Trying to Make Sense Out of Taxes

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Real and property taxes are due in my area around this time of year. I dread it because the amount keeps increasing and getting more difficult to pay. I understand the need for taxation, but some things don't make sense. I have lived in the same house for 32 years. I have always paid the taxes. I feel sure the previous owners also paid taxes. I own a secondary home that I rent out and it goes into a separate class, which means the taxes are much higher than my primary residence. The secondary home is my childhood home. My parents bought it around 1957 and always paid taxes on it. I have owned the home since 2001 when my Mother passed away and have always paid the taxes. If you do not pay taxes, you are at risk for losing your home. Both of my homes are paid for, but should I not be able to pay the taxes, I could lose either or both. How is it fair that two homes that have been paid for, and taxes have been paid for many decades, could be lost? I'm beginning to see a cardboard box as my primary residence in the future. Shouldn't there be a cutoff time when you no longer have to pay taxes on a home? Photo credit: Public Domain, Pixabay