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Real Estate Tax Relief StudyAugust 2016 Key Findings

Sam Hagedorn, [email protected]

PENN SCHOEN BERLAND1110 VERMONT AVENUE, NWSUITE 1200WASHINGTON, DC 20005

WASHINGTON • NEW YORK • SEATTLE • DENVER • LOS ANGELES • LONDON • MADRID • FRANKFURT • DUBAI

2016 Arlington County Real Estate Tax Relief Study

Methodology

Penn Schoen Berland (PSB) conducted n=275 telephone interviews on August 13-16, 2016. These interviews included n=64 current and n=14 former participants in the Arlington County Real Estate Tax Relief program, as well as n=197 Arlington County senior homeowners who have not participated in the RETR program. Interviews were sampled from a listing of RETR participants and a commercially-available sample list of Arlington county homeowners.

The margin of error for the study overall is +/- 4.9% at the 90% confidence level and larger for subgroups. The margin of error for the current/former users of Arlington RETR program is +/- 9.2% and the margin for the Arlington County senior homeowners who have not participated the RETR program is +/- 5.8% at the 90% confidence level.

Some percentages may add to more or less than 100% due to rounding.

Definition of Crosstabs

Crosstab Definition of crosstab Sample size

% total(n-size)

Arlington Homeowners Lives in Arlington County and owns primary residence n=275 100%

RETRUser

Yes Current or former user of Arlington Real Estate Tax Relief program n=78 27%No Has never participated in Arlington Real Estate Tax Relief program n=197 71%

Age<64 64 years-old or younger n=44 16%65-74 65-74 years-old n=128 47%75+ 75 or more years-old n=103 37%

GenderM Male n=110 40%F Female n=165 60%

Eligibility

Yes

Must meet all three of the following criteria (at least deferment):- 65+ or disabled- Income less than $99,472/year- Assets less than $540,000

n=82 30%

No

Does not meet at least one of the following of the following criteria:- 65+ or disabled- Income less than $99,472/year- Assets less than $540,000

n=124 45%

Perm. & Totally Disabled Identifies as permanently and totally disabled n=31 11%

2© 2016 PENN SCHOEN AND BERLAND


Key Findings

1 Do you consider your real estate tax bill to be an extraordinary financial burden?

(%) Arlington HomeownersUse(d) RETR Age Gender Eligibility Perm. &

Totally DisabledYes No <64 65-74 75+ M F Yes No

Yes 35 53 27 34 34 35 29 38 48 23 68No 63 41 71 66 66 57 69 58 46 76 32Don’t know (Vol.) 3 6 2 0 0 8 2 4 6 1 0

2 Do you think your real estate tax bill currently affects, or will affect in the future, your ability to stay in your home?



Yes, it currently affects 8 17 5 9 9 7 8 8 16 5 23Yes, it will affect in the future 29 31 29 25 33 27 26 32 37 23 29No 56 41 61 61 52 57 58 54 40 68 39Don’t know (Vol.) 7 12 5 5 6 9 7 7 7 5 10

3 The Arlington Real Estate Tax Relief program is designed to provide property tax relief to qualifying homeowners who are age 65 or older, or totally and permanently disabled. This can include single family homes, multifamily homes, townhouses, and condominiums.

How familiar are you with this program? Are you…?



Very familiar 35 78 17 16 33 45 25 41 63 20 55Somewhat familiar 28 12 34 36 30 21 30 26 13 35 10Not very familiar 11 4 14 9 13 10 12 11 9 10 10Not at all familiar 25 5 34 39 23 23 32 21 15 34 23Don’t know (Vol.) 1 1 1 0 2 1 1 1 0 0 3



4 AMONG THOSE WHO SAY “VERY” OR “SOMEWHAT” FAMILIAR: How did you first hear about the Arlington County Real Estate Tax Relief program? (OPEN-ENDED)



From property tax bill / insert in mail 25 23 26 17 22 29 26 24 29 25 15

From friends or family 23 24 22 13 29 19 16 26 29 19 25Newspaper / magazine 20 9 28 35 19 16 23 18 8 29 0Television 6 4 7 26 5 0 7 5 3 12 5Community meeting/ outreach 5 6 5 0 5 7 3 6 8 4 5

