERS WHO HAVE NO IDEA THAT THEY ARE ADDING TO THE EXTREME TAX BURDEN OF CURRENT LAND OWNERS AND TO MAKE MATTERS EVEN WORSE, THEY NOW OWN PROPERTY WHICH WILL RESELL FOR ONLY A FRACTION OF WHAT WAS PAID. THIS IS A LOSE-LOSE SITUATION FOR EVERYONE EXCEPT THE GREAT STRATIGISTS WHO PUT TOGETHER THESE BUYERS JUNKETS. I GET AS MANY CALLS AND EMAILS FROM THE BUYER WHO PAID THE EXTREME HIGH PRICE AND NOW THINKS HE CAN MAKE A PROFIT AS I DO FROM THE OWNER WHO PAID $6500. BUT IS NOW PAYING TAXES ON A NEW $35000. VALUE. A VALUE PLACED BY COUNTY OFFICIALS, OFFICIALS WHO KNOW THIS IS ONLY A REFLECTION OF QUESTIONABLE MARKETING...... SO WHAT IS THE ANSWER ? I BELIEVE IT WILL TAKE THE STATE OF COLORADO GETTING INVOLVED AND MAKING THE COUNTY OFFICES USE COMMON SENSE WHEN SETTING THESE TAX RATES AND ALSO PUTTING A STOP TO ALLOWING TAX PROPERTIES TO BE PUT UP FOR SALE IN THE MANNER THAT THEY ARE. FOR INSTANCE, ANY PROPERTY IN THE TAX SALE SHOULD HAVE TO BE SOLD ON THE DAY OF THE SALE- NOT BEFORE!!!!!! AND THE BUYER SHOULD HAVE TO BE PRESENT! ANOTHER STIPULATION I RECOMMEND: ANY PROPERTY TAX LIEN PURCHASED CANNOT BE "TRANSFERRED" IN ANY MANNER UNTIL A TREASUREY DEED IS ISSUED. PERIOD!!!! I ALSO BELIEVE ANY BUYER OF SUCH PROPERTY SHOULD BE LISTED IN THE SAME NEWSPAPER AFTER THE SALE. THIS WOULD AT LEAST GIVE POTENTIAL BUYERS AN IDEA OF WHAT THEY ARE GETTING WHEN THEY TAKE THE BOOZE & FLOOZE TRIP TO SOME PRIVATE AIRSTRIP IN THE MOUNTAINS WAY DOWN IN SOUTHERN COLORADO................... MY RECOMMENDATION WRITE TO STATE OF COLORADO OFFICIALS. VOICE YOUR COMPLAINT. WRITE TO ALL OF THE COSTILLA COUNTY OFFICIALS. MOST OF YOU ARE NOT VOTERS IN COLORADO, MOST DO NOT LIVE IN COLORADO AND A LOT OF YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN THE PROPERTY THAT YOU HAVE FAITHFULLY PAID TAXES ON FOR YEARS. BUT AS A TAXPAYER YOU SHOULD AT LEAST HAVE A VOICE. THAT MAY BE ALL YOU HAVE - USE IT. GO TO W WWW.COSTILLACOUNTY-CO.GOV |