Real Estate: Price, Quality, Location - Pick Any Two

Buying a home is a life changing decision. Wouldn't it be great if there was someone to advise you on the tax implications of living in your new abode? This topic is usually avoided by the buyer who is usually more concerned with other aspects of home buying. Location, schools, purchase price, proximity to commercial areas, neighborhood ambience while property taxes, insurance and Homeowners Association (HOA) fees, not so much.

The city of Weston is an example of an upper class market with ever increasing property values and property taxes to boot. This choice city for many locals and foreigners alike has become Broward County's version of Miami Dade's city of Doral. Weston has lately been advertised as a "hot" real estate market in the news. It's truly a very nice city to live in and pleasant to visit but buyer be wary: all that shines may not be gold.

The problem with running to purchase a house in Weston and other cities like it are the high cost that come with living in choice locations. A "hot" real estate market can only mean higher prices and with it higher property taxes.  They go hand in hand and while it's a lucrative phenomenon for realtors and local government coffers, the buyers will be left with remorse once the tax bill shows up in their mailbox. 

A homebuyer in Weston will pay significantly more for a house than an equivalent house in Homestead. Weston's  aspirational market where homebuyers feel "they have arrived" is perhaps why so many are ready to pay so much more. 

Homestead is more of a value market. First time buyers, the middle class, and retirees who can afford to live in the city for a very long time without property taxes skyrocketing year to year.  The causal relationship between property values and property taxes is a product of our tax system as is the property value with homeowners insurance, both of which should be emphasized more often during home purchases.  Unfortunately the information is not appealing to the festive mood of home buying and counterintuitive to selling by the real estate agents. Realtors will say: Location, Location, Location. How about also saying: Taxes, Taxes, Taxes.

Reference Link:

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/02/24/setting-your-homebuying-priorities-price-quality-location-pick-any-two/

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Citizens Insurance Representatives Explain Rate Increases & Depopulation Effort at South Dade Government Center

The board of the state run  Citizens Property Insurance Corp. voted to raise rates by a statewide average of 7% next year, adding $178 million in new insurance costs for policyholders.
Most property owners will face a 10.7% hike. That would translate to an average premium increase of as much as $300 or $400 a year.
Residents in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties will have a chance to sound off to Citizens Insurance Representatives on Wednesday, July 16th at the South Dade Government Center located 10710 SW 211 Street Conference Room 104.  The meeting will run from 6:00PM-7:30PM.

All issues raised by the residents will be addressed from upcoming rate increases to the Depopulation efforts.

 

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County Mayor Carlos Gimenez Proposes an even Higher Property Tax Hike!

County Mayor Carlos Gimenez first proposes an overall property tax increase of 4.06% now it turns out it was actually higher at 5.37%, but he's supposedly made a "U-TURN" according to the Miami Herald and reduced the increase to 4.34%.  The beastly county government just can't get small enough for the citizens of Miami-Dade county to avoid ever increasing property taxes.  The Mayor may have outlived his usefulness in that he can't seem to nip-tuck the budget enough.  It appears the Mayor's pledge is a farce he never truly believed in. Unless the Board of County Commissioners step up and show some leadership property owners will be stuck with a huge tax bill come November!

County government has gone TAX crazy and a RECALL may be in order!

• 3.9% property value increase
• 5.37% Mayor's proposed tax increase
• 3. 8% already approved water rate increase
• $830,000,000 Jackson bond proposal 
• 54% increase Tolls on MDX 836 (Dolphin Xway)
• 8.8% Transit Fee increase

Miami-Dade mayor reverses course on proposed tax-rate hike, downsizes animal-shelter plan - Miami-Dade - MiamiHerald.com

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County Mayor Carlos Gimenez Proposes Property Tax Hike!!!

County Mayor Carlos Gimenez is out of his mind to think the county has recovered to increase property taxes now.  The  Mayor's proposes to increase the overall county tax rate by 4.06%.  This increase will supposedly avoid fire station and public libraries from closing plus pay for an animal welfare plan.

SAY WHAT?   Animal Welfare too?

