I’ve noticed the 2 condo complexes I sell the most in have had some increases in prices. This is very surprising considering how the market is doing in Tampa. Grande Oasis and Beachwalk have considerably fewer units for sale and the ones that are coming on the market are getting multiple offers and are going for over the asking price. I think these units are a great value. You can find them on my website: www.TampaHomesBestBuys.com
or ask me to email you a list of current inventory.

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The Greater Tampa Area Board of Realtors had a meeting today and the featured speaker was the Hillsborough county Tax Appraiser, Rob Turner.

 

It was great to finally get some mysteries solved about property taxes.  It turns out the tax assessor calculates values of homes using a complex computer model which uses statistical modeling.  A real eye-opener was the fact that they can only use values from the prior year.   By law they are not allowed to use any sold comps after January 1^st  of the year they send the tax notices.    So if you get your TRIM notice in September of 2009, the comps they used to calculate were based on sales from January 1^st 2008 to December 31^st, 2008, but the values are weighted heavily on sales in the last quarter of that year.  That explained a lot of questions my clients had. 

 

Another mystery solved was the $50,000 Homestead Exemption.   I had heard it wasn�t really a total of $50k but never understood the calculation.  Here�s the way it breaks down:

 

First $25,000 of assessed value:  No property taxes

Second $25,000 of assessed value:  You pay full property taxes

Third $25,000 of assessed value:  No taxes except for school taxes

 

There�s a link on the tax appraiser�s website you can use to calculate taxes on a property.  It�s very helpful if you�re buying or selling a home.  And you can call their office if you need help with determining Portability on your home.

 

http://www.hcpafl.org

 

If you�re thinking of buying or selling, call Janet Montano, Remax ACR Elite

<!–[if !supportLists]–>813-956-3563      <!–[endif]–>www.TampaHomesBestBuys.com

I have spent almost all week working with first time home buyers. It does my heart a world of good to see them looking at homes and getting prequalified by lenders.
For so long, Realtors couldn�t help them. Move up buyers, cash buyers and investors with larger down payments were knocking them out of the market.

Now it�s first time home buyers time! Look at these reasons to buy your first home:

1. $8,000 tax credit. You can amend your 2008 tax return and get that check now!
2. USDA Rural Program with 100% financing and no PMI. Who needs subprime when you have this? Any lender can do this loan and rates are very low. No mortgage insurance. In the Tampa area you can buy in the New Tampa/Tampa Palms area and in Pasco county from the Suncoast over to Wesley Chapel. By the way, that�s also where property taxes are some of the lowest around.
3. Prices have hit bottom. Realtors know before the media does. If you wander through my Remax office, you�ll see agents �high 5�ing� each other. The phones are ringing and everyone is busy showing real estate. Inventory is plentiful. I showed 2 houses today that were priced around $150k that were not short sales and were in move in condition. 3 bed, 2 bath, 1 or 2 car garages. One even had a nice pool.

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