For many, the beginning of a new year signals a time to make some sort of change in their lives and become more like their ideal selves. For others, January signals the time to make a different kind of change, one that is much easier to make: trimming their property tax bill. The tax appeal process in New Jersey involves a number of steps and using an experienced property tax attorney to lead you through the process will make that New Year’s resolution much easier to keep.

Since tax appeal season in New Jersey is toward the beginning of the year, lowering your property taxes is a perfect New Year’s resolution. Toward the end of January of each year, every New Jersey property owner is supposed to receive their annual assessment. That’s the little green card that comes from the tax assessor’s office. Since all properties within a particular municipality in New Jersey are taxed at the same rate, it is the assessment which differentiates one property owner’s tax bill from another and is the real measure of whether a property is being taxed fairly or not. The period in which one can generally appeal an assessment in New Jersey is from the time the assessment is received until April 1 (May 1 if there was a reassessment or revaluation).

The first step to understanding whether you are being taxed too much is understanding how your property is being valued.

In New Jersey, your assessment is the value at which your property was appraised at the time of the last revaluation. Though the amount at which the municipality values your property changes from year to year, your assessment typically remains the same. Every year, each municipality in New Jersey is assigned an “equalization ratio,” which is intended to reflect the current value of the properties in a particular municipality in relation to their value in year of the valuation.

You can find your municipality’s equalization ration by calling your town’s tax assessor or the county tax board. It can also be found at the New Jersey Division of Taxation website. The “average ratio” is the percentage of “true value” that your assessment is deemed to be. In other words, divide your assessment by the equalization ratio to obtain the true valuation of your property. This is the number your assessor is actually using to compute your property tax, not your assessment.

For many people, the decision about whether they should appeal their assessment is an easy one once they realize the actual valuation of their property. For others, especially people who have owned a property for a long time and have not been thinking about buying or selling, the question of whether to appeal an assessment is less clear.

Here are several rules of thumb to consider in deciding whether to appeal your assessment:

• As your assessment gets older and your equalization ratio gets lower, there is greater likelihood that your assessment has fallen out of line with your property’s actual value.
• Conversely, when an equalization ration rises above 100% because property values have fallen (as they have in recent years), that means that on average, properties are overassessed in those municipalities. The property owner still bears the burden of proving that their particular property is overassessed but an average ratio of over 100% is a good indicator of overassessment.
• When you live in a development or neighborhood where properties are very similar, and prices have dropped significantly, your individual property value has probably decreased and your assessment and equalization ratio may not have kept pace.
• Whenever a property has unique characteristics that make it very different from those nearby, there is often a case to be made for reducing the assessment. For example, a very large old home in a neighborhood of smaller, newer homes will often be assessed as a larger home with the characteristics of the surrounding areas. In fact, such homes tend to be more difficult to sell and often warrant lower assessments.

The next step in the process for individuals is to decide whether they want to work with an attorney in this process. While corporations and other legal entities must be represented by an attorney under New Jersey law, an individual homeowner may represent him or herself. Nevertheless, there are very good reasons to consider retaining one:

• Many lawyers work on a contingency basis so that there are no legal fees unless your taxes are reduced. There are certain fixed out-of-pocket expenses that the property owner pays but the lawyer receives a percentage of the tax savings if, and only if, the appeal is successful.
• A lawyer working on a contingency basis should provide a free consultation and do his or her own independent research to determine whether an appeal is likely to succeed. If a lawyer does not return calls and take the time to tell you why they believe your assessment should be reduced, it is a signal to look elsewhere.
• Most of all, there is the convenience of having an experienced professional handle your case. You do not have to worry about any of the rules which can be burdensome and, frankly arbitrary. (For example, property tax appeals can be dismissed if the petition is not printed on legal paper). You do not have to testify at a hearing, which is usually unfamiliar and uncomfortable for the homeowner.
• Many people believe you will end up with a better result when you are represented by a lawyer. This extra savings year after year more than offsets the lawyer’s fee.

Take for example the case of Stephen and Rachel Pineles, who decided to appeal the assessment on their Essex County New Jersey home in 2010. “My town had not had a revaluation in over twenty years and my assessment was outrageously high in comparison with the actual value of my home,” said Stephen Pineles. “Hiring an attorney to handle the property tax appeal was definitely the right decision for me. I did not have to worry about anything. Initially, the tax assessor offered a reduction that was on the low side. In the end, my attorney negotiated a much better settlement and my property taxes were reduced by over $3700 or almost 30% of my tax bill.”

As with anything else, there is some amount of risk in appealing your assessment. In New Jersey, if your case is unsuccessful, you will not recover your out-of-pocket expenses. In addition, under New Jersey law, your assessor has the right to argue that your assessment is too low. This right is limited, however, to cases where your property is undervalued by a measure of 15%. If your property’s assessment divided by the equalization ratio is $100,000, the assessor can only argue that assessment should be increased if he or she can prove your property is really worth at least $115,000. If your attorney has done his research well and has determined that there is a good case for lowering your assessment, it is unlikely to happen.

As the new year begins, in addition to some of the more difficult goals and changes people contemplate, it may be worthwhile to consider trying to lower your tax bill. It could be one of the easiest and most profitable resolutions you make.

We’ve all been accused at one point or another of being a fake, weirdo, loud or high maintenance; generally, a poser. Some of us learn to ignore these harsh words and embrace ourselves as we are, but others have given up and became slaves to every passing trend.

NO MORE HIDING! For too long we have been confined and shut down by our peers. Embrace the lifestyle that suits you, the one YOU want to live. Mix up a few, if you want, as long as you’re being yourself and not just what’s socially acceptable!

