Superstorm Sandy’s arrival in late October of 2012 led to intense financial difficulties for many New York and New Jersey residents. With constant talk about the state of the economy and the housing bubble, many individuals had been struggling to maintain their homes and lifestyles even before this natural disaster hit.
Yoram Eliyahu, an experienced real estate professional has been watching the progress of real estate for many years, and was aware of the impact the storm had on an already struggling market. Many homes and properties in flood plains were devastated, and many homeowners were left with few options. With limited assistance from agencies like FEMA or insurance companies, questions have been raised regarding repairs, property taxes and property values
If you have questions regarding your property taxes or value following Sandy, Yoram Eliyahu suggests directing questions to the local government agencies available to assist you. The Nassau County Department of Assessment is responsible for developing fair assessments of properties within the county. More information can be found at their website, County Assessor Office . Within the town of Hempstead, the Office of the Receiver of Taxes can be found at Receiver of Taxes Office
Yoram Eliyahu has taken special note of the Department of Financial Services (http://www.dfs.ny.gov/) which has a section devoted to helping those affected by Superstorm Sandy. Resources include disaster assistance, understanding your credit score and more. The Department’s storm hotline is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1-800-339-1759.
In special cases where legal assistance is needed, Yoram Eliyahu suggests contacting the New York Legal Assistance Group at NYLAG or by phone at (212) 613-5000.