Tag Archives: California Proposition 13

Part Two: Proposition 19 Forces Changes to Prop 58 While Proposition 13 Remains Intact

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A certain Proposition 15 was promoted with millions of dollars behind it, yet it didn’t pass. However, the fact that the California Legislature was in favor of it is still troubling to many California homeowners. 

Proposition 15 would have removed commercial properties like office buildings and industrial parks from Proposition 13 protections, mainly the ability to avoid property tax reassessment from current tax rates… Inheriting business properties from a parent would, under Prop 15, no longer have provided  business property heirs with Proposition 13 tax breaks – so heirs can avoid property tax reassessment for inherited commercial properties. 

Inheriting property taxes at a low Proposition 13 base would no longer apply to beneficiaries inheriting commercial property.  Beneficiaries inheriting office buildings and other business facilities would no longer have been able to transfer parents property taxes.

It would have raised the rents on apt. buildings and office buildings, on all commercial tenants, affecting stores and malls, supermarkets, car dealers, pharmacies and you name it. Effectively raising the prices of all goods and services in California. An economic disaster in the making. Fortunately, it did not pass.

As a well known realtor in Santa Barbara pointed out recently in an interview, “Estate-planning attorneys are going to be very busy now, as Proposition 19 may cause many family members to decide to sell property they had intended to pass on to their heirs. Although other siblings will decide to keep and move into a home inherited from parents – as a primary residence – so heirs can avoid property tax reassessment  It’s a game-changer….

In terms of properties being sold that would have been passed on through a family trust, or to beneficiaries who simply cannot afford to pay property taxes that are reassessed are current rates… or folks that just object to paying higher property taxes on principle. Realtors are going to make a lot of money like this. And that’s good for them and possibly good for California. The problem is, a lot of those folks selling their home in response to high income tax exacerbated by    inflated living expenses, are also moving out of the state permanently – if they are also unable to save thousands of dollars every year for emergencies or their retirement account – by avoiding property tax reassessment.  And that’s not good for California!”    

Higher property taxes or not, California will always be an attractive place to live, to start a family, or just because the weather and the sights are pleasant.  People are always going to want to live in California, but long-term residents see life getting more expensive in that state – more rapidly than anyone anticipated.

Moreover, the prospect of getting more and more squeezed by taxes is forcing both large and mid-sized companies, as well as a surprising number of people approaching retirement, soon to be on a fixed income, to move to other states that are far more income-tax, corporate-tax and property tax friendly – and the companies take their jobs with them!

A good number of residents in their 20s (just out of college) are choosing to leave the state, with no intention to return.  In contrast to recent years, when California was an extremely popular state for young homeowners… and people in their 30s and even 40s, looking to start a family. Now, many young adults and families are seeking the most affordable place to live following college, or just as their careers are taking off – frequently with very young children to think about.

And this is where the CA Legislature’s short-sightedness really becomes obvious… Point being,  what else leaves the state with all those young residents and tax conscious companies? The large amount of taxes they pay to California every year!

Part One: Proposition 19 Forces Changes to Prop 58 While Proposition 13 Remains Intact

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California Proposition 19

California Proposition 19

What does the passage of Proposition 19 mean for the general housing market in California, one of the nation’s most expensive states to live in?  Although the state will run into an increase in revenue due to a property tax hike, some residents who reside in inherited properties might discover that living in California is becoming more and more difficult  and unaffordable.

Nick Solis, a well known real estate professional, and president of One80 Reality said recently in an interview, “California is a state where blue collar working class folks generally pass down their home to their children or other family members.”

Of course this is where trust lenders, for example like Commercial Loan Corp, are going to get busier, helping beneficiaries to get approved for Proposition 58 and California Proposition 19.  Naturally, Prop 58, Prop 19 & a trust loan lets us buyout siblings, or co-beneficiaries.  Trust lenders are going to become more popular as this type of transaction becomes even more in demand than it already is now.  Siblings who are looking to sell out, and often leave the state, will actually walk off with more money from a trust loan than they would if they sold out to a third party that is not a family member.

Mr. Solis explained, “Not everyone who inherits a home form their parents is wealthy.  Many blue collar workers and working class families bought property in previous decades when homes were affordable, and are passing them down to their kids…”

It took a quasi civil war to get property taxes to this point. The overzealous, fanatical opponents of property tax relief in California never gave up, despite 42 years of trying and failing to remove property tax relief from the California tax system. They gritted their teeth and attempted to push through proposition after tax measure after tax bill to accomplish that. For 42 years, Proposition 13, which successfully limited property tax increases, helping beneficiaries, homeowners and commercial property owners avoid property tax reassessment. Hence, Prop 13 remained untouchable. A political third rail.

Proposition 13 weathered and rebuffed numerous legislative and legal attacks… Even including one at the Supreme Court.  And nothing stuck. Prop 13, and subsequently the 1986 Amendment, Prop 58 & a trust loan lets us buyout siblings, with it’s sacrosanct Parent–to-Child Exclusion (or Parent-to-Child Exemption), this all seemed to be more or less indestructible. 

As far as Proposition 19  is concerned, the forces behind it steered clear of  disabling the right to transfer parents property taxes or inheriting property taxes from parents with the ability to keep parents property taxes. Beneficiaries still had confidence in the fact that Prop 58 & a trust loan lets us buyout siblings and lock in a low Proposition 13 tax base.  Property tax transfer, parent to child transfer, parent to child exclusion and  the transfer of property between siblings all remained safe…     

>> Click Here to Continue to Part Two…

Will California Prop 58 Tax Breaks Survive Proposition 19?

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Will CA Prop 58 Trust Loans and Tax Breaks Survive Proposition 19?