Take the power out of those words that used to hurt our feelings and promote style over fashion. What others called a fashion faux pas you can reveal to the world as your own unique style. Whether you identify with one of the six Lifestyles below or you’re a fusion of one or more depending on your mood.

Now choose Your Lifestyle and by all means don’t limit yourself!

Alternative – You aren’t on the edge you are the edge. If you like skinny, skinny jeans, thick shoes, ripped pieces, chains, zippers, skulls, chokers, loud hair colors and your eyelashes as dark as the shadows then rock on until your enemies are gone. Embrace the Alternative Lifestyle!

Bohemian – You are a free Spirit and like everything easy, breezy, unconventional, wild, and exotic, with effortless beauty. If this describes your wardrobe and life motto then you are loving the non-conformist Bohemian Lifestyle – Peace, Love and Fashion!

Classic – The Classic style is the foundation of all your fashion. If you like stylish A-Line skirts, the sexy little black dress and appreciate the elegant style of tailored clothes then your lifestyle is definitely C-L-A-S-S-I-C.

Glamour – You’re always ready for a photo op because you’re constantly dressed to impress. Your wardrobe is not complete without the finest accessories and a little sparkle (or maybe a lot) and if you refer to all your favorite designers by their first name then, no doubt, you are living the Glamorous Lifestyle.

Urban – You are catwalking the streets of the concrete jungle! You like to keep your style a little bit sporty showing the boys that you don’t have to be formal to be beautiful. Your style defines your own unique personality and street smarts with a touch of trendy fashion and hip-hop influence then you’re rocking the Urban Lifestyle.

Vintage – It’s like you walked straight out of a black and white film searching for those awesome fashion from days gone past – 50′s Rockabilly, 70′s Go-Go skirt, 60′s Beatniks – the Vintage Lifestyle is your niche and you wear it well!

Embrace your style and be free! But whatever you do… BE Ostentatious, BE Bold, BE a Limited Edition!

Dreaming of the perfect getaway? Consider a trip to Lanzarote, the easternmost Canary Island located just 80 miles off the coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean. This remote island is famous for white sand beaches and volcanic landscape, a remnant from eruptions in the 18th and 19th centuries. The island is owned by Spain, so brushing up on your Spanish prior to Lanzarote travel is always a good idea.

There are many beautiful accommodations in Lanzarote. The island features luxurious hotels, comfy bungalows and villas and rental apartments. Many resorts feature beach-front properties that put you just footsteps away from Lanzarote’s gorgeous beaches. If the village lifestyle is more your thing, look for accommodations near the town of Macher, a quiet local village.

The best way to book Lanzarote travel is through a vacation club. By paying an upfront fee, you can access deep discounts to the island’s best properties. As an added bonus, you will also receive discounts to luxury hotels around the world. With a vacation club membership, you can use membership discounts to return to Lanzarote for years to come or to explore other island getaways.

Once on the island, you will find activities to suit all lifestyles. Boat and fishing tours are popular choices for all tourists. The north coast of the island is known for surfing, sailing, windsurfing and power boat racing due to rougher seas and stronger winds. Tour operators provide hiking tours of the island’s volcanoes, which give views of the area’s lava tubes and caves. Of course, relaxing by the beach or pool is always a tempting option for those seeking a relaxing vacation.

Lanzarote is a great vacation spot for all types of families. Grab a vacation club membership, book Lanzarote travel and you’ll be on your way to a dream vacation in no time.

Distance learning through online education has become more and more popular in recent years with many colleges offering a variety of courses and even degrees across a diverse range of subjects. Short duration programs to online education Master’s degrees are now possible with established universities offering students many educational options.

Online education is now an accepted part of the mainstream education stream. Here are some quick facts about how online education has developed over the years in the United States:
• Over 60% of schools offering undergrad programs in regular classroom courses are also offering the same programs via the online medium.
• More than 40% of schools that are offering ‘live’ classroom-based Masters Programs are also offering online education Masters Degree courses.
• The above point holds good even for business schools with more than 40% schools offering business courses online.
• Even the Ivy League colleges like Harvard for instance have recognized the importance of online education. Harvard offers more than 100 courses online including certificate courses and even an online education Masters Degree course all of which can be completed via the Internet.

Most of these schools, which have a physical presence, offer programs in a ‘virtual university’ setup. In fact, there are plenty of online universities like Walden University and Jones University, which do not have a physical campus at all. Students who have enrolled themselves in an online education Master’s program or other degrees are able to get most of the facilities that regular students attending the university get like financial aid, career advice, academic counseling and a wealth of other educational resources.

How to pursue an Online Educational Master’s?
• The first and foremost thing to do is decide on the subject you wish to do your degree in. Many students surprisingly do not research enough on this and take up any course only to realize halfway through that this is not what they want to do.
• If you are working with a company, you might try to talk them into financing your education since a Master’s degree is a valuable addition and will prove to be beneficial to the company.
• After zeroing in on the course, research the various universities that provide the course and compare them with each other. There are various forums online, which discuss these topics and are a great source of information for the student.
• Once you have enrolled into the program, try to prepare yourself by reading through various materials regarding the subject.
• Ensure that you are regular with the course study. Attend the virtual classes and complete your assignments on a regular basis, as it is easy to be left behind on your work.

Pursuing an online education, Master’s is an attractive option for many people because of its sheers convenience. This is more so in the case of people who are pursuing a degree and balancing a job at the same time. It must be kept in mind that the convenience has to be balanced out with a proper study regimen because there is no one behind you making you do it, and therefore it becomes very easy to get slack in such distance education programs.