What are property taxes & how do they intertwine with mortgage payments?

by Pierre C. Rumpf 05/15/2023

Millions of homeowners dedicate their income to mortgage payments and property taxes every year. If you intend to purchase a home in the future, knowing how mortgage payments and property taxes work and intertwine can give you a better understanding of where your money goes. 


How does property tax work?

Property tax is collected by your local government and allocated to provide resources for citizens such as state parks, schools, road improvement and more. 

The property tax amount is calculated based on the local property tax rate and the value of your home. 


Mortgages & property taxes

Your mortgage insurance includes more than the raw amount of your home. In addition to the cost of the home borrowed, the amount also covers interest rates, mortgage insurance, homeowners insurance and the property tax for your district. 

Your mortgage lender estimates the amount of property tax you’ll owe at the end of the year based on the property tax rate of your area and divides it by 12. 

This amount is then added into your monthly mortgage payments. If you underpay, you’ll owe money to the government, but if you overpay, you’ll receive a tax refund. 


What about after I pay off my house?

Paying off your mortgage is a gradual process worthy of celebration. However, once the house is paid off, it’s essential to remember yearly property taxes are still due. 

To stay on top of payments, you can contact your local government, and they can invoice the amount you owe each year. They may also offer you multiple payment options, as some require one lump sum per year, while others may offer quarterly payments.  

Understanding your property tax options puts you ahead of the game and helps you better understand how your money helps to improve your community’s overall well-being. 

About the Author
Author

Pierre C. Rumpf

Broker Profile: Pierre comes from a diverse background. His adolescent and early adult years found him working for his father, a renowned structural engineer, and his brother, an architectural designer and general contractor. His knowledge of construction design (architectural & structural) and practices is significant. He coupled his construction background with his considerable sales experience, by becoming licensed to sell real estate in Massachusetts in 1986.

Pierre is also a licensed Attorney in the Commonwealth, who formerly worked for the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office as a litigator in the Victim & Witness Assistance Division of the Family & Community Crimes Bureau, litigating cases involving victims of violent crime, and since then has had his own legal practice.

For decades, Pierre has excelled in helping buyers of real estate find that condo, single-family, multi-family, lot of lands, or commercial property they desire to buy, or by effectively marketing his clients’ properties to sell their property for the most amount of money possible. His professional background embodies the ideal combination of construction, sales, negotiating, and contract drafting, which is essential to actualizing his clients’ goals and/or dreams. He does all of this with attention to detail, integrity, and success.

Since 1995, PCR Realty has helped buyers and sellers make their transactions as successful as possible. Using a consultative approach, PCR Realty approaches each experience as a unique opportunity for its clients. As a full-service real estate brokerage firm, PCR Realty provides leading-edge services for buyers & sellers.

When it comes to successfully navigating today’s complex real estate market, you need to work with someone who has the experience and commitment to see it done right. PCR Realty excels at matching buyers to sellers. From state-of-the-art marketing to an experienced broker, PCR Realty works diligently to far exceed your expectations. PCR Realty invites you to learn more.