"Property Ownership Is a Myth: You're Just Renting from the Government" I just paid my winter property tax bill of $4,875 for 6 months. That’s nearly $10,000 a year just to stay in the home I supposedly "OWN". This is in Oakham's, Meridian Township, Michigan. Let’s be honest we don’t truly own property. We’re paying ongoing rent to the government, and if we stop, they’ll take the home from us. The sad reality.