[koolba]

CA has a state wide law that prohibits reassessment unless there is a change of ownership or substantial renovation. Property taxes growth is capped (I think at 2% or inflation, whichever is less). There are many houses that were bought in the 60s or 70s that pay peanuts in taxes. This is partly (or primarily depending on who you ask...) why the CA school system so screwed up.

[Balgair]

Primarily, for me. My folks pay ~$150/mo in sum total of taxes, electricity, etc. (no more mortgage now, so large caveat). Their neighbors, in the exact same house plan, who paid ~$950k, most likely pay ~$4500/mo. My folks have nothing to say to them, they live in totally different worlds despite being neighbors. The neighbors on the other side are pretty much meth-heads, but the trust scheming makes their monthly payments a bit more than my folks. Imagine that, you pay ~4.5k/mo, two hours out into the 'burbs, and then 2 doors down is a literal crack-house. Prop 13 just distorts things so much, it destroys neighborhoods by freezing them.