Fourth quarter is the best time to give your home’s finances a quick check-up. Before the year ends, confirm your school tax payment is in by November 10, make sure you are getting the right STAR benefit, take a clear-eyed look at today’s mortgage rates, and mark January 2 on your calendar for the property tax grievance window. Each one takes less than an hour.

Welcome to Wealth Wellness Wednesday, where I share simple money habits for Long Island homeowners. After 20 years on Wall Street, I can tell you that small, regular check-ins beat big, stressful ones. Here are five for this week.

1. Pay the first-half school tax by November 10

Nassau County property tax comes in two bills, one for school tax and one for general tax. The first half of the school tax was due October 1, and it can be paid without penalty through November 10, according to this payment schedule. If your lender pays your taxes from escrow, call to confirm it went out. Not sure how the bills work? Read my guide, How Do School Taxes Work in Nassau County?

2. Check that you are getting the right STAR benefit

School Tax Relief (STAR) lowers school taxes on your primary residence. If you bought your home recently, you generally register for the STAR credit and receive a check or direct deposit from New York State. The Basic STAR credit has an income limit of $500,000. Enhanced STAR, for owners 65 and older, has an income limit of $110,750 for the 2026/27 school year, based on 2024 income, according to the New York State Tax Department. If you receive an income verification letter from the state, respond promptly.

3. Look at today’s mortgage rates before you decide anything

Freddie Mac’s weekly survey put the 30-year fixed rate at 7.40% on October 15, 2026, up from 7.28% on October 1, and well above the 6.27% average a year ago. You can follow the weekly numbers on the Federal Reserve’s FRED data page. A refinance generally needs a rate below your current one to help, so compare your all-in monthly payment, not just the rate. For my local take, read this week’s Garden City Market Watch.

4. Mark the January grievance window

Nassau County homeowners can challenge their assessed value through the Assessment Review Commission. The filing period opens in early January, and the statutory deadline is March 1. Last year the county extended it to March 31, as Farrell Fritz reported, but do not count on an extension. Because an appeal takes legal and real estate expertise, many owners talk to a property tax attorney first.

5. Put your records in one place

Every step above is easier when your tax bills, insurance policy and closing documents live in one folder. I put together a free walkthrough: Create Your Digital Home File. It takes about 15 minutes.

Frequently asked questions

Should I refinance at today’s rates? It depends on your current rate, your balance and how long you plan to stay. Talk to a lender and run the numbers before you decide.

When is the second-half school tax due? April 1, with no penalty through mid-May. Always follow the date printed on your own bill.

Who do I call about STAR? The New York State Tax Department’s STAR line is 518-457-2036, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Want to talk through what these numbers mean for your plans? Grab the Digital Home File guide below, or talk to Meaghan.

xo, Meaghan

Sources: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey via FRED; New York State Department of Taxation and Finance; Farrell Fritz; Nassau County school tax payment schedule. Figures as of October 21, 2026. General information only, not tax, legal or financial advice.