My STUPID Mistake

[dkostel]

Hi,
I'm taking my parents (and my niece) on a cruise for their 50th anniversary. I originally booked us all into 1 cabin but then changed it to 2 cabins. I made the mistake of taking my name and my niece's off of the original reservation when I booked the 2nd cabin. Well something came up (my property tax went up 400%) and I can no longer afford the 2nd cabin. I called to have us two put back on the original res and the fare went up $800!!!!!! I guess I should have kept us on both reservations but that didn't seem right.

I just thought I'd post this incase anyone can benefit from my tremendous stupidity!!!

Donna

 

[DrCavin]

Does that mean your property value went up 400%? SELL!!!!

Did they charge you the difference of what you paid for 2 people & the current rate of having 4 people in the room? That stinks :-(

 

[tvguy]

I'm assuming you didn't add on or buy a new house.
Since 1978 when voters here approved Proposition 13, property taxes are capped at one percent of the sale price. If you add on, property taxes go up by an amount equal to one percent of the cost of the addition (swimming pools are considered additions). And annual increases are limited to 3 percent of the past years total proprty taxes.
My house cost $101,000 in 1983, so my property taxes then were $1010 a year. 21 years later, and after a $25,000 addition, my property taxes are $1600 a year. Market value of the house is now about $400,000.
What trigger this revolt in 1978 was there were literally little old ladies living in houses that they bought 30 years prior for $4,000, that were being forced out of their homes because the property taxes each year were more than the house cost. The county's argument was that the house was worth 100 times that now. Yeah right, the only way to be able to afford the taxes would be to sell the house!!

Is there an appeal process?
At least you can still go on the cruise, even if in one cabin.