From social worker/financial consultant/other professional 4 7 2 9 5 1 5 4 2 6 5

Radio 2 1 2 0 1 3 0 3 3 1 5Community center 1 3 0 0 0 3 0 2 2 0 0Other 6 6 6 0 8 6 8 5 5 7 10Don't know (Vol.) 13 21 7 13 10 16 15 12 16 4 30

5 Do you currently participate, or have you ever participated, in the Arlington County Real Estate Tax Relief program?



Yes, I currently participate 23 82 0 9 19 35 15 28 59 2 45Yes, I have participated in the past 5 18 0 5 5 6 5 5 10 2 6

No, I have never participated 71 0 99 86 77 58 80 65 32 94 48Don’t know (Vol.) 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0

6 AMONG CURRENT PARTICIPANTS: How long have you participated in the Arlington County Real Estate Tax Relief program?


(%) Among Current Participants

One year 52-5 years 516-10 years 3411-20 years 5More than 20 years 2Don’t know (Vol.) 3


7 AMONG PAST PARTICIPANTS: Why do you no longer participate in the Arlington County Real Estate Tax Relief program? (OPEN-ENDED, 14 responses)

Reapplication process was too complicated (3)

Over the income limit (3)

Over the asset limit / inherited money (2)

Do not need the benefit (2)

Got a reverse mortgage (1)

(They) changed the rules (1)

Don’t know (2)

8 AMONG NON-PARTICIPANTS: Why do you not participate in the Arlington County Real Estate Tax Relief program? (OPEN-ENDED)



I do not qualify 24 - 24 32 21 25 24 25 35 26 7Not familiar with this program 23 - 23 32 20 22 28 19 27 24 40Over the income limit 21 - 21 8 24 23 18 23 15 20 13Simply do not want to participate 13 - 13 8 15 12 11 14 0 12 0

Over the asset limit 4 - 4 0 7 2 5 4 4 4 7Program is for low income people 3 - 3 3 4 0 0 5 0 3 0

Application process is too complicated 1 - 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 7

Do not want to share personal information 1 - 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0

Located at the Department of Human Services 1 - 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 1 0

Want to leave the house tax free to heirs 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Other 5 - 5 0 3 10 7 3 8 3 20Don’t know (Vol.) 5 - 5 5 5 5 5 6 12 3 7Working / too young (Vol.) 3 - 3 11 2 0 1 5 4 4 0



Measuring Success of RETR Program

9 AMONG CURRENT PARTICIPANTS: How much of an impact has participating in the Real Estate Tax Relief program had on your personal financial situation?

10 AMONG PAST PARTICIPANTS: During the time you participated in the Real Estate Tax Relief program, how much of an impact did the program have on your personal financial situation?

11 AMONG CURRENT OR PAST PARTICIPANTS: In your opinion, how much of an impact do you think the Real Estate Tax Relief program has on the financial situations or older Arlingtonians and residents of Arlington County with a permanent disability?


(%) Among Current Participants

Great impact 67Some impact 30A little impact 2No impact at all 2Don’t know (Vol.) 0

(%) Among Past Participants


(%) Among Current OR Past Participants



12 AMONG CURRENT AND PAST PARTICIPANTS WHO SAY THE PROGRAM HAS HAD “GREAT” OR “SOME” IMPACT: In what ways did the Real Estate Tax Relief program help your financial situation? (OPEN-ENDED)

13 AMONG CURRENT OR PAST PARTICIPANTS: Please indicate whether you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statement:

The Real Estate Tax Relief program has helped me stay in my home


The Real Estate Tax Relief program has allowed me to have enough money to pay my other monthly bills.


(%) Among Current AND Past Participants Who Said Program had “GREAT” or “SOME” Impact

Helped free up income for other bills 38Allowed me to stay in my home 33Provided a sense of economic security 17Lessened my stress 12Helped me save more money 8Other 12Don’t know (Vol.) 0


Strongly agree 68Somewhat agree 19Somewhat disagree 6Strongly disagree 4Don’t know (Vol.) 3




15 AMONG THOSE WHO “STRONGLY” OR “SOMEWHAT” AGREE: Of all your monthly bills, which expense weighs most heavily on you?


The Real Estate Tax Relief program has provided me greater financial security and peace of mind.

