POSSIBLE BOCA RATON TAX BREAK FOR VALUE ADDED IMPROVEMENTS IN HOMES DESIGNATED AS HISTORIC

According to the Sun-Sentinel, if the City council approves a new ordinance, owners of designated historic homes would not have to pay city or country taxes for 10 years on any value added improvements. 

Federal funds amounting to $100,000 are being distributed throughout Florida to help preserve historic homes and neighborhoods, and with this ordinance in place, Boca can get some of these funds.

Ten counties and 53 other municipalities have joined this effort, including Delray Beach and Boynton Beach.

Cost of getting a Boca Raton property declared historic by City Council is $1500.  The designation means the city’s Historic Preservation Board will review proposed changes a homeowner wants to make.

If you have a historic home to sell, or would like to purchase one, perhaps I can be of help as a Realtor.

HOW TO CHALLENGE THE APPRAISED VALUE OF YOUR HOME

Proposed tax notices were just sent out to Palm Beach County residents.  The Clerk’s office will accept appeals for property tax appraisals through September 16. 

You can challenge market value, classification or an exemption by petitioning the county’s Value Adjustment Board (VAB). Board Members are two county commissioners, one school board member, and two citizen members.  They approve and hire special magistrates to settle disputes. 

The VAB is not affiliated with the Tax Collector or Property Appraiser.  Go towww.mypalmbeachclerk.com and use myVABsystem to file your petition online, schedule hearings and submit supporting materials, or call 561-355-6289 for more information.  Forms can also be submitted in person or by mail.  Filing fee is $15.  To submit in person, go to the Clerk’s Governmental Center or branch locations.  To submit by mail send to 301 North Olive Avenue, Room 203, West Palm Beach FL 33401.

HISTORIC WELL-TRAVELED CAMINO REAL BRIDGE NEEDS HELP

Built in 1939, the Camino Real Bridge in Boca Raton is in need of repairs and/or replacement.  This double-leaf rolling lift bridge is a historic landmark, on the County Registry of Historic Places and eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

There are limits to what one can do.  It can be renovated, but not rebuilt.   No other county bridge has its historical designations.  It spans the intracoastal waterway west of the Boca Resort Beach Club and One Thousand Ocean, and east of the Bridge Hotel.  Maximum weight on the bridge has been lowered from 36 to 30 tons.  Its travel lanes and sidewalks need to be widened.  Guardrails are obsolete.  Bridge tender house needs to be replaced and moved from the south to the north side of the bridge.  

Many of these conditions cause the bridge to fail to meet current Florida Department of Transportation standards.  Any improvements need to pass local and state historical organizations.  A $6MM rehabilitation project may start in 2015.  The Flagler Bridge in West Palm Beach was built in 1938 and the state is replacing it now.  There are seven other similar older bridges in Florida.

HOW TO TEST A BATTERY

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_m6p99l6ME&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DY_m6p99l6ME

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Many interesting articles for homeowners.

YOUR CAR KEYS MAY SAVE A LIFE

 YEP!!!

Put your car keys beside your bed at night.

Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents, your Doctor's office, the check-out girl at the market, everyone you run across. Put your car keys beside your bed at night.

If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.

This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage.

If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the burglar/rapist won't stick around. After a few seconds, all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.

This would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone. My Mom has suggested to my Dad that he carry his car keys with him in case he falls outside and she doesn't hear him. He can activate the car alarm and then she'll know there's a problem.

This may save a life!

IS THERE A NEW SHADOW INVENTORY COMING?

The shadow inventory (homes in delinquency or foreclosure that will eventually come on the market) keeps shrinking.  But, TRULIA Chief Economist Jed Kolko says that census data just released shows that more shadow inventory may be looming.  2013 2Q vacancy survey shows that 5.6% of all housing units are vacant.  

Are the owners waiting til prices have gone high enough to unload them?  If they come on the market now… how will the market be affected?  Right now, inventory is low so they MIGHT get a quick sale and get rid of the expenses of carrying the property.