This is  ludicrous for a county with over 10% unemployment we appear to be so wealthy as to afford the caring for homeless animals in perpetuity.  The Non-Binding ballot question voters approved means just that, NON-BINDING.  You don't have to, so cut the crap about funding it. As for fire stations closing, absolute baloney!

The marketplace has many qualified people willing to work for the county for less pay at any of the County Departments not just the fire stations.  The scare tactics are not working because we all know the only thing stopping the pay cuts is the cronyism and nepotism rampant at County Hall.

Mayor Gimenez stick to your pledge because you're welching on it.
It appears there hasn't been enough reorganization and consolidation at the county departments to eliminate unnecessary positions an reduce top-level salaries and executive benefits.  Get to it your work has just begun!

Miami-Dade mayor proposes higher property-tax rate - Miami-Dade - MiamiHerald.com

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Christian Family Coalition Trivializes Gender Identity and Self Expression

Miami-Dade Commissioners Audrey Edmonson, Bruno Barreiro (prime sponsor), Sally Heyman, Barbara Jordan and Rebeca Sosa have sponsored a resolution to provide for bathroom accommodations throughout the county for gender identity and/or expression.  In essence, this allows the transgender community access to private facilities.  This already exists in many establishments by providing for Unisex/Family Bathroom facilities and this ordinance would make the availability more uniform.

LGBT Hater Anthony "Executioner" Verdugo

However, no good deed goes unpunished so here comes Anthony Verdugo, Christian Family Coalition leader, at it again persecuting the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transexual (LGBT) community. It's  appropriate and somewhat ironic that Anthony's surname "Verdugo" translates into "executioner" in English.  He really belongs in the times of the Spanish Inquisition not 2013.  At a time of greater diversity and inclusion one would think the Christian Family Coalition would concentrate its efforts on eliminating poverty in the county.  A county who's median income tops $44,000 per year for a family of four, yet also tops the nation as the leader of luxury car sales according to Miami Today News.  Yes, a lethal mix of narcissism and unrealistic aspirations that's bankrupting our region.  That would be a worthwhile effort but not sensationally news worthy enough.

LGBT Hater Fred Phelps

Anthony's fixation with the LGBT community and it's struggles for a seat at the table of civil rights has come to define the very essence of his organization. So much so the organization is now employing scare tactics falsely claiming the Miami-Dade Commission wants to pass a "dangerous law that will force all places to open bathrooms and dressing rooms to transexuals. (men who allege they are women, and women to allege they are men. If one objects they will be fired, sued or fined!" Fred Phelps from the Westboro Baptist Church would be proud of Anthony "Executioner" Verdugo as he follows closely in his footsteps.

You can read the proposed Miami-Dade resolution verbiage here.

Reference Links:
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2013/07/christian-family-coalition-of-miami-dade-county-take-action-now-stop-transsexual-ordinance.html

 http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2013/07/the_christian_family_coalition.php

 http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2013/07/i-knew-christian-family-coalition-was.html

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Affordable Care Act: What is the Health Insurance Marketplace?

The Marketplace is a new way to find health coverage that fits your budget and meets your needs. With one application, you can see all your options and enroll.

When you use the Health Insurance Marketplace, you'll fill out an application and find out if you can get lower costs on your monthly premiums for private insurance plans. You'll find out if you qualify forlower out-of-pocket costs.

The Marketplace will also tell you if you qualify for free or low-cost coverage available through Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Open enrollment starts October 1, 2013. Coverage starts as soon as January 1, 2014.

The Health Insurance Marketplace is sometimes known as the health insurance "exchange."

Read More on the reference links below:

https://www.healthcare.gov

https://www.healthcare.gov/what-is-the-health-insurance-marketplace/

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/06/healthcaregov-code-developed-by-the-people-and-for-the-people-released-back-to-the-people/277295/

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eMail Broadcast Message Blasting Mayor Bateman for Ethical Lapses

Residents of Homestead received another email this afternoon from Concerned Homestead Citizens.  It reiterates the same story that all the major news outlet are reporting.  The media blitz on the Mayor has been relentless but the Mayor has provided the fodder even if his heart is in the right place.  It's one thing to try to bring jobs to Homestead by any means necessary.  That is a position one can easily defend.  It's quite another to try to profit from it at the same time.  The Homestead voters will be the judge come November.

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