17 Other than the Real Estate Tax Relief program, what other programs or services have helped you or could help you remain in your home? (OPEN-ENDED)



None / Don't know 68 58 72 80 63 68 74 64 59 70 55Arlington Village 6 5 6 0 9 5 2 8 5 5 0Transportation / Taxi program 5 8 4 0 5 6 4 5 6 6 10Utilities / Energy 3 6 2 2 4 2 3 3 6 2 6Home care / Help around house 3 4 3 0 2 5 0 5 2 2 10Recreation / Park department 2 1 2 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 3Lower taxes 1 0 2 5 1 1 2 1 0 2 0Remodeling for aging 1 0 1 2 1 0 1 1 0 2 0Trash removal 1 0 1 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 0Others 11 18 9 11 11 12 12 11 17 10 16


(%) Among Those Who “STRONGLY” OR “SOMEWHAT” Agree

Mortgage 21Utilities 19Medical 18Groceries 11Transportation 4Family expenditures 1Other 14All of the above (Vol.) 8Don’t know (Vol.) 4




Potential Reforms

ALL HEARD THE FOLLOWING: Thank you. I am now going to tell you about some potential changes to the Real Estate Tax Relief program.

18 Would you strongly support, somewhat support, neither support or oppose somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose the following changes to the Real Estate Tax Relief program?

(%) Arlington Homeowners Summary Strongly support

Somewhat support Neither Somewhat

opposeStrongly oppose

Don’t know (Vol.)

Make the application and recertification process simpler 50 21 11 3 3 12Allow homeowners to deduct expenses, such as medical expenses, from income in order to qualify 48 25 9 5 5 8Make it easier to qualify for the program by raising the asset limit (Current asset limit is $540,000) 33 21 12 9 11 14Make it easier to qualify for the program by raising the income limit (Current income limit is $99,472) 31 23 11 11 11 12Require less documentation to participate in the program 26 17 16 11 13 17Exclude some or all of the assets of non-owner or non-spouse relatives who reside in the home 25 18 18 12 12 16Allow homeowners to deduct liabilities/debts from asset totals in order to qualify 24 23 12 14 11 15Exclude some or all of the income of non-owner or non-spouse relatives who reside in the home 23 18 15 16 12 16Make the program deferral only so that the real estate taxes would be due upon the transfer of the home or death of the homeowner

16 18 13 14 23 17

Require more documentation to participate in the program 16 8 17 17 25 18Have the program administered by the Commissioner of the Revenue rather than the Department of Human Services

12 9 21 17 21 21

Make the program exemption only 10 7 15 7 9 52

19 “Make the application and recertification process simpler”



Strongly support 50 59 46 59 45 52 42 55 52 52 71Somewhat support 21 18 23 27 21 19 26 18 21 23 10Neither support or oppose 11 14 9 0 14 11 15 8 16 8 3Somewhat oppose 3 3 3 5 4 1 1 4 4 4 0Strongly oppose 3 6 2 2 2 5 5 2 6 2 6Don’t know (Vol.) 12 0 17 7 14 12 12 12 1 10 10



20 “Allow homeowners to deduct expenses, such as medical expenses, from income in order to qualify”




21 “Make it easier to qualify for the program by raising the asset limit” (currently higher than $540,000)




22 “Make it easier to qualify for the program by raising the income limit”(currently higher than $99,472)




23 “Require less documentation to participate in the program”






24 “Exclude some or all of the assets of non-owner/non-spouse relatives who reside in the home”

(%) Arlington Homeowners Use(d) RETR Age Gender Eligibility Perm. & Totally

DisabledYes No <64 65-74 75+ M F Yes No


25 “Allow homeowners to deduct liabilities/debts from asset totals in order to qualify”




26 “Exclude some or all of the income of non-owner/non-spouse relatives who reside in the home”




