Lee County Florida Property Taxes can be confusing at best with all of the recent changes both legislatively and through voter amendment to the state constitution over the past twelve months here in the State of Florida.
The first change to property taxes in the State of Florida this year was instituted by the Florida legislature. During the June 2007 session state legislators froze the current millage tax rates as the new millage tax rate cap. In addition they required an additional percentage reduction below the roll back rate. Local governments had to cut additional property tax revenues 3, 5, 7 or 9 percent based on how much their taxes had increased between years 2001 and 2006. They also placed limits on future tax increases. A roll back rate is the millage tax rate a governing body needs to generate the same amount of revenue they did in the previous fiscal year.
The second major change to Florida Property taxes was the adoption of Amendment 1 the new Homestead Exemption. This made several changes. It raised the $25,000 exemption to $50,000 on homes with assessed values greater than $75,000. As an example if the county had your home assessed at $200,000 you would pay property taxes based on a $150,000 taxable value if you used the property as your primary residence aka homestead. Next it allowed for Florida Homesteaded property owners to transfer or port their Save-Our-Homes benefits to a new property. The total amount of exemption couldn't exceed $500,000 and if a resident purchased a property with less value than their current property the Save Our Homes exemption amount would be applied proportionally to the new property. This amendment also exempted business owners from paying the intangible taxes on the first $25,000 of assessed value on tangible personal property. Lastly it placed limits on assessment increases of non-homestead properties (Vacant, Commercial, etc...) to ten percent each year.
The Lee County Property Appraiser has a tool for perspective home buyers to use to estimate taxes on a home they intend to purchase. You simply fill in the property address, click on the strap number, and the click the link that says tax estimator. The link also provides a disclaimer on the use of the tool and also offers some insight into just "How do they calculate my property taxes?"
Cape Coral Taxes Decrease - a look into millage rate changes in the City of Cape Coral over the past ten years.
Canadian Florida Property Owners Tax Information - an inquiry on how property taxes affect foreign nationals and citizens of the United States of America who live outside of the State of Florida.
If you are looking to purchase or sell a home or have questions regarding a future transaction I can be of assistance to you or someone you may wish to refer. I am able to assist buyers and sellers of fantastically priced properties throughout our market area here in Southwest Florida to include but not limited to Foreclosures, Pre-Foreclosures, Short-Sales, Vacant Land, Waterfront Properties, Single Family, Multi-Family, and Condos.
My market areas include Cape Coral, Pine Island, Fort Myers, South Fort Myers, Gateway, Fort Myers Beach, San Carlos Park, Island Park, Lehigh Acres, Estero, and areas surrounding Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) and Southwest Florida International Airport (SWFIA).
Please contact me direct at (239) 340-1384 or via e-mail Scott@The-Extreme-Team.com.
Scott Slocum, REALTOR®
Florida Future Realty Inc.
2816 Del Prado Blvd South, Unit 2
Cape Coral FL, 33904
Direct: 239-340-1384
Scott@The-Extreme-Team.com
Scott's Real Estate Web Page
Scott's Real Estate Blog
"Copyright © 2008 by Scott Slocum. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the written consent of the author."
That's right readers you read my blog title correctly... Cape Coral homes are selling. As opposed to what the national and local media outlets want you to read to sell news. Homes, condominiums, vacant land and other real property is selling in Cape Coral and surrounding areas throughout Southwest Florida.
Yesterday while I was out showing five properties to my buyers we had two occurrences when we had other agents and customers arrive at the same property. At the one property one other agent showed up and at a second property we had three other agents show up with their customers.
While making my showing appointments the day before one of the listing agents had advised me that she had 18 agents call that day to show the property and to be courteous to any other agents and customers we would possibly encounter.
Properties priced properly are selling and selling quickly. People know pricing is presenting people new opportunties to buy their first home, second or vacation home, and real estate investments. I attempted to make showing appointments on several other properties but they had already gone pending within a 24 hour period of time with imited days on market... less than 30.
The good news is that my buyer wrote up an offer on the property they liked. It was a beautiful 3 Bedroom 2 Bath 2 Car Garage 1583 sq/ft under air. The home featured 18 inch tile throughout the great room, kitchen, breakfast nook, and bathrooms. This home built in 2003 was offered at $110,000. The home only needed new kitchen appliances, a washer and dryer to make the move in complete.
If you are looking to purchase or sell a home or have questions regarding a future transaction I can be of assistance to you or someone you may wish to refer. I am able to assist buyers and sellers of fantastically priced properties throughout our market area here in Southwest Florida to include but not limited to Foreclosures, Pre-Foreclosures, Short-Sales, Vacant Land, Waterfront Properties, Single Family, Multi-Family, and Condos.
My market areas include Cape Coral, Pine Island, Fort Myers, South Fort Myers, Gateway, Fort Myers Beach, San Carlos Park, Island Park, Lehigh Acres, Estero, and areas surrounding Florida Gulf Coast University and Southwest Florida International Airport.
Please contact me direct at (239) 340-1384 or via e-mail Scott@The-Extreme-Team.com.
Scott Slocum, REALTOR®
Florida Future Realty Inc.
2816 Del Prado Blvd South, Unit 2
Cape Coral FL, 33904
Direct: 239-340-1384
Scott@The-Extreme-Team.com
Scott's Real Estate Web Page
Scott's Real Estate Blog
"Copyright © 2008 by Scott Slocum. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the written consent of the author."
Today March 4, 2008 the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank Ben Bernanke met with a group of bankers in Florida today to discuss the foreclosure and pre-foreclosure situations affecting the State of Florida and our country as a whole.
Mr. Bernanke suggested reducing principal balances on home loans for mortgage holders who are no longer able to make or stay current with their payments because their homes are no longer worth what they were when they purchased. Mr. Bernanke said many homeowners owe more than the present market value of their home and some see no incentive to keep paying.