Will CA Prop 58 Trust Loans and Tax Breaks Survive Proposition 19?

California can thank her lucky stars that Proposition 15 was defeated by a thin margin of “No!” votes… But these motivated opponents of property tax relief in California managed to raise  and spend, thanks to the CA Realtor’s Association and others, $47,568,642.14 to push  through a certain cleverly worded, deceptive little tax measure called Proposition 19; as the state’s first serious property tax in 43 years. 

Opponents to the Prop 19 tax measure  managed to raise a paltry $238,521. Had they been able to raise equivalent amounts of cash for PR and promotional efforts, to properly inform voters as to what Proposition 19 was actually looking to accomplish — it is unlikely that the tax measure would have passed.  As it is, the winning margin was only a few hundred thousand votes. 

Proposition 19 was a Christmas present in 2020 for certain special interests  in California, supported by the CA Legislature – the  CA Association of Realtors PAC, the National Association of Realtors,  the California Democratic Party,  California Professional Firefighters Ballot Issues Committee, and others…  designed to be presented as a pro middle class, pro-senior, pro-firefighter, pro-education property tax relief package – when in fact no one really knows how much all of that anticipated extra property tax revenue is actually going to seniors and the California school system, and firefighters. 

Certainly, the folks behind Prop 19, the California Legislature will  throw a few dollars at the Firefighters’ Union… and make things, at least on the surface, appear to be easier for homeowners over 55, for awhile…. and the schools system will receive some of that revenue no doubt.  However, according to well connected real estate lawyers,  as well as the folks at the Jarvis Taxpayer’s Association,  most of the extra revenue will be used to pay for massive, unfunded government employee pensions and related items.  How this unfolds remains to be seen.

What also remains to be seen is the next Proposition 15 type of anti property tax relief tax measure, that will be looking to strip away certain established Proposition 13 tax breaks.  And no doubt with a more clever and convincing marketing effort next time around.  And   having learned a thing or two from their success with Proposition 19, how to sell new property taxes to residential and commercial property owners in California. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayer’s Association and others will simply have to learn how to debunk and expose new property tax hikes, of any kind, more rapidly and more convincingly.  

In the meantime, California still has some effective property tax relief options left, thanks to Proposition 13 still being in one piece.  If we’re about to inherit property, from a trust or an estate, we can still look at getting a trust loan while establishing a low Proposition 13 property tax base… even without all of the property tax transfer options that heirs and beneficiaries are accustomed to passing on to their children as well… allowing their children to benefit from standard Proposition 13 tax breaks for California trust beneficiaries  to avoid property tax reassessment.

Families inheriting real property can still transfer parents property taxes upon inheriting property taxes; plus utilize their ability to safely keep parents property taxes during a parent to child transfer, or Parent to Child Exclusion; as well as during the transfer of property between siblings,  during a co-beneficiary buyout of inherited property shares through a loan to an irrevocable trust in conjunction with Proposition 58, and the help of a reliable trust lender who knows how to make full use of the  now-revised Parent to Child Exclusion… now restricted to a 12-month time-frame after a parent passes away; as opposed to no restrictive  time-frame, such as prior to Proposition 19.  
If California can’t take advantage of property tax relief one way – they’ll have to go down another avenue to get it done!  Inheriting parents property taxes, maintaining the right to avoid property tax reassessment, is still in place; it’s just not as simple as it once was. Thankfully, Proposition 13 still protects our right to avoid property tax reassessment, due to the fact that Proposition 13 is still intact, for the most part. But for how long? That’s the big question… before those tricky folks who gave us Proposition 15 and Prop 19 decide to try again, having learned from their “mistakes”, and come back in the near future with even more deceptive marketing capabilities.

Of course, in the bulk of the states in America, most tax breaks of any kind go the wealthiest residents who actually need tax reduction the least. However, in California the middle class, nor just the one-percenters, continues to enjoy these unique Proposition 13 and Proposition 58 or Prop 193 tax breaks.  Even after Proposition 19 imposed limitations on the right to avoid property tax reassessment. 

The longer middle class homeowners in California have lived in their house – factoring in their neighborhood, in terms of appreciation in value – the larger the tax break from Proposition 13 still is, as it always has been. And Proposition 58 remains about the same, allowing beneficiaries to get a large six or seven-figure loan to an irrevocable trust… establish a permanent low property tax base, plus buyout co-beneficiaries who have inherited the same property.

Despite Proposition 19, all property owners are protected from property tax increases, regardless of when their buildings were built or whether the owner even lives in them. Unfortunately for renters, rent control in Los Angeles and other urban areas only applies to multi-family apt. buildings that were constructed prior to 1979 — the rest of renters cannot partake, however can usually find reasonable rentals, where say in many other cities in the US this is often not possible. But it is in California.

Now, if we could get other taxation down, and make living easier for Californians in general, and stop companies from leaving the state due to high corporate tax… keeping jobs here in the state – California would be in better shape all around.  But that’s something we’ll need to take up with the Legislature!

With Prop 19, Can we Still Inherit A Home And Retain the Property Tax Base?

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With Prop 19, Can we Still Inherit A Home And Retain the Property Tax Base?

With Prop 19, Can we Still Inherit A Home And Retain the Property Tax Base?

In opposition to what some California newspaper editorial writers,  ill-informed politicos, or ambitious realtors might tell you, California Proposition 13 is not broken.  In fact it’s doing exactly what it’s supposed to be doing.  As they say, “If it ain’t broke – don’t fix it!”

Voters in California, in 2020,  fell victim to a great deal of deceptive public relations and marketing, painting Proposition 19  as a “friendly” property tax… versus “unfriendly” property tax relief.  Always avoiding property tax reassessment  was framed as mainly benefiting wealthy families so they could rent out secondary, non-primary, properties to supposedly get even wealthier by renting these properties out – “starving” the state of much-needed revenue for schools, firefighters, and the Legislature in general.

The fact that Proposition  58 and Prop 13 property tax breaks have been allowing middle class homeowners to basically survive, saving Californians from losing their home; or being able to keep inherited property without going broke… apparently was not  important to the politicos in the capital.

Avoiding property tax reassessment at high current rates, and enabling beneficiaries to avoid having to sell their inherited property, plus being able to lock down a low Prop 13 property tax base and buyout siblings who urgently needed to sell their inherited property shares, through a trust loan working in concert with Prop 58’s Parent to Child Exclusion or Parent to Child Exemption – didn’t seem to matter at all to the folks running the state.  Tax relief like this for the middle class, as opposed to being available only to wealthy Californians, didn’t, and doesn’t, seem to be a priority, interestingly enough.

Opponents to property tax breaks for middle income residents  loaded up their promotional advertising with deceptive language and confusing explanations… Avoiding property tax reassessment was characterized as something you shouldn’t want to do; and voters were convinced they were not harming  themselves financially, as homeowners, or as trust beneficiaries and heirs to estates; and should be delighted that they were now helping seniors and firemen and schools.

In fact, they were actually helping the Legislature pay for unfunded government pensions with a rather vague financial support system for the firefighter’s union and educational system throughout the state.  The benefits were left open as to the “how” and “how much”, and written that way intentionally.

However it worked.  Proposition 19 passed… but just barely.  If it had been presented clearly,  in a straight-forward fashion – it would never have passed.  Many people voted for Proposition 19 without realizing its full implications.  In fact there  is a 160-plus page Assessor’s Handbook “AH401” that has literally been deleted from the Board of Equalization’s website because of changes brought about by Proposition 19; hence California property laws are being rewritten as we speak.

If you look at all this in depth, you can clearly see that if  Prop 19,  had been allowed to go all the way, in terms of completely stripping out homeowners’ and beneficiaries’  right to be always avoiding property tax reassessment…  this would have crippled the  middle class in California.  And it certainly will present some economic challenges to the middle class… however it stops short at being a complete disaster.

Property owners can still take the right steps for avoiding property tax reassessment, can still buyout co-beneficiaries, can still establish and maintain a low property tax base. With a few limitations.  Let’s just say it could have been a lot worse for middle class families.   And that is where these critics of property tax relief are probably heading – so Californians have to keep their eyes open.  But at least now, as many California homeowners and even renters  nurse their buyer’s remorse – they will be prepared if these incessant opponents to property tax relief come back around again to “finish the job”.

A lot of Californians don’t understand how complicated property tax relief is going to be going forward.  Every homeowner is going to need a Proposition 13, Proposition 58 and Proposition 193  expert to address these changes – to take full advantage of the Parent to Child Transfer, or Parent to Child Exclusion, and to analyze their property tax situation realistically;  with the help of a property tax expert.  To see if they are going to have to move into an inherited property within 12-months, and use it only as a primary residence,  to evaluate if that’s even going to be possible after the parent leaving them a home passes away.

All these property tax relief matters that were once so simple, that were implemented simply by habit before Proposition 19 came about, are now going to need expert input from well known property tax specialists like Prop 13 / Prop 58 Consultant or trust loan and Parent to Child Transfer experts at a firm like  Commercial Loan Corp who fully understand how to make use of the exclusion for reassessment of property taxes on transfers between parents and children.

Professionals like that will be needed to side-step  mistakes and not miss out on always avoiding property tax reassessment – ending up paying property taxes at current high rates;  hopefully inheriting property taxes form parents.

Beneficiaries and homeowners are going to have to be incredibly careful when looking to  transfer parents property taxes, with the goal being  to keep parents property taxes on a property tax transfer, using the time honored Parent to Child Transfer,  or Parent to Child Exclusion.  The same applies to going to a trust lender, for example, to get a loan to an irrevocable trust to be able to get approved for Proposition 58 for the transfer of property between siblings – commonly known as buying out a siblings’ share of house – buying out siblings’ property shares,   Or the buyout of co-beneficiaries’ property shares.  Now not as simple as it once was.  But still do-able, working with the right firm who will lead you in the right direction and evaluate your property correctly.

For instance, without expert assistance it’s very easy to accidentally trigger a property reassessment under Proposition 13 that might very well increase your property taxes 10 or 20 times, for yourself or for your heirs or beneficiaries.  It’s so easy to handle a transfer of property incorrectly, without a specialist helping you, meaning a property tax consultant, or trust lender if you want to buyout annoying or dishonest siblings…Or a real estate attorney familiar with Prop 13 and Proposition 58.  It is easy to make an error in a Trust that kills your tax cap that would have saved you thousands of dollars.  Doing these things on your own is terribly risky.

When Prop 19 does into affect  on Feb. 16, 2021, California Prop 19 will change a parent’s ability to leave their children or grandchildren their Proposition 13 protected tax base.  Property will be reassessed at its current fair market value, unless you get expert help to identify a work-around or property tax reduction solution.  Challenges will exist where there were none before… so finding some experts you can trust will become an essential step going forward.   

Loans to Irrevocable Trusts

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Loans to Irrevocable Trusts

Loans to Irrevocable Trusts

How Can I Inherit a Home & Keep the Low Property Tax Base?

Perhaps a lot of regular middle class folks out there waiting for an inheritance aren’t aware of it – but since 2016 many of us in the business of dealing with middle class heirs, waiting for an inheritance in trust or in an estate, involved in an unusually large number of conflicts between heirs or beneficiaries… Frequently turning ugly and downright out of control. 

As you can guess, these conflicts typically revolve around the subject of money… Frequently, in an estate scenario, one or more siblings insist on selling the home they have inherited from Mom or Dad, to generate “fast cash” – often in heated opposition to co-beneficiaries inheriting the same home, for example, who insist on retaining that property, as the emotional or sentimental value for them far exceeds the cash value. 

Hence, this often fires up a serious conflict within the family group.  Or – one or two heirs claim they should be receiving a much larger percentage of the family inheritance, which is frequently based on the sale of inherited property, as cash assets are often very modest in middle class estates these days.

Over the past four or five years, we can clearly see a significant increase in these family squabbles… often, for example, in 17 out of 20 estate or trust situations we often see in-fighting like this, that frequently destroys sibling relationships.  Or perhaps conflicts over the issue “to sell or not to sell” inherited family property, or even conflicts over the assessed value of that property… is merely the match that ignites emotional conflicts that were there under the surface to begin with.  It’s no surprise that we often see at least one or two inheritors, per estate or trust, that want  to keep their inherited home, with one or two, or more, beneficiaries pushing to sell the house as soon as possible. 

It’s very common these days to see siblings lock horns almost immediately, when the subject of selling their inherited home is raised. With additional battles flaring up over who should be receiving the larger share of cash assets – or “who” gets “what”  percentage of the home the family is inheriting.  home left by a beloved parent.  We see this pattern repeated over and over again; the same words, similar disputes and similar claims.

A Trust Loan Solution to Family Conflicts

In California, Prop 58 loans to irrevocable trusts often act as a solution to many family conflicts revolving around sibling disagreements over whether or not the family should  retain or sell inherited property from parents.  With a trust loan working in conjunction with Proposition 58 – a process referred to as Prop 58 loans to irrevocable trusts – you can then buyout  beneficiaries    and  end up owning  your inherited property by yourself.

Interestingly enough, siblings who insisted on selling out actually end up receiving more cash then if there had been no trust loan funded and outside buyers had become involved; so those siblings can move forward with their lives, leaving you in peace. Interestingly enough, most families that call  a trust lender to get this type of funding started and accomplished, know next to nothing about the process of Prop 58 loans to irrevocable trusts. 

Residential and commercial property owners should research and learn all about the benefits provided by trust lenders furnishing loans to irrevocable trusts to enable the buyout of property shares from sibling co-beneficiaries; along with CA Proposition 13 transfer of property, plus locking in a low property tax base rate in conjunction with Proposition 58 – all associated with a transfer of parents’ property and transfer of parents property taxes.

Homeowners in every state should understand what inheriting property taxes is all about, how to keep parents property taxes with property tax transfer of all sorts – and why parent to child transfer, or parent to child exclusion, is so profoundly important at the base root of property tax relief in California… and hopefully in other states as well, if motivated folks begin sending letters and emails to their representatives in Washington, and if, by a miracle, this catches on and actually sprouts results. 

Living in a state with low property taxes can provide a major benefit, rather than a liability, to your life. Even if many homes are pricey perhaps to begin with… lowering property taxes on them, to a number you can really feel, can have a profound affect on your lifestyle, and maintain the quality of your life, to where you need it to be.

Goods and services and real estate can be pricey in states like Connecticut, Texas, California, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts… these are all expensive states, in terms of day to day living… However, getting a “life-toll” such as property taxes down to a manageable level can change your entire outlook on your life, eliminating that particular financial struggle.

Moreover, the concept of paying yearly taxes on something you purchase and then keep for many years, might be flawed to begin with. What other large purchase you may make continues to charge you fees such as taxes, after the initial [large] purchase? A boat? Plane? Car? Motorcycle? None. Only real property. Perhaps the whole concept of taxing real estate after the initial purchase could use some fresh, new examination.

Speaking of trust liquidation, California is still the only state in America where you can avoid property tax reassessment at current rates; capped at 2% taxation basically as long as you own property inherited from parents initially… thanks to the 1978 CA Proposition 13.  Plus, the component involving Prop 58 and  “trust liquidity” is particularly  popular with middle class beneficiaries who want to sell the property shares they have inherited from a parent, and walk off with even more cash than if they had sold out to an outside buyer.  Conversely,  Proposition 58 trust loans are just as popular with members of families inheriting property from parents, who wish to buyout their siblings, co-beneficiaries, that are looking to sell their inherited shares.

California business and residential property owners, in addition to having the right to keep parents property taxes, and transfer parents property taxes upon inheriting property, and then inheriting property taxes at the low Prop 13 two-percent tax rate maximum – can maintain a parental property tax transfer basically forever, as a Parent-to-Child Transfer, or Parent-to-Child Exclusion, as long as all requirements for Proposition 58 have been met. Californians can even apply for the same tax break on a secondary property inherited from parents.

If you’re a California property owner who is looking to buyout siblings who insist on selling their inherited property, while retaining the same inherited property from parents with a trust loan, avoiding property tax reassessment from that point on – you can find content that covers this in-depth, along with information on how to get approved for Proposition 58, on a state government Website like the California State Board of Equalization, which is found at  https://www.boe.ca.gov/proptaxes/faqs/propositions58.htm  

A lot of folks research these issues and delve more deeply into California property tax relief, on multiple levels, at established niche  Websites such as Commercial Loan Corp…  or a free resource blog like this one, Property Tax Transfer.  Trust loans working in accord with Proposition 58 or Prop 193 make it possible for heirs and beneficiaries to sell shares of inherited property, a beneficiary buyout of sibling property shares, or as realtors put it, “the transfer of property between siblings”, and “lending money to an irrevocable trust“ – typically from an irrevocable trust loan lender.

