What to Look For in a Property Tax Lender
Do you need a property tax lender because you received the property tax bill on your residential and/or commercial property, and you know you don’t have the funds immediately available but want to pay your taxes to avoid the punitive interest, fees, penalties, and foreclosure risk? Then, you need the right kind of Texas property tax lender. First, let’s review what to look for.
What to Look For in a Property Tax Lender
It is vital to find a property tax loan company that understands your needs as a customer, whether as a residential property owner or business owner of a commercial property. Before signing a contract to pay your outstanding property tax in Texas, what should you verify?
Do They Have Ethical and Responsible Lending Practices?
Don’t accept a loan offer just because the repayment amount looks low. Since you will have a long-term relationship with the property tax lending company, you need to be sure they have fair debt collection practices and are truthful in their communication, among other ethical and responsible behaviors.
Licensing and Legitimacy (Are They Compliant With State Standards)
Licensing requires property tax lenders to comply with standards set by various government levels and relevant business organizations. Here are three you can measure your proposed property tax lending company against.
- The Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) grades companies on their performance and trustworthiness. Each business that becomes a BBB member receives a letter grade derived from more than a dozen factors, including how the company handles customer complaints. American Finance & Investment Company, Inc. (AFIC) has been accredited since 1954 and has an A+ rating, the highest available.
- Are They licensed by the Texas OCCC
The Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) licenses and regulates non-depository lenders in the state of Texas, such as AFIC, to create a lawful, fair, and healthy credit environment. You have a right to request information from the OCCC if you want to find out if a property tax lender is licensed. AFIC’s OCCC License number is 159698.
- Are They Members of Other Credible Associations Like the TPTLA
AFIC is a proud member of the Texas Property Tax Lienholders Association (TPTLA)- with its President serving on the association Board- a statewide alliance of companies protecting and advancing the profession of property tax lending. All members are committed to operating in accordance with all applicable federal laws, state laws, and administrative rules, and upholding high standards of ethical conduct.
What Does Their Application Process Look Like?
Nobody wants to use a complicated property tax loan application that takes a long time to finalize. That is why we don’t even have an application at American Finance & Investment Co., Inc. (AFIC). Most borrowers can close your loan within an hour of speaking to us for the first time.
What Are the Repayment Terms?
Do you want affordable repayment terms from your property tax lender? That is a fair expectation, and you should find a lender that designs the tax loan to fit your budget. With AFIC, you make repayments based on what you can afford, and you can even defer payments for up to 36 months.
What is Their Late Payment Policy?
Even when you are committed to paying your Texas property tax loan on time, unexpected events happen. Therefore, it is good to know the late payment policy before signing with any property tax lender. At American Finance & Investment Company, Inc. (AFIC), we work with our clients to find a solution when they expect their payments to be late.
Are They Willing to Answer Your Questions and Can They Answer them Effectively?
Is the property tax lender you are researching answering all your questions honestly, or are they vague in their replies? At AFIC, when people ask how they can be sure we will pay their taxes, we tell them that it is in everyone’s interest to ensure the payments are made. We are a small family business with direct borrower access to decision makers.
Do They Have a Local Presence?
Each local government sets tax rates and collects the property taxes they use to provide services. Your property tax lender should have a local presence to understand the local tax processes. American Finance & Investment Co., Inc. (AFIC) has a local presence in Austin and El Paso but has been serving all counties in Texas for decades.
Look at Reviews
Everybody should look at online reviews to see if customers feel comfortable enough to comment on a property tax lender’s service. Our reviews can be found here (insert link to reviews) and we are proud of the service we provide and the 5 star google rating we maintain.
Get Help Paying Your Property Taxes
AFIC can provide you with an instant quote by completing the form on our homepage. For qualifying properties, we can help you pay off your delinquent taxes and offer you the following benefits:
- Quick and completely online process
- No money down
- No credit check
- Free 30-day rate match
- Match competitors and beat their rate by 1%
- Avoid high penalties and foreclosure
We pride ourselves on finding solutions to suit the unique needs of our clients. If you would like to discuss our property tax loans, please contact our experienced team at AFIC today.
