[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by FrankieDee

well, after several back & forth with the bank, it appears that as several of you stated - the first couple of months of escrow represented taxes based on the land. And now we're being taxed for the house, which is still almost double what our larger Labelle home is. There was no indication anywhere on our closing paperwork that that amount was for unimproved land, which we really have an issue with the bank for not making that clear. And why the heck are the taxes so extremely high just because we changed counties, less than a mile from the other house and taxes are almost double. I'd expect this up in CT, where our summer home is, but thought the tax situation was better in Florida. Smaller home down here, in Lake county and taxes are even higher than a larger, lake front home in CT. How the heck is this a tax-friendly state??? Guess we have a lot to learn.....

I am not in real estate but thought it was general knowledge that the first year taxes are on land only. And reading THIS forum you hear of the different tax rates from different counties. You can go to sumterpa.com and read the tax assessments on homes the same size and property placement as the one you are thinking about. Or the tax appraiser site for Marion and Lake counties and find out the same info. You are the person spending your money. It isn't up to the bank.