Category Archives: Uncategorized

As a property owner, you may wonder why I often recommend obtaining an appraisal when considering a real estate tax appeal for your owner-occupied property. This is particularly important if you operate a business from the property. Here are three compelling reasons why securing an appraisal is essential for a successful tax appeal. 1. Compliance […]

In 2024, southern townships of Cook County have been hit with the most significant property tax increases in nearly three decades.  The second installment of the 2023 real estate tax bills, due on August 1, 2024, showed a median increase of almost 20%, with some areas experiencing hikes exceeding 30%.  These soaring taxes could force […]

The second installment 2023 tax bill will be due for all Cook County property owners and taxpayers on Thursday, August 1, 2024.  Periodically, we like to inform taxpayers of the myriad of options they have to pay their property taxes. Many property owners escrow their real estate taxes and authorize mortgage companies to pay their […]

The 2023 second installment tax bills are now available on the Cook County Treasurer’s website (www.cookcountytreasurer.com), click on payment details (purple box), type in your property’s Permanent Index Number and then click on the link to the second installment 2023 tax bill.  The tax bills became available on-line on the Treasurer’s website on Monday, June […]

The Illinois Department of Revenue has released its final 2023 Cook County equalization factor of 3.0163.  This equalization factor is 3.17% higher than the 2022 Cook County equalization factor of 2.9237.  The final 2023 Cook County equalization factor is 6.16% higher than the tentative 2023 Cook County equalization factor that was previously released at the […]

2024 is a triennial reassessment year for all properties located in Chicago.  As a result of this reassessment, all properties located in Chicago will be revalued and reassessed in 2024.  Already, the 2024 assessments for properties located in Rogers Park Township have issued and the assessments for West Chicago Township will issue in late May […]

On Tuesday, March 19, 2024, Larry Rogers, Jr. convincingly won his sixth term as Cook County Board of Review Commissioner.  Rogers represents the city’s south side and the southern suburbs of Cook County. Rogers beat his challenger Larecia Tucker 62% to 38%.  Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi contributed $680,000 of his own money to fund […]

On Wednesday, March 13th, the Illinois Supreme Court denied the appeal petition by the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago (BOMA) to overturn the Appellate Court’s ruling to allow the transfer tax referendum on the March 19 primary ballot.  The Illinois Supreme Court did not overturn the Illinois Appellate Court who stated in their […]

In the intricate landscape of urban governance, tax policies often serve as a battleground where competing interests clash, and Chicago is no exception.  Recently, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposal to increase taxes on real estate transactions exceeding $1 million sent shockwaves through the city’s political and economic spheres.  However, this ambitious plan faced a significant setback […]

The Illinois Department of Revenue announced a tentative 2023 Cook County Equalization Factor of 2.8414 on February 8, 2024.  This tentative 2023 Cook County Equalization Factor is 2.81% lower than the 2022 Cook County Equalization Factor of 2.9237.  Every year, the Illinois Department of Revenue is legally required to calculate the equalization factor to achieve […]