The fact is, we need to understand all about our rights, with respect to using a 6-figure loan to an irrevocable trust — not only as a way to buyout co-beneficiaries, but also as a tax break that locks in a low property tax base in line with CA Proposition 13 parental property tax transfer. 

Every property owner in every state in America should be more familiar with current changes to property tax relief laws in California; including the pesky little details that support the invaluable system that allows homeowners and commercial property owners to buy out co-beneficiaries’ mutually inherited property — focusing on the tax laws that makes sibling-to-sibling property transfers work in California.  Someday, perhaps in every state in America, if we want to make property taxes fair and equal to all property owners in this country.

How Does the Prop 58’s Parent to Child Exclusion Work?

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California Parent to Child Property Tax Exclusion

California Parent to Child Property Tax Exclusion

Importance of Retaining Proposition 58 & Property Tax Relief

Regardless of what critics of Proposition 58 and Prop 13 have to say in Op-Eds and Editorials in California newspapers… No matter how many times opponents of California property tax relief attempt to completely unravel and decimate invaluable property tax breaks protected by Prop 13 and Prop 58, during a Coronavirus pandemic no less – popular support for property tax relief in California holds… For commercial property owners and homeowners alike.

Despite a win here and there by opponents to property tax relief in California… supporters of watering down critical tax breaks such as the “Parent to Child Exclusion” win a battle here or there chiefly as a result of tricky, deceptive marketing; with slippery snake oil tax measures like Proposition 19 in 2020.

We just narrowly missed a statewide disaster, with the proposed property tax measure Proposition 15 almost passing, which would have resulted in egregious property tax hikes, raising taxes on apt building and office building landlords, commercial shopping center owners and store properties being rented out to hundreds of thousands of commercial tenants all across the state.  

This would have forced commercial and business property owners in all 58 counties in California to raise prices on all goods and services – simply to survive.  Moreover, this would have been the beginning of the final unraveling of the 1978 Proposition 13 tax relief package. The door to worse things to come, so to speak, would have been opened.  Fortunately, the door was closed.  At least for now.

The fact is, if Proposition 15 had passed in Nov. of 2020 everything you buy or rent in the state of California, even online, would have gone sky high.  So, clearly, this was a near miss of a total statewide economic melt-down. As it happens, the other deceptive property tax promoted in 2020, sponsored by the CA Legislature and the California Association of Realtors among others, Proposition 19, did in fact pass.  The lesser of two evils, so to speak.

Although not perfect, there is still enough room within the property tax system in California so beneficiaries inheriting property from parents, and homeowners, can still make good use of Prop 13, of Proposition 58 and the “Parent to Child Exclusion”…  Beneficiaries can still take advantage of trust loans and the ability to buyout co-beneficiaries if they wish to sell off their inherited ownership in inherited property… plus lock down a low Proposition 13 property tax base.  So Proposition 13 remains, for the moment, troubled… but intact.

The right to avoid property tax reassessment is crucial for California’s economic well being. It means beneficiaries can still make use of Prop 58 and irrevocable trust loans to buyout co-beneficiaries wanting to sell off inherited property.  It means residents can inherit and keep parents property taxes, and can transfer parents property taxes. Inheriting property taxes from parents at a low base rate is critical for middle class homeowners. Otherwise, selling off inherited property becomes unavoidable and inevitable.

Middle class heirs, new home owners, frequently are not able to pay current market-value property tax rates – in a hyper expensive state… in the midst of an out-of-control pandemic, where nearly 7 million people in this state are out of work or under-employed, or are still working from home at a 50% salary level.  Not to mention the astronomical costs associated with illness and the loss of life, for family members.  Items that healthcare insurance refuses to pay for.

The folks supporting the realtor community, CA Association of Realtors, politicians running the State Legislature, and organizations such as the California NAACP State Conference, California Senior Advocates League, California Statewide Law Enforcement Association, Californians for Disability Rights, and the Congress of California Seniors simply must begin to look at middle class families and working family life more realistically.  You’d think they would be,  however they apparently did not read the fine print, and were hoodwinked into voting for Prop 19 in Nov of 2020.

By simple good luck homeowners and beneficiaries can still make use of Prop 58 and a trust loan process to buyout inherited property from siblings while locking down a low Proposition 13 protected property tax base.  Had those organizations read the fine print, they would have noticed that certain tax relief protections they took for granted were under direct attack – such as the ability for eligible homeowners to transfer their tax assessments within counties and to homes of equal or lesser market value;  To retain the right for folks age 55 and older, or people with disabilities, to keep the same number of times they are able to transfer their tax assessments;  To be able to transfer tax assessments on inherited homes, including inherited properties not used as primary residences, to be transferred from parent-to-child or grandparent-to-grandchild – without any issues or problems.

California still retains Proposition 13 property tax breaks, and  beneficiaries can still make use of Prop 58 and trust loan funding.  However, had Proposition 15 been successful, and had the Proposition 19 people gotten everything they had wanted – loading all these new proposed property taxes on top of regular working people would have had an extremely negative affect on the majority of the population of California.

Based on their recent efforts, how do the folks running the state of California, in the Legislature, think that adding the property taxes they had wanted to add would affect all these working families? Do they even consider how further unraveling property tax relief would affect the California economy as a whole?

Does it ever occur to the politicos in the Legislature that going further in the direction of eliminating property tax breaks, as they would like to do, would literally be a social and financial disaster for the state as a whole?

The Governor and his friends need to give this some serious thought.

