About Bruce Sokol & Associates

Bruce Sokol, founder, is a NY State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser (#46-7337) and member of the NY State Society of Real Estate Appraisers. He has done over 9,000 residential appraisals for mortgage bankers, banks and savings banks. Bruce was a former staff appraiser for Citibank NA and Goldome Realty, and is one of the highest rated appraisers for relocation firms in the area. He meets recertification requirements by taking annual seminars given by the major appraisal organizations, and is a qualified expert witness in several Rockland, Orange, Westchester and NYC courts.

Bruce Says:
"I got into this because real estate brokers couldn't sell houses when taxes were too high relative to other houses in the neighborhood."

"The appraisal is everything" it's all really an appraisal issue, particularly when you go to trial. Lawyers have to rely on appraisals, which can cost $500."

"We collect data, looking at sales of other properties in the neighborhood. But you have to know what courts consider comparable, how judges determine values."

"You need to know the local municipal courts" you have to approach them all somewhat differently; you have to know the right people to approach and the right people to serve."

"My job is to prove your house is worth less" it's as simple as that."
 

Nathan Fromowitz has over 30 years of experience in residential and commercial real estate development in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. He is an expert at presenting cases at local municipalities and navigating the complex legal maze of real estate market development, sales and taxation. He joined Bruce Sokol & Associates as a partner over five years ago and has successfully represented hundreds of clients in court, reducing their assessments and taxes.

Nathan Says:
"Imitators have entered the market in droves since home prices started to fall, and many of them don't know what they're doing. They mail to tens of thousands of homes, collect signed contracts and take a cut on whatever the local municipalities will give them. They don't know how to navigate the courts and fight for the reduction that reflects the real value of your property. A few of them charge a bit less, but you typically get a lot less."

"The local Boards of Assessment know Bruce Sokol & Associates is not afraid to take them to [NY State Supreme] court, so they have to take us seriously. They cannot 'toss you a bone' to get rid of your case."

"Some homeowners have filed a case themselves. For all the work they put into preparing the paperwork and appearing in court, few are successful" most get stonewalled by 'lack of compliance' with filling out forms and presenting the wrong 'comparables'. We occasionally review these, and it's clear that we could have gotten a much larger reduction, in most cases."

Ricky

Miriam

Elana

Mordy Meyer

Isaac Rubin

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