Re-assessing properties

Re-evaluations have begun on about a half-million properties across Los Angeles County, with officials saying they'll result in lower tax bills for tens of thousands of homeowners.Gregory J/ Wilcox in the Daily News.

Assessor Rick Auerbach's decision to order the review may bring good news for Charles Tapia, who is paying more than $10,000 a year in property taxes on the Porter Ranch house he bought in 2005 for $772,000.

Tapia is appealing after a 3 percent increase in his tax bill, although a real-estate industry tracker says home prices in Tapia's community have fallen 25 percent in the last four years.