Tampa Bay Appraiser's Blog

This is a re-blog from ABCActionNews.com:

Clearwater, Fla. – Property values continue to fall, yet about one in three Pinellas County homeowners is expected to pay more property taxes this year.  Homeowners want to know how can their property taxes increase when home values continue to sink and the county’s millage rate remains flat.

Pinellas Property Appraiser Pam Dubov says the answer is twofold. “The county did not increase its millage rate, nor did the school board, yet people’s millage rates are going up because they are in fire districts or cities that increased.”

Second the ‘Save Our Homes’ law that took affect in 1994 caps property tax increases at 3 percent a year.  So even when home values decrease, your assessed value will still increase by the cap rate until it reaches market value.

This process is called ‘recapture,’ and it has affected nearly a third of Pinellas County homeowners this year alone.  It also explains why your next door neighbor’s taxes may vary wildly from your own – even if your homes are similar.

Property values are based in part on sales of comparable properties that occurred the year before. After a volatile year, assessed value can also cause confusion for homeowners trying to decipher newly received trim notices.

Jackie Callaway says it will cost $15 to appeal.  She doesn’t mention the cost for an appraisal.  Please give us a call if you need help. 

You can view the video here:

www.tampabayappraisers.com

The word “Tampa” comes from the Calusa (sometimes spelled Caloosa) Indians. The Calusa Indians lived in West Central and South West Florida until being virtually wiped out by explorers (and their diseases) between 1500 and sometime into the 1800’s. The Calusa called this place Tanpa (with an “N”), which translates to “sticks of fire.” Some have said that this refers to the abundance of kindling and driftwood along the Hillsborough river (sticks to make fire), but I agree with those that say it is a reference to the constant barrage of lightning storms in the area (sticks made of fire). Yes, Tampa Bay is known as the lightning capital of the US. When the white people came and took this land from the Indians, they had a difficult time pronouncing Tanpa, and took it upon themselves to change the N to an M.

Welcome to the lightning capital of the world- “Sticks of Fire.”  Here’s how to caluculate the distance of a strike:  Calculate-the-Distance-from-Lightning 

Jon Tipton, Realtor/Certified Appraiser

813-391-6121

Serving your country in the military is a very noble endeavor. Being away from your family and friends while serving is a gigantic sacrifice and there is no better feeling than to speak to those at home during a break in their duties where ever that may be. Dave Tipton, broker and manager of Florida’s Beautiful Homes- Realtors, said “This project was a natural fit for us. First off we have tremendous respect for those who defend and protect our country and second, we have met and helped numerous military families relocate to the Tampa Bay area and we feel a very close connection to them”. continue reading…

MIAMI (AP) – A Florida couple who fled their dream home because of foul-smelling, ruinous Chinese drywall was awarded $2.4 million in damages Friday in the nation’s first jury trial over the defective wallboard that could have legal ramifications for thousands of similar cases.

The six-person jury ruled that Armin and Lisa Seifart should receive more than just the costs of gutting and renovating their home: they were also awarded damages for loss of enjoyment of the $1.6 million    house and for the drywall stigma that might reduce its resale value.

The defendant, drywall distributor Banner Supply Co., is named in thousands of other lawsuits. Attorneys in those cases, as well as many others pending nationwide against other companies, will look to the Seifart damage award as a guide for what kinds of damages they seek.

Defective, sulfur-emitting Chinese drywall has been linked to possible health problems along with a noxious odor, corrosion of wiring, plumbing, computers, plumbing and jewelry. Most of the problems have arisen in Florida, Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana in homes built during the housing boom and some damaged during the busy 2005 hurricane season.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has recommended removing any tainted drywall and affected wiring, fire alarm systems and gas pipes. 

BEFORE UNDERTAKING ANY REMEDIATION, PLEASE CONSULT AN ATTORNEY – YOU COULD BE IMPACTING YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND DESTROYING EVIDENCE NECESSARY TO PURSUE A CLAIM.

Tampa, FL- Last Sunday’s Tampa Tribune reported about the the Chinese drywall legislation which is designed to give a tax break to struggling homeowners.  However, the bill has some unintended consequences.  The intent of the bill was to give a deep and standardized tax break.  According to Hillsborough county’s Property Appraiser Rob Turner, some interpretations of the law leave out condos, townhomes, and anyone forced to live in their homes despite the sulfuric gas.  The new law requires property appraisers to bring the taxable value (ad valorem taxes) of such a home to $0. 

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