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        <title>Gloria Singer's Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>http://www.bocaexpert.com/blog/boca-raton-property-taxes/</link>
        <description>Gloria Singer's real estate blog will provide you with valuable information about the Boca Raton real estate (and surrounding area) scene.</description>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.bocaexpert.com/blog/we-are-voting-no-on-amendment-4-heres-why.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.bocaexpert.com/blog/we-are-voting-no-on-amendment-4-heres-why.html</link>
            <author>gloria@bocaexpert.com (Gloria Singer)</author>
            <title>We are Voting "No" on Amendment 4. Here's why...</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ Amendment 4....It's all the buzz....Youve
 seen the signs all over; what do you think? How will you vote on 
Amendment 4 on November 2nd? It is only a few days away. At first 
glance, Amendment 4 seems to give more power to the voters. This seems 
innocuous, doesnt it? Isnt that just what America has been built on? 
Democracy for the people, by
 the people. What could be wrong with this? Opponents are calling it the
 &ldquo;Vote on Everything&rdquo; initiative. They are saying that Amendment 4 
advocates just want to stop growth at any cost and turn development 
projects into political campaigns for the benefit of special interest 
groups. For any technical change of land use and for every revision to 
every plan, and we know that often major land development plans can have
 hundreds of revisions, voters would have to decide at the ballot box. 
&nbsp;Cities and counties would be required to hold elections for each 
proposed change and even for minor detail changes. This would burden 
cities and counties with having to organize and host hundreds of added 
elections and more importantly, this will cost taxpayers a great deal of
 money, property taxes will go up, and higher property taxes would again
 negatively impact the Real Estate market in South Florida. Do we really
 need another hit at this point to make it even more difficult for 
buying and selling real estate in Boca Raton? &nbsp;To add to the frustration
 of added elections, voters at the polls will be trying to read and vote
 on legal jargon that can sometimes even confuse expert engineers and 
lawyers. Critics of Amendment 4 also claim that the burdensome process 
will stand in the way of improving the Florida job market, by making it 
difficult for new businesses to spring up, for local businesses to grow,
 and developers are likely to move to Georgia or the Carolinas where it
 would be much easier for them without the obstacles, and red tape. 
&nbsp;Critics point out that Amendment 4s future impact can already be seen 
since a local version was &ldquo;tested&rdquo; In St. Petersburg, Florida and seemed
 to have had many negative effects such as; dozens of lawsuits and legal
 fees that cost local taxpayers millions of dollars. Numerous business 
groups, labor unions, healthcare groups, environmental leaders, planning
 organizations, and the Florida Association of Realtors have actively 
opposed Amendment 4. &nbsp;Will you? &nbsp;For more information on Amendment 4, 
visit; www.floridarealtors.org or the coalition website; www.florida2010.org ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 26 Oct 2010 10:14:12 -0400</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.bocaexpert.com/blog/just-sold-9946-torino-dr-in-bellagio-in-lake-worth.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.bocaexpert.com/blog/just-sold-9946-torino-dr-in-bellagio-in-lake-worth.html</link>
            <author>gloria@bocaexpert.com (Gloria Singer)</author>
            <title>Just Sold! 9946 Torino Dr in Bellagio in Lake Worth</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 




This lake front beauty in Bellaggio, an active adult community
 in Lake Worth, was just sold by our buyer's specialist, Karen 
Rothstein. This full featured home came with all the modern amenities! 
Walk into this home onto gorgeous diagonally set 18 inch floor tile. The
 eat in kitchen is ultra modern with 42 inch upper cabinets, black 
cosmic granite counters, under cabinet lighting, and a drop-in flat top 
range with slide out drawers. Architectural features are found 
throughout this 3 bedroom home including columns in the living room and a
 coffer ceiling in the luxurious master bath. A spacious screened-in 
patio with panoramic water views complete this outstanding home which 
sold after being on the market for less than 3 weeks! &nbsp;This home was 
originally purchased brand new in 2003 for $229,222, it was listed for 
$329,990 and our buyer paid $315,000. 







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 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Mon, 20 Sep 2010 12:38:59 -0400</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.bocaexpert.com/blog/palm-beach-county-property-tax-2010-notices-mailed-this-week-important-info-about-appealing-your-tax.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.bocaexpert.com/blog/palm-beach-county-property-tax-2010-notices-mailed-this-week-important-info-about-appealing-your-tax.html</link>
            <author>gloria@bocaexpert.com (Gloria Singer)</author>
            <title>Palm Beach County Property Tax 2010 notices mailed this week~ Important Info about appealing your taxes!</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Beginning Monday, August 23, 2010, the Palm Beach County Property Appraisers office mailed the proposed property taxes for 2010. In the notice, there is a breakdown of millage rates , the propertys assessed and taxable values (as of January 1, 2010), and any exemptions applied. Read your notice closely. Although unfortunately millage rates have gone up in most areas, the values have declined. (example: I am an owner of Boca Raton Real Estate. My market value declined 10%, however my tax bill increased because the local taxing authorities increased their millage rate.) If you disagree with the value, or an exemption has not been applied, you have between now and September 16, 2010 to file a petition. With property values plummeting in the area, many people are being over-taxed based on faulty values. If you have a question about the value, the first step is to call the Property Appraiser, Gary Nikolitiss office for an explanation. You can reach them at (561)355-3996.Your second step, if youre not satisfied, is to file an appeal with the VAB (Value Adjustment Board). The easiest way to do this is ONLINE.Remember this must be done by 5:00 PM on September 16, 2010!If you have any questions about the values in your particular neighborhood, feel free to email us and we can send you the &ldquo;comp&rdquo; sales for your possible appeal. If prices have continued to go down since the valuation date of Jan 1, 2010 they should be reflected on your 2011 tax bill. 
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Wed, 25 Aug 2010 08:13:38 -0400</pubDate>
                    </item>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.bocaexpert.com/blog/florida-property-tax-reform-measures.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.bocaexpert.com/blog/florida-property-tax-reform-measures.html</link>
            <author>gloria@bocaexpert.com (Gloria Singer)</author>
            <title>Florida Property Tax Reform Measures</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
FLORIDA PROPERTY TAX REFORM PASSED ON JANUARY 29, 2008


An amendment to the Florida Constitution was recently passed which will bring about the following changes to the Florida property tax system. 




    
$50,000 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION: Properties which already have a Homestead Exemption will be automatically upgraded to the new $50,000 benefit (it was $25,000 in the past). New homeowners still must file a first time application.

    
PORTABILITY: Property owners with a Homestead Exemption currently receive a benefit known as a &quot;Save our Homes&quot; cap. This benefit works by limiting the increase of the assessed value of the home to a maximum of 3% regardless of the increase in property values. Under the new law, homeowners will be able to transfer this benefit to the next homesteaded property. This is what is called portability. Applicants can transfer this Save our Homes benefit up to $500,000, whether buying a more or less expensive home. CLICK HERE FOR THE HOMESTEAD PORTABILITY APPLICATION.
    

    
CAP ON NON-HOMESTEADED PROPERTY: Starting in 2009, non-homesteaded properties will be eligible for a 10% cap to those who apply. 



I am very excited about these changes, as hopefully this will stimulate the market and help people that have felt &quot;trapped&quot; in their homes because they would not be able to afford the property taxes on a new home, to reap the benefit of continued lower taxes. ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:50:40 -0400</pubDate>
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