The Situation

Lisa Terranova had been down this road before. A few years back, when NYC raised her property taxes without explanation, she reached out to Joseph Ranola for help. Joseph took time out of his day, dug into the assessment records, and helped point her in the right direction. That first time, it worked — and Lisa remembered. So when the same thing happened again — another year, another tax increase that didn’t line up with what her neighbors were paying — she didn’t spend hours searching for a solution. She went straight to the person who had already proven he’d show up for her. She called Joe.

The Challenge

NYC property tax bills are quietly one of the most frustrating pieces of home ownership on Staten Island. The assessment methodology is opaque, reassessments creep upward year over year, and the grievance window closes fast. Most homeowners don’t even know they have the right to challenge their assessment — or they know but don’t know how. And the ones who do know often find that by the time they’ve figured out the process, the deadline has already passed. Lisa was determined not to let a second year’s overpayment slip by without a fight, but she needed someone who could tell her — fast — whether she had a case, and if so, what to do next.

How We Got It Done

Joseph’s process for a repeat property tax client looks different than for a first-timer. Because he had already pulled the records on Lisa’s home the year before, he could quickly compare the new assessment to the prior year, her neighbors’ recent assessments, and the comparable sales in her block. That comparison told the story quickly — the new assessment wasn’t matching up with what the market actually supported. Joseph generated an updated property analysis, pulled together the recent comparable sale data that would strengthen her case, and walked Lisa through the grievance filing window and the documentation she’d need.

What makes Joseph’s property tax help different is that he doesn’t charge homeowners for this. It’s part of how he invests in the Staten Island community. He’s not a tax attorney or a licensed property tax grievance professional, so when a case gets complex or warrants formal representation, he refers clients to qualified Staten Island professionals he’s built relationships with. For Lisa, that referral chain had already worked once — so this time, the second round moved faster.

The Result

Lisa walked away with a clear picture of her assessment, fresh comparable sale data, and a next-step plan she could actually execute. Here’s what she said in her review:

“Thank you Joe, once again my taxes were increased and Joe took Is time out and a look to see if they could be lowered .”

— Lisa Terranova · ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Verified Google Review

Why Staten Island homeowners keep calling Joe

Joseph Ranola isn’t just Staten Island’s go-to listing agent. He’s also the person who picks up the phone when a neighbor has a question — about a tax assessment, about a zoning question, about whether now is the right time to sell. That’s how a real estate practice with 72 five-star Google reviews and $25M+ in closed volume gets built. One call. One problem solved. One referral at a time.

More Sold Stories

This post is part of Sold Stories — a running series of Staten Island and Brooklyn wins from Joseph Ranola’s real clients. Read the recent installments: Sold Stories #20: Limitless Athletics Finds the Right Home, Sold Stories #19: Rosella’s Property Tax Appeal Report, Sold Stories #18: Ashley Said the Whole Process Was Easy and Stress-Free, and Sold Stories #5: Lisa’s First Property Tax Win with Joe. Considering a Staten Island grievance of your own? Start with the Staten Island Real Estate Market Update — April 2026.