The Federal Reserve Chairman stated that a significant number of recent homebuyers have started to walk away from their homes since they are no longer worth what they once were. He stated that a reduction in principal may encourage some people to stay in their homes and thus reduce the chance that they will fall into default and/or foreclosure.
The real estate professionals at Florida Future Realty, Inc. have been helping and educating homeowners and home buyers throughout Southwest Florida in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Estero, and other communities with performing, selling, and closing short sales on homes, condos, and even vacant land.
If our team or I can be of assistance to you or if you have a customer you would like to refer us to perform a short sale on their a property in Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, Fort Myers, Estero, Bonita Springs, Naples, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, or other areas in Southwest Florida including Lee, Charlotte, and Collier County please contact me for help via our instand contact form or via phone at (239) 340-1384 or e-mail Scott@The-Extreme-Team.com.
Scott Slocum, REALTOR®
Florida Future Realty Inc.
2816 Del Prado Blvd South, Unit 2
Cape Coral FL, 33904
Direct: 239-340-1384
Scott@The-Extreme-Team.com
Scott's Real Estate Web Page
Scott's Real Estate Blog
"Copyright © 2008 by Scott Slocum. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the written consent of the author."
Florida Future Realty Inc. has successfully listed, negotiated, and sold two Short Sale listings this week. Two of our Cape Coral Short Sale files closed after recieving their final approval from their lenders.
Short Sale negotiation is definately not for the faint of heart or one with a lack of patience. It takes skill and a tremendous amount of dillegence and skill to close these properties, but they do close.
Over the past year Real Estate Broker Susan Milner, and REALTOR Scott Slocum have developed a solid proven system and implemented this process to successfully negotiate and close multiple short sale pre-foreclosure properties.
At Florida Future Realty Inc. this is only one of the many specialty services that we offer sellers and buyers of pre-foreclosure and short sale properties.
Our sellers were very pleased with the results of their short sale negotiation, including the terms and conditions the lenders presented... total debt forgiveness. Debt forgiveness is not a guarentee in all short sale negotiatons however it's proving to be an option that many lenders are choosing to extend to their customers.
If we can be of assistance to you or if you have a customer you would like to refer us to perform a short sale on their a property in Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Naples, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, or other areas in Southwest Florida including Lee, Charlotte, and Collier County please follow this link to contact Florida Future Realty Short Sale Assistance or via phone at (239) 340-1384 or e-mail Scott@The-Extreme-Team.com.
Scott Slocum, REALTOR®
Florida Future Realty Inc.
2816 Del Prado Blvd South Unit 2
Cape Coral FL 33904
Direct: 239-340-1384
ScottSlocum@FloridaFutureAgents.com
www.scottslocum.info
www.CapeCoralRealEstateandLand.com
"Copyright © 2008 by Scott Slocum. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the written consent of the author."
How do I become a Firefighter ? As you may or may not know by reading my bio on Active Rain, I also serve my community full-time as a Firefighter Paramedic. This is a common question asked to those of us in the industry by members of the public that are interested in becoming public safety professionals in southwest florida or there own hometowns. The process is pretty similar for most communities throughout the nation, but this blog will specifically focus on becoming a Firefighter right here in Florida.
First and foremost you have to be 18 years of age or older and have a High School Diploma or G.E.D. This is the minimum requirements that most agencies require for you to become employed.
Next you have to find the agency or area that you would like to perform this occupation. Different departments have additional requirements for employment such as specialized certifications.
Throughout the State of Florida most agencies are requiring the following to be completed prior to application.
1) Florida State Firefighter II (2) Certification.
2) State of Florida EMT or Paramedic Certification.
Many agencies will hire you at a minimum of having your FL FF II & FL EMT Certification or just having your FL Paramedic Certification and some agencies will then send you to the Fire Academy. With our communities growing at rapid rates and Advanced Life Support emergency medical care now the industry standard for all fire rescue and ems agencies to deliver Paramedic's are now in extreme demand throughout the State of Florida.
In Southwest Florida specifically you can obtain these certifications by visiting the following webpages.
Fort Myers Fire Academy http://www.lee.k12.fl.us/schools/tex/Fire_Fighter/FireFighter.htm
Fort Myers Fire Department
2404 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Fort Myers, FL 33901
Program Coordinator:
Patrick Flahive
3800 Michigan Avenue
Fort Myers, FL 33916
239-334-3897
Fax 239-334-8794
www.lee.k12.fl.us/schools/tex
NancyVP@leeschools.net
Naples Fire Academy
NAPLES FIRE DEPT TRAINING CENTER
Coordinator: Micheal D. Swanson
1885 Veterans Park Drive
Naples, FL 34109
941-597-3222
Fax 941-597-7082
mswanson@northnaplesfire.com
FLORIDA STATE FIRE COLLEGE
David Casey - Bureau Chief
11655 NW Gainesville Road
Ocala, FL 34482-1486
352-369-2800
Fax 352-732-1374
http://www.fldfs.com/sfm/bfst/bfst_index.htm
firecollege@fldfs.com
Program Coordinator (Firefighter 1 & 2):
MARION COMMUNITY TECHNICAL AND
ADULT EDUCATION
Information: 352-369-2849
http://www.fl-firecollege.com/
fireschool@mcctae.com
To obtain your EMS certification:
Contact Edison Community College http://www.edison.edu/academics/emergencymedicalservices/index.shtml
For information on employment contact:
The Employment Testing Cooperative of Southwest Florida, A Committee of the Lee County Fire Chiefs' Association https://www.floridafirejobs.org/
Florida Fire Chiefs' Association www.ffca.org
Florida State Firefighters Association www.fsