let's look at what you need to know, and begin with this field report by brenda flanagan of new jerseylic television. >> reporter: while republicans celebrated and called their tax bill historic, homeowners panicked and called their accountants in high-property-tax states like new york, california and new jersey. >> phones and emails have been going off crazy, because a lot of people are hearing about the real estate tax deduction, hearing about all the changes and wanting to know what to do. >> reporter: that's because in 2018, the republican bill will cap property tax deductions at $10,000. but in jersey, average property taxes exceed 10,000 in four counties. in fact, homeowners here pay the highest property taxes in the nation-- more than $8,500, on average. >> anyone in new jersey, that's got to be scary. >> reporter: so many homeowners, like wayne defeo, are meeting with c.p.a.'s and looking to pre-pay next year's property taxes, to take advantage of the full deduction before it expires. it's kind of a loophole. >> if i could prepay half of my property taxes for next year, to take