Note Buyer · Silver Spring, MD · Member since 2015 · 70 posts · 18 votes
Any way around paying the very high property tax, school tax etc. in SC? I purchased a Home in SC as a second home and the taxes are through the roof. Any ideas how to lower this or use it as a owner occupied property? I have another property in NC that I am keeping?
Lender · Charleston, SC · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
1y
Not really. All real property in SC defaults to the 6% assessment ratio. To receive the 4% ratio, you have to submit an application showing the property is your primary residence. They require tax returns, voter registration, car registration, driver license, and utility bills in the app to prove it's your primary. The diligence varies by county, but my experience has been that they check very thoroughly. It's not a check-in-the-box process like some states.
You can look into the ATI exemption, but I dont know if it applies to vacation homes.