27 “Make the program deferral only so that the real estate taxes would be due upon the transfer of the home or death of the homeowner”






28 “Require more documentation to participate in the program”




29 “Have the program administered by the Commissioner of the Revenue rather than the Department of Human Services”




30 “Make the program exemption only”






Demographics

31 Other than yourself, how many people live in your household?



0 37 51 32 23 30 52 30 42 51 31 321 45 32 51 48 55 33 50 42 38 50 482-4 14 15 14 25 13 11 15 13 11 17 165 or more 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Don’t know (Vol.) 3 1 4 5 2 4 5 2 0 2 3

32 How many working adults do you have living in your household?



0 62 72 58 23 64 76 53 68 77 50 651 25 23 25 36 27 17 30 21 21 30 292-4 11 4 14 36 7 5 13 10 2 19 35 or more 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Don’t know (Vol.) 3 1 3 5 2 3 5 1 0 2 3

33 How long have you lived in Arlington County?



Less than a year 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 01-5 years 3 0 4 2 2 3 2 3 1 4 66-10 years 3 1 4 2 5 0 4 2 1 5 011-20 years 9 9 9 18 10 4 12 7 10 12 16More than 20 years 82 88 80 73 79 90 77 85 88 77 74Don’t know (Vol.) 3 1 4 5 3 3 5 2 0 2 3

34 What kind of housing is your primary residence?



Single family home 73 77 72 70 73 74 71 75 78 76 61Condominium 18 18 18 20 18 17 16 19 15 18 19Multi-family home like duplex 4 3 4 2 4 4 5 3 5 3 10Apartment 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Other 2 1 3 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 6Don’t know (Vol.) 3 1 4 5 2 3 5 1 0 2 3

35 Do you have a mortgage, reverse mortgage, or home equity loan on your primary residence, or do you own it outright? (MULTIPLE RESPONSES PERMITTED)





I own my primary residence outright 56 55 57 43 53 66 50 61 61 50 45

I have a mortgage 32 35 31 45 38 19 35 30 33 38 39I have a home equity loan 7 5 8 14 5 6 8 6 4 11 16I have a reverse mortgage 3 4 2 0 1 6 3 2 2 1 0Other 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0Don’t know (Vol.) 3 1 4 5 3 3 5 2 0 2 3

36 Which of the following best describes your employment status?



Retired 67 72 64 20 73 79 59 72 73 58 55Employed full-time 16 8 19 59 9 6 21 13 6 29 3Employed part-time 8 4 10 7 11 6 10 7 4 9 6Totally and permanently disabled 4 12 1 9 3 3 4 4 12 1 29

Homemaker or caregiver to children or parents 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0

Not currently employed 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0Other (Vol.) 1 3 1 0 1 3 1 2 2 2 3Don’t know (Vol.) 3 1 4 5 2 3 5 1 0 2 3

37 Are you male or female?



Female 60 72 55 50 59 65 0 100 63 55 61Male 40 28 45 50 41 35 100 0 37 45 39Don’t know (Vol.) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

38 Do you consider yourself of Hispanic or Latino origin or descent?






39 AMONG THOSE WHO SAY NO: What is your race?



White 85 79 87 77 89 83 79 88 88 88 66African American/Black 3 7 2 7 1 5 6 2 4 2 10Asian 3 1 3 9 1 2 2 3 1 4 3Other 2 3 2 0 3 2 4 1 1 2 7Hispanic / Latino (Vol.) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Don’t know (Vol.) 7 10 6 7 7 8 10 6 5 3 14

40 RACE (CODED BASED ON RESPONSES TO PREVIOUS QUESTIONS)



WHITE, NON-HISPANIC 81 73 85 75 84 81 75 85 80 86 61HISPANIC 4 8 2 2 5 3 5 3 9 2 6BLACK, NON-HISPANIC 3 6 2 7 1 5 5 2 4 2 10ASIAN, NON-HISPANIC 3 1 3 9 1 2 2 3 1 4 3OTHER, NON-HISPANIC 9 12 8 7 9 10 13 7 6 5 19

