Going into buying a home, I had to wrap my head around a lot of things. There was finding the home itself, then the whole process of negotiating the offer, the mortgage, and then all the thoughts of what you want to do when you actually move in. A big part of the financial aspect of the purchase and mortgage is projecting your monthly payments. Property taxes are a significant part of this.

The thing is, even once you pay your mortgage down, you’ll still be paying those property taxes in perpetuity. In a state with high property taxes like New Jersey, it’s a sizable percentage of what you might pay in rent some other places. I was aware of property taxes. I assumed they’d be predictable and logical. Boy was I wrong.

Disclaimer: Per usual, I have to make clear that I am (obviously) not an expert on this topic. This piece reflects my growth from zero understanding, and hopefully underscores that you should get professional advice as you make your own financial decisions. Comments and corrections are very welcome!

Continue reading “Property taxes, who knew?” →