 

Proposition 58’s Parent to Child Exclusion in 2021

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Proposition 58's Parent to Child Exclusion in 2021

Proposition 58’s Parent to Child Exclusion in 2021

It is both crucial and about time for homeowners and commercial property owners in California to step back and take little time to read up on property tax breaks available in all 58 counties in the state – to fully understand exactly how property tax relief works now; how it’s still possible to transfer your current tax-basis to children or grandchildren. With the Proposition 19 property tax measure having revised crucial Proposition 58 property tax relief protections; in place since 1986.

It’s critical for property owners, no matter what their total property value or net worth is, to:

a) take full advantage of property tax relief as it is in 2021 going forward;

b) make sure the changes to Prop 58 “Parent to Child Exclusion” are well understood… that property inherited from a parent is either moved into as a primary residence, within 12-months after the remaining parent passes;

c) make sure they plan on selling their inherited property at a  break-even price or at a profit, if they are not able to move in as a primary residence within 12-months;

d)  insure that, if selling out to an outside buyer is not a preferred option, they understand how to enlist the help of a seasoned trust lender, such as the Commercial Loan Corp in Newport Beach… to get approved for Proposition 58, and to be able to take full advantage of loan funding to an irrevocable trust – used in conjunction with Prop 58 – in order to buyout property ownership from a co-beneficiary, or several siblings, waiting to inherit the same inherited home.

All of this entails learning how to operate successfully under the auspices of CA Proposition 19, passed in Nov of 2020; affecting property tax relief benefits that have been taken for granted by Californians since 1986, and if you factor in key property tax breaks from Proposition 13, having the right to property tax transfer, to avoid property tax reassessment to attain and keep a low property tax  base – since 1978.

It is also important to acknowledge that the majority of “Parent to Child Property Transfers” occur after both parents are gone; and to fully understand how Proposition 58 helps regular middle class homeowners and business property owners in the state of California, and not fall prey to conspiracy theories that claim property tax relief is only for the wealthy. 

The date of passing of the last (surviving) parent is used as the date of transfer for beneficiaries (offspring, or “children”, typically grown children of decedents leaving property to their heirs or beneficiaries).

The average trust beneficiary takes roughly a year and a half to settle an estate after a lone surviving parent passes away, leaving liquid assets and/or real property to heirs or beneficiaries. It is also important to remember that during this time the children of decedents are responsible for continuing to pay the property taxes on their parent’s home and any other property in question. 

Under California law, Proposition 58, Proposition 193 and Proposition 13 (which may also be combined with Proposition 60 and Proposition 90) allows  a parent or grandparent to transfer their current tax-basis to their children or grandchildren. You can still transfer your current tax-basis to heirs in California, it’s just not as ‘free and easy’ as it has been. These benefits can still apply to a gift, a sale, an inheritance, or a hybrid of these property transfers.

More specifically, Proposition 58 and Proposition 193 allow a parent or grandparent to gift or sell their real property during their lifetime, or gift their property at death, to their child or grandchild, and concurrently transfer their Proposition 13 tax basis, and other Proposition 13 benefits, along with the property, thus saving the child or grandchild potentially thousands of dollars per year for as long as they own the property. So not only can you transfer your current tax-basis to beneficiaries,  your beneficiaries who are inheriting property  are also allowed to combine benefits provided by Proposition 58 with a loan to an irrevocable trust, to buyout inherited property shares from siblings who are co-beneficiaries.

Prop 19 was promoted as a way to: “Increase funds for firefighters and wildfire containment programs; to eliminate unfair tax loopholes used by East Coast investors, celebrities, wealthy non-California residents, and trust fund heirs…” again, citing conspiracy theories publicized by critics of property tax relief in California. 

Looking at this legislation in-depth reveals that it also eliminates property tax increase protections for many more California property owners. “East Coast Investors” is a thinly disguised euphemism suggesting that it’s not really about your right to transfer your current tax-basis — it’s about thousands of voracious outside investors “gobbling up properties” on the beach or wherever, and renting them out at egregious prices to rich visitors and vacationers.

Not so. In fact, these property tax measures would affect mostly local residents inheriting property from their parents, not families from nearby states – as critics of property tax relief are claiming – with no evidence whatsoever to back up their claims. No evidence and no proof… simply free-floating conjecture.

Transferring A Parent’s Property Tax Rate & Prop 58 Loans

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Transferring A Parent's Property Tax Rate & Prop 58 Loans

Transferring A Parent’s Property Tax Rate & Prop 58 Loans

This “parent to child exemption” has saved so many  beneficiaries, homeowners and commercial property owners, thousands  of dollars;  making it possible to put a few dollars away in the bank every year, with the ability to avoid property tax assessment… and transfer parents property taxes at a reasonably low base rate — having the right to keep parents property taxes at the low tax base they were accustomed to paying; i.e., inheriting property taxes that remain low.

Otherwise — very few middle class homeowners could afford to keep an inherited home. They’d have to sell out, given that most of these estate heirs or trust beneficiaries have their own home to maintain and pay taxes on! Or, beneficiaries can still go to a blog or Website that is deeply focused on Proposition 58 and Proposition 13, trust loans and estate property tax reduction like, for example  Property Tax Transfer Trusts.

Or you can conduct research on some other sites focused on Prop 58 and unique, consistently  effective uses of intra-family trusts as  trust loans, generally to buyout property shares owned by co-beneficiaries of the same estate or trust — along with locking in a low property tax base by avoiding CA property tax reassessment at current, typically  high market values, such as https://cloanc.com/tag/california-prop-58

Exactly why many of us think other states, particularly expensive  states, should be looking into property tax relief for all property tax transfer scenarios, involving property tax breaks like the parent to child transfer of inherited property, similar to tax breaks avoiding CA property tax reassessment at current market value. 

