Ep 27 - Slash Property Taxes: Eric Owens' Proven Appeal Methods
What if you could cut your property tax bill by hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars? Eric Owens from Swartz + Associates reveals the insider tactics that most property owners never discover. On this episode of Metcalf Money Moment, hosts Jeb, Ethan, and Eric dive deep into real-world victories, including a stunning $10 million reduction on a Florida hotel and a $600,000 savings on Connecticut retail property. You'll learn why Jackson County's 2025 assessment chaos devastated businesses with 10x increases, how triple net lease tenants often miss their appeal rights, and the exact documentation strategy that wins cases. Whether you manage a multimillion-dollar portfolio or own a single investment property, Eric breaks down the appeal process from informal negotiations to district court settlements, plus reveals the critical mistake that causes new buyers to go underwater financially within their first year of ownership.
What you will Learn in this Episode:
Master the art of property tax appeals by gathering comparable sales data from your neighborhood and focusing exclusively on valuation evidence.
Navigate state-specific assessment year cycle requirements, including Kansas's annual January 1st effective valuation date versus Missouri's odd-year schedule, ensuring you meet critical filing deadlines for informal and formal board of equalization hearings.
Understand how sale price disclosure laws in both Kansas and Missouri trigger automatic valuation increases after property purchase, potentially rendering investment properties unprofitable when buyers fail to account for reassessment impacts on cash flow projections.
Tune into the Metcalf Money Moment podcast for expert insights on wealth management and retirement planning! Join Jeb, Ethan, and Eric for practical Estate Planning strategies that you can implement to unlock financial clarity and confidence. Listen now to inspire your financial journey!
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Property tax consultant Eric Owens discusses the services of Swartz + Associates
02:45 Examples of clients for whom a property valuation reduction occurred
06:07 Business property owners versus residential homeowners and discussion of Jackson County property tax increase crisis
10:31 Appeal process stages: informal appeal process through the board of equalization to district court appeals settlements
14:48 To lower valuations, documentation is essential for winning cases
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Evidence trumps emotion in property tax appeals. County assessors require comparable sales data, financial projections, and documented reasoning tied to the effective valuation date, not complaints about rising tax bills or payment hardships.
Contingency fee basis consulting eliminates upfront risk. Firms like Swartz and Associates only collect payment when they achieve actual real estate tax reductions, making professional representation accessible even when appeals stretch over years through the district court.
Sale price disclosure requirements in Kansas and Missouri automatically trigger reassessments. Investment properties purchased without factoring in next year's valuation increase relative to the purchase price can quickly become unprofitable cash flow disasters.
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Eric is a licensed Certified General Appraiser and serves as a Director for Swartz + Associates, Inc. (SAI). SAI is a full-service property tax consulting firm that specializes in the review, analysis, and appeal of commercial real estate and business personal property tax valuations. SAI has experience across a wide range of property tax matters and serves multiple industries.
DISCLAIMER:
This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax or legal advice. We recommend discussing your particular situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor. Eric Owens, and Swartz + Associates, inc is not affiliated with or endorsed by LPL Financial and Metcalf Partners Wealth Management.
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