Program Eligibility Assessment

41 For statistical purposes only, we need to know your total family income for 2015. Will you please tell me which of the following categories best represents your total family income? Please stop me when I read the appropriate category. (CODED BASED ON RESPONSE TO PREVIOUS QUESTIONS)



$20,000 or less 4 12 2 2 4 6 4 5 13 1 23$20,001-$40,000 14 36 5 7 11 20 9 17 34 2 23$40,001-$60,000 12 24 8 7 12 16 10 14 28 5 10$60,001-$80,000 11 14 9 7 12 11 7 13 18 6 19$80,001-$99,472 6 1 8 7 7 4 8 4 6 6 0$99,473-$100,000 3 0 4 2 3 3 3 3 0 6 3$100,001-120,000 10 0 14 14 9 10 10 10 0 22 3$120,001-150,000 5 1 7 7 7 2 6 4 0 11 0$150,001+ 15 0 20 27 16 8 22 10 0 32 3Don’t know/refused 21 12 24 20 20 21 21 21 0 8 16



42 And for statistical purposes only, what is the estimated value of your households total assets, including retirement funds but not including the value of your primary residence? Please stop me when I read the appropriate category. (CODED BASED ON RESPONSE TO PREVIOUS QUESTIONS)



Less than $100,000 17 41 8 18 10 26 15 19 45 7 48$100,00-$200,000 7 17 3 0 6 11 5 8 22 1 0$200,001-$300,000 6 9 5 7 6 5 7 5 12 3 3$300,001-$340,000 3 5 2 2 4 2 2 4 9 1 6$340,001-$400,000 4 0 5 0 4 5 5 3 9 2 0$400,001-$500,000 3 1 4 5 2 4 4 3 2 5 3$500,001-$540,000 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0$540,001-$600,000 3 1 3 2 4 1 2 3 0 6 0$600,001-$700,000 3 0 4 5 2 2 1 4 0 6 3$700,001+ 22 3 30 32 27 13 27 19 0 49 13Don't know/refused 32 23 36 30 34 31 32 33 0 21 23

43 CODES RETR QUALIFICATION STATUS (CODED BASED ON RESPONSE TO PREVIOUS QUESTIONS)



Eligible for RETR 30 72 13 7 29 41 27 32 100 0 55Not currently eligible 45 8 60 93 42 28 51 41 0 100 23Unknown (due to don’t knows) 25 21 27 0 29 31 22 27 0 0 23

44 And finally, for statistical purposes only, what is the estimated value of your household’s total debts or liabilities, including your mortgage or home equity loan? Please stop me when I read the appropriate category.



Less than $100,000 43 51 40 39 37 52 43 43 56 40 35$100,00-$200,000 6 8 5 7 4 8 4 7 7 6 10$200,001-$300,000 3 5 3 2 2 5 3 4 5 3 3$300,001-$340,000 5 8 5 0 9 4 6 5 10 4 13$340,001-$400,000 2 1 2 2 3 0 0 3 2 2 3$400,001-$500,000 1 0 2 0 1 3 2 1 0 3 0$500,001-$540,000 2 4 2 2 4 0 3 2 5 2 3$540,001-$600,000 3 4 2 5 2 2 4 2 4 3 3$600,001-$700,000 17 4 22 27 23 6 21 15 4 28 6$700,001+ 17 15 18 16 16 20 15 19 7 8 23Don’t know/refused 43 51 40 39 37 52 43 43 56 40 35



Screeners

45 To confirm, do you currently live in Arlington County?



Yes 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100No * * * * * * * * * * *Don’t know (Vol.) * * * * * * * * * * *

*By definition

46 Do you own or rent your primary residence where you live?



Own 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100Rent * * * * * * * * * * *Don’t know (Vol.) * * * * * * * * * * *

*By definition

47 Are you permanently and totally disabled?




48 AGE (CODED BASED ON RESPONSES TO PREVIOUS QUESTIONS)



56 or under 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 357-65 16 6 19 98 0 0 20 13 2 33 1065-74 47 38 50 0 100 0 47 46 45 44 4575+ 37 54 31 0 0 100 33 41 51 23 42


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