Due to the amount of mortgage fraud that took place in the real estate market in Florida during the recent past, many homeowners became the victim of high property taxes. Property taxes that should have been much lower, but due to the inflated homes sale prices, the taxes were inflated as well.

In July of 2008, a law was passed that required the Sheriff's office to report the addresses of homes that were used in mortgage fraud to the appraisers and tax assessor's office. Once the addresses are received, the tax assessors and appraisers would then decide whether the home is in turn affecting their neighbor's property taxes and if they are in need of a reassessment.

Miami-Dade County has begun to utilize the new law and so far 52 addresses were submitted to the appraiser's office from Miami-Dade Police Department and not one of them led to a reassessment. However, the Miami-Dade Police Department is the only law enforcement agency that has submitted any addresses in Dade County, Florida. As a homeowner you have the right to know if you are being penalized for living close to home that was used in mortgage fraud.

If you believe that your property taxes are inflated, and you feel that your home needs to be reassessed, you need to take action. Don't wait for the law enforcement agencies to stumble upon the problem, contact your local County Tax Office; they will be able to let you know what the process is to having your property reassessed, and perhaps even your taxed being readjusted!