Siegel & Callahan

LAWS ARE CHANGING

The field of real estate tax is in a state of disruption. The practice of tax assessment is data-driven and requires not only comprehensive integration of data-management tools and analytics, but also a boots-on-the-ground understanding of what’s driving the application of assessment practice in your local government. Our client-focused and innovation-based approach to the practice of property tax law remains crucial to developing fact-driven appeals that are effective in ensuring fair tax treatment for your property.

A SINGULAR FOCUS

Our firm’s concentration remains entirely centered on property tax. Because of this singular focus, we are 100% committed to your appeal. Immersing ourselves in this area of law has propelled our work to the forefront of assessment practice. Working shoulder to shoulder with thought leaders in the field both in the private sector and on the government side for more than 40 years, we are able to give you, our clients, an advantage that is unique in this field of practice.

IT’S PERSONAL

To us, “it’s personal” means we strive continually to engage the high stakes of property ownership. Through every phase of our casework, we never rush the discussions or factual explorations we have with our clients. Our discovery process remains fundamental to a thorough understanding of your case and essential to determining the key insights that we leverage for the success of your appeal. We are mindful that the key to critical insight into each appeal is fact-specific and unique. Whether commercial, industrial, or residential, real estate is inevitably the place where a personal dream has been realized or is itself the culmination of someone’s personal vision for themselves or for their enterprise. This understanding drives us to engage fully and personally at every level of our work.

OUR PROPERTY TAX APPEAL SERVICES

UNDERSTANDING WHAT MAKES A PROPERTY UNIQUE

Fair taxation and equitable assessment are essential to maintaining the viability of every type of property. Management and control of the property tax burden remain critical to the ongoing success of a property and the ventures it contains—whether it is an 80,000 square foot industrial plant, a 540-unit apartment complex, or a small shopping center.

To us, “It’s Personal” means we strive continually to engage the high stakes of property ownership. It’s critical that, through every phase of our casework, we never rush the discussions or factual explorations we have with our clients. Our discovery process is fundamental to a thorough understanding of your case, and essential to determining the key insights that we will leverage for the success of your appeal.

Siegel & Callahan’s representations include:

• Commercial — For many commercial rental properties, real-estate tax remains the single largest operating expense. Diminishing this burden not only augments the profitability of an asset but also has a direct and immediate effect on the stability of the existing tenant population, the asset’s attractiveness to potential tenants, and underwriting assumptions. For corporate-occupied and owner-occupied commercial structures, reducing the assessment burden is a key determinant of profitability.
• Industrial — Assessment appeals for industrial properties often require a multi-layered approach to valuation, combining market analysis, income capitalization, vacancy rates, and valuation of substantial non-real estate assets at the county and state levels or in the Circuit Court. With spiraling labor costs and recent slowdowns industrial market expansions, it remains critical to optimize asset value by controlling the tax burden.
• Shopping Centers — Commercial retail remains in a state of unprecedented disruption. The progressive trend toward e-commerce away from brick-and-mortar retail centers suddenly has accelerated the near-total shutdown of non-essential commercial assets, especially in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Siegel & Callahan’s lawyers, real estate professionals, and strategic teams combine decades of experience as thought leaders in property tax assessment with concentrations in brokerage and lease advisory to local and regional stakeholders.
• Multi-Family — In the current climate of disruption and uncertainty, aggressive management of the property tax is critical for the survival of multi-family assets across the valuation spectrum. Siegel & Callahan assembles the best and most comprehensive team possible for every appeal. Combining Siegel & Callahan’s integrated team workflow and proprietary analytics enables us to leverage market data to anticipate valuation trends in every region where we practice.
• Resdiential — Siegel & Callahan began single family work when owners of commercial and industrial properties we represented approached us to appeal the assessments of their homes. Our mission was to offer the same comprehensive thoroughness to the assessment of homes that we were already known for in our industrial and commercial practice.
• Affordable Housing — Because affordable assets are subject to non-market restrictions and limitations, a more nuanced understanding of income capitalization is fundamental to the aggressive pursuit of equitable tax treatment. Let the combined experience and collaborative focus of Siegel & Callahan’s lawyers and real estate professionals show you how effective thorough and rigorous treatment of your affordable property can be obtaining the tax savings that are critical to the success of your enterprise.
• Incentive Class — Siegel & Callahan possesses the acumen and experience to navigate successfully the matrix of regulatory compliance and municipal support required for favorable treatment under incentive guidelines. Our representations span the spectrum of incentive classification, including commercial, industrial, multi-family residential, historic renovations, and affordable housing.