Florida Real Estate Blog

Please join us on January 29^th and vote yourself a tax reduction for this year and many more to come. As we go through this month you will see articles written and news bites on TV & Radio discussing this issue. Be aware they speak with fork tongue. What I have seen is they will reference your tax savings as a per year amount and yet when they talk about the cost to government services they will role it up to a 5 year amount.

Very misleading would you agree? Fact is if you look at it their way, you are not saving just $250 a year you are saving $1,250 over 5 years. Who needs that more you or Seminole County? For those of you who choose Seminole think of this. A home recently sold in Rolling Hills area for $388,000. Taxes before the sale where $2,565 after sale same property but the taxes rose to $5,116. That is an increase of $2,551 a year or $12,755 additional tax burden to that home owner over that 5 year time frame.

That homes impact to our county resources such as roads, Fire Department, Police or Teachers was zero. It is wrong and it needs to be reversed.

Then there is the portability issue. Think of it as your reward for long term residence in this great State. It allows your accrued annual savings to move with you to your next home(if down sizing there is a formula to adjust). Today that does not happen. Take for example that home we just talked about. Maggie and I have a savings of $1,729 a year with SOH (Save Our Homes) If we purchased that home our tax burden would be $3,387 not the $5,116. Calculate that out over 5 years we would save $8,645. We need to keep more of our money and reduce the cost to our young families and those of us that are down sizing. This should have been a much bigger tax reduction but it is what it is and we need to.

vote YES on January 29, 2008

Please call me with any questions. Cells best 407-718-0984

1/24/08 Chuck, Greg and Jim played at Sweet Water Country Club 7:15 tee time, weather dry in the 60’s.

Proshop sent the boys out the back nine as the Lady’s had a shotgun start beginning at 9Am. The first 7 holes was a cluster of high numbers with Jim getting an advantage as they jumped over to the first whole at 9Am. Greg immediately recovered 5 strokes to pull within 1 of Jim while Chuck layed back waiting for his opportunity to surge to the front. Jim was able to pull back ahead by 3 at the end of the front 9. They had 2 holes left to play but could not find any open locations. Yet our Member came through and found an opening on the 12 and 13^th holes to settle this duel. On 12 all three had good drives with Greg reaching the green in regulation. Jim then chipped his shot across the green to a thin lie near the fence at the back of the green. Chuck successfully chipped out of the bunker and 3 putted for 6. Jim duffed his 4^th shot and then chipped a delicate 4 foot shot onto the fringe and it rolled 9 feet past the hole. He made the side hiller for a 6. Greg rolled his 3^rd shot to within 10’ and made a great uphill put for a par to narrow the lead to 1 going to the short par 4 13^th. Greg’s drive landed 100 yards from the green while Chuck left his short of the green by 200 yards. Jims 2^nd from 145 yards landed on the front of the green and rolled past the whole for 6 footer for birdie which he made. Chucks 2^nd landed in the bunker approx. 40 yards from the green he then dropped that in front and made his two put boggie. Greg hit his 2^nd shot just short of the green side bunker and attempted to chip it in from there to tie the match. That did not occur, the result was a win for Jim by 4strokes. That places him 2 Wins to none and total stroke count of 5. The boys where joined today by Lou Buttice after our golfing exhibition there is small chance that we will be able to get him to join us again but, it is what it is.

Next Match: 1/31 Rolling Hills, Chuck, Jim, Greg, Lou (1/17 has been rained out)

1/10/08 Chuck, Greg and Jim played at Rolling Hills 7:40 tee time weather dry in the 70’s. Chuck suggested we keep a record of the wins and points won by to determine 1^st 2^nd and 3^rd. 3^rd place is to host a dinner at a fine Steak place one after June 1^st and the second time after January 1^st, 09. Today’s game was a slugfest with both Greg and Jim taking 9’s on the 2^nd hole as Chuck jumped out to a 3 point lead at the turn. 47, 50, 51. Jim and Greg pared 10 and Chuck took an 8 followed by a 7 on the par 3 11^th to surrender the lead. Jim jumped to a 3 shot lead after 14 but fell back to the field and lead by just one on the 18^th tee box. All three double boogied 18 to provide Jim with the first win of the season by one.

It was decided that a tie for the win would result in a chip off on the near by practice green until one of the individuals (that where tied) had the lowest score. That game would be scored a win by one for that player.

Next Match: 1/17 Sweetwater, Chuck, Jim, Greg, Lou (1/17 has been rained out)

Next Match  1/24  unclear if Sweetwater or Rolling Hills