News
Churchill Legal Group Updates Website as 2012 Property Tax Appeal Season Begins
Media Contact: Barbara Fornasiero: EAFocus Communications; 248.651.7536; cell: 586.817.8414; barbara@eafocus.com
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan – February 22, 2012 – Churchill Legal Group PLC, a law firm specializing in commercial property tax appeals, has updated its website, Churchill Legal Group, to emphasize its niche as Michigan property tax appeal experts.
The enhancement of the website coincides with the beginning of the 2012 tax appeals “season,” with property assessment notices sent to commercial property owners in early February. The website notes that Churchill Legal Group helps owners of various types of commercial property lower their taxes, including:
- Industrial property
- Office buildings
- Banks with REO property
- Retail establishments
- Warehouses
- Vacant commercial land
- Golf courses
- Apartment complexes
Paul DePorre, a partner in Churchill Legal Group, says the current commercial real estate market lends itself to appeals, especially for those who purchased commercial property prior to the real estate market crash in 2007.
“Michigan property values have fallen dramatically in the past five years but municipalities' assessments have generally not been reduced accordingly,” says DePorre.
Churchill, which is focused on Michigan commercial properties with an assessed value between $1 million and $20 million, looks for discrepancies between the tax assessment and the true value of the property and handles the appeal from start to finish, operating on a contingency fee basis.
The website was created and updated by Mosaic Media of Troy.
About Churchill Legal Group, PLC
Churchill Legal Group is a Bloomfield Hills, Michigan-based law firm dedicated solely to property tax appeals for commercial and high-end residential properties. Churchill Legal Group effectively represents its clients’ interests from the local assessor level to the Tax Tribunal, with the ultimate goal of obtaining tax relief for over-assessed properties. Learn more at www.churchilllegalgroup.com.
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Churchill Legal Group Gaining Traction in Niche Commercial Property Tax Appeal Services
Veteran Real Estate Attorneys’ Caseload Grows as Michigan Commercial Property Values Lag
Media Contact: Barbara Fornasiero: EAFocus Communications; 248.651.7536; cell: 586.817.8414; barbara@eafocus.com
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan – January 31, 2012 – Churchill Legal Group, a law firm specializing in tax appeals and founded by veteran real estate attorneys Mark Hubbard and Paul DePorre, is steadily building a client base of long-term commercial property owners seeking tax relief on their over-assessed commercial properties. The window for tax appeals is approaching, with property assessment notices being sent in early February, and the nature of the current commercial real estate market lends itself to appeals, according to DePorre.
“The popular national statistic is that greater than two thirds of commercial properties are over assessed,” says DePorre. “It’s well documented that Michigan property values have fallen dramatically in the past five years, but municipalities have been reluctant to reduce assessments accordingly.”
Churchill is focused on Michigan commercial properties with an assessed value between $1 million and $20 million. Its clients generally purchased their properties prior to the real estate market crash in 2007.
“We look for discrepancies between the tax assessment and the true value of the property and handle the appeal from start to finish,” explains Hubbard. “Because we operate on a contingency fee basis, we don’t get paid unless the client gets a refund.”
Hubbard cautions that commercial tax appeals can be lengthy.
“The real estate crash has caused the number of tax appeals to mushroom and the Michigan Tax Tribunal’s docket is overburdened,” notes Hubbard. “Consequently, it can take two to three years before the Tribunal renders a decision. However, if a client wants to resolve its appeal sooner, Churchill pursues a settlement with the municipality before the appeal reaches the hearing stage.”
Hubbard adds that the timing of the appeals process doesn’t faze some commercial property owners, though.
“I met with a client two years after he first engaged Churchill for the appeals process and presented him with a check for more than $30,000,” recalls Hubbard. “He was focused on his core business, which was not real estate, and wasn’t involved with the ongoing details of the appeal beyond our periodic status updates, so to actually receive a check was a pleasant surprise. I think it would be fair to say he was pleased with the outcome.”
DePorre offers that even lessees can benefit from commercial property tax appeals.
“It’s a competitive real estate market, price-wise. Those leasing commercial real estate will look for new space if the landlord is passing along its high property taxes to tenants. That’s an incentive for lessees to approach their landlord about a property tax appeal, and an incentive for landlords to follow through,” concludes DePorre.
About Churchill Legal Group, PLC
Churchill Legal Group is a Bloomfield Hills, Michigan-based law firm dedicated solely to property tax appeals for commercial and high-end residential properties. Churchill Legal Group effectively represents its clients’ interests from the local assessor level to the Tax Tribunal, with the ultimate goal of obtaining tax relief for over-assessed properties. Learn more at www.churchilllegalgroup.com.
"I never worry about action, but only inaction."
Winston Churchill