Realistic examples of high-tax states that desperately need property tax relief are, for example, states like Massachusetts, or New York, Texas, or Pennsylvania… States like this should all have a property tax exclusion or exemption to protect middle class homeowners  from property tax evaluation at current market rates… giving residential and commercial property owners the right to avoid property tax reassessment every year.  Establishing lower property taxes for all property owners, including landlords; which would  affect  apt. building and commercial store rentals all across any major state… thereby impacting the finances of middle class residents and commercial property owners in an extremely positive fashion.

The surprising reality in California is the fact that so many homeowners do not understand property tax transfer, nor do they understand the use of trust loans and trust lenders, when inheriting a property you want to keep, and need a trust loan to pay off beneficiaries who had insisted on selling their shares in the inherited property, to equalize cash for them in the process, so they don’t need to sell, often below fair value, to a third party.

People that do not understand any of this need to do a little research, on info blogs like this one; or on Websites that delve into Proposition 58, and how property tax transfers and trust loans work, such as the  Trust and Estate Loans Website… or at one of the transaction oriented sites like Commercial Loan Corp  This gives nervous  beneficiaries a great deal of accurate information to help them avoid estate conflicts with co-beneficiaries… typically siblings.  So for once, the inheritance and estate process becomes a win-win experience for all concerned! If you need assistance with a Trust or Estate Loan, you can reach Commercial Loan Corporation at 877-464-1066. They can assist you with the process and answer any questions you might have on the topic of Parent to Child Exclusion from Reassessment and transferring the property taxes from a parent to a child when a trust is involved. 

The Trust Loan Proposition 58 Process – Interview with Account Rep Abe Ordaz, Rising Star at Commercial Loan Corp.

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California Proposition 58 Parent to Child Property Tax Transfer Trust Loan Specialist

California Proposition 58 Parent to Child Property Tax Transfer Trust Loan Specialist

On Oct. 2nd, 2020, Property Tax Transfer Trusts sat down with Account Representative Abe Ordaz from Commercial Loan Corp, in Newport Beach, California; to discuss his routine with trust and estate attorneys, trust administrator and beneficiaries, explaining the trust loan / Proposition 58 funding process…

Property Tax Transfer:  Abe, thank you so much for sitting down with me today to chat about your work at Commercial Loan Corp and how you assist clients when it comes to using California Proposition 58 to transfer a parents low property tax base to a child who is inheriting a home.

Abraham Ordaz: Sure, my pleasure.

Property Tax Transfer:  Abe, who do you generally speak to when it comes to taking calls from prospects?

Abraham Ordaz: I speak to a variety of involved parties when it comes to helping a client transfer a parents low Prop 13 property tax base from a parent to a child. Often times the conversation begins with a Trust Administrator or a Trust Beneficiary who is interested in using Prop 58 to transfer a property tax base from a parent to a child on an inherited property. After that initial conversation it is common for me to also have a conversation with the Trust & Estate Attorney who is assisting them with the distribution of the trust or estate.

On occasion beneficiaries do not have an attorney who is currently working with them and I am able to refer them to one in their area who is familiar with the Proposition 58 Parent to Child Property Tax Transfer process and who can help them secure their property tax transfer benefit. At Commercial Loan Corporation we have helped hundreds of clients by providing them with a loan to an irrevocable trust so that an equal distribution can be made and they can meet the requirements set by the California Board of Equalization to qualify for the Proposition 58 property tax transfer benefit.

Property Tax Transfer: Are your clients and attorneys usually familiar with trust loans, and how they work with the California Proposition 58 process?

Abraham Ordaz: Many of the Attorneys that I work with are familiar with the Proposition 58 process, as well as Proposition 13 and the need for a trust loan to equalize a distribution when a trust or estate does not have sufficient liquid assets. In fact, many of my clients are referred to me by their trust and estate Attorney.

We are one of the only California Trust and Estate Lenders who will lend directly to an Irrevocable Trust with no personal guarantee from the acquiring beneficiary and we are the only California lender that I am aware of that specializes in these types of transactions, specifically to help our clients secure every single Proposition 58 property tax benefit.

That’s the reason I get so many Attorney referrals.  Attorneys want to make sure their clients are in good hands, when it comes to something this important – and that the process is done 100% correctly so that the client will qualify for the Proposition 58 parent to child exclusion, or the parent to child exemption, from property tax reassessment.  Attorneys are well aware that we typically help clients save more than $6,000 per year in property taxes on an inherited home.  Without exception, that’s the bottom line critical issue for them!

Property Tax Transfer: Abe, that is fantastic that you have developed such great relationships with Trust & Estate Attorneys.  Do you usually provide them with an estimate on how much you would be able to save their clients when it comes to property taxes?

Abraham Ordaz: Yes, we provide a free cost benefit analysis for each client. It tells them exactly how much we expect their client to save in property taxes each year as opposed to if their property were to be reassessed. At that time we also provide them with a free quote for the trust loan so that we can make sure it is in their best interest. In most cases it is of great benefit and we generally save our clients over $6,000 per year in property taxes by helping them keep a parents low Prop 13 property tax base.

Property Tax Transfer:  That’s significant. Do you get into the various particulars with Proposition 58, and  how that works in concert with loans to trusts?

Abraham Ordaz: Yes, we break everything down into very simple terms so that the Proposition 58 property tax transfer and trust loan process are all easy to understand. That is one of the reasons why so many Trust and Estate Attorneys who deal with California Proposition 58 love to work with us. 

Property Tax Transfer:  Got it. Abe, how do you help your clients who are interested in keeping a parents low property tax base on an inherited home understand how the trust loan and Proposition 58 parent to child transfer benefits work, keeping the initial inheritance property transfer taxes down, buying out siblings’ property ownership shares, and so on?  Yet keeping it very simple.

Abraham Ordaz: I start with the basics of Proposition 58 and the California Board of Equalization requirements for a Parent to Child Property Tax Transfer. I then help them determine how much their trust or estate will need in order to make an equal distribution. After that we review all the numbers together and I answer any questions they may have on the process. Next we get their Attorney involved so that they can handle all of the legal aspects of the Proposition 58 parent to child exclusion and provide us with all of the required information for the trust or estate.

Lastly, we provide them with the funds needed so that an equal distribution can be made in order for them to meet that qualification requirement for Prop 58. The Attorney or Property Tax Consultant then helps them submit their property tax transfer request to the County Assessors office so that they can secure their parents low property tax base.  

Property Tax Transfer:  At the end of the day it’s really just all about saving money on property taxes for clients, isn’t it. It’s a complex process, but the motivations remains very simple, doesn’t it?

Abraham Ordaz: Yes, bottom line, it’s a simple matter for these clients and lawyers.  It’s all about how we can help clients save money on property taxes – to keep their family home. I help explain all this clearly to the heirs that want to keep their inherited property. 

Property Tax Transfer: Yes I see.  Abe, how do you explain why the trust is so crucial to this entire process?

Abraham Ordaz: Typically when attorneys ask about the trust loan process – I tell them our loan goes directly to the trust… and follows the property.  Conventional lenders want to take to take the property out of the trust – but once the property is taken out of the trust, this often triggers a reassessment…  So if you took a cash loan from a traditional bank for example – you’d end up putting the property in the beneficiary’s name and thus get reassessed at current property value. Which in most cases raises the property tax rate significantly. If  the property was purchased say 20 years ago, the property tax would be significantly higher today. 

Property Tax Transfer:  Got it.  Abe, do you get into the customer service aspect at all?  I understand that a very special kind of customer service is critical to this process, to be successful, so to speak, with each family.  

Abraham Ordaz: Yes… Customer service is the most important aspect to our business and we try to be our best version of ourselves for every client regardless of the size of the loan. Everyone is treated equally and respectfully.  Everyone that joins the Commercial Loan Corp family, as it were, is a V.I.P. client!

Property Tax Transfer: That’s very interesting and a rare thing to find these days in this business climate. Well, we want to thank you so much for sitting and chatting with us today.  We really appreciate it.

Abraham Ordaz:  It’s my pleasure. Thanks for having me.

PART THREE: If Every State in America Had Property Tax Relief Similar to California…

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California Property Taxes

California Property Taxes

Property Tax Relief for Residential & Commercial Property Owners in Every State ~ Regardless of Net Worth and Property Evaluation

It’s crystal clear to many of us that every state in the United States could propose, and pass into law, a property tax system with property tax relief measures resembling California’s Proposition 13 and Proposition 58.

As in California, states with governors that actually care about the citizens in their state; or, more specifically, residential and commercial property owners in their state – could also make use of loans to irrevocable trusts from licensed trust lenders, to provide a unique, effective way to deal with property-based sibling conflicts – or simply to mitigate crippling property tax hikes.

Again, as in all 58 counties in the state of California, with the advent of these property tax breaks, middle class family members in all states could walk through life happier, feeling a tiny bit wealthier perhaps, with a first-time sense that there is, in their state, a fair-minded property tax system in place; that regular working families can benefit from, similar to property tax relief in California — and not just V.I.P. tax breaks for wealthy property owners. 

So middle class property owners, estate heirs and trust beneficiaries would end up with a win-win inheritance or estate experience… Regardless what state they are in, what their net-worth is, or how much their inherited real estate is valued at.  As in California, property tax relief would exist in an even playing field, in all states for all property owners, for all heirs and beneficiaries who are inheriting real property.

Howard Jarvis and his team of property tax relief proponents originated California Proposition 13 property tax breaks, which later spawned Proposition 58 tax benefits, including the ability to keep parents property taxes, while avoiding property tax reassessment… However they did not realize, in their own time, was that the property tax measures they had invented, actually reflected the property ownership and fair-minded taxation controls that the founders of this country had in mind from the  very beginning.

Property Tax Relief Patriots 

Yearly uncontrolled, unpredictable, crippling property tax hikes every year – that sees elderly widows being evicted, and aging retirees and veterans living on fixed incomes foreclosed on, and thrown onto the street – was certainly NOT what the founders and rebellious patriots had in mind over two hundred years ago, when they fought their way out from under egregious taxation imposed by a certain British king.

Different, yet similarly effective measures is essentially what a certain successful patriotic landlord named Howard Jarvis accomplished when he and other supporters of property tax relief fought for Proposition 13, for the ability to avoid  property tax reassessment under present day rates; for parent to child transfer or parent to child exclusion when benefiting from parents’ property tax transfer. They won the right of CA Proposition 13 transfer of property, and won the ability to transfer parents property taxes and keep parents property taxes, when inheriting a home and/or land and when inheriting property taxes associated with their inheritance.  They managed to put authentic property tax relief in place in the great state of California, in 1978 — not just for V.I.P.s and the wealthy (as current critics falsely claim), but for the middle class, and all Californian property owners .

Therefore, if we want to benefit from a long-term, reliable system of property tax relief measures, and get out from under yearly, frequently debilitating property tax – we’re going to have to educate ourselves on what type of property tax relief system each state requires; and go about discussing these property tax relief measures with approachable government representatives, approximating what  Mr. Jarvis had accomplished, with the help of other property tax relief patriots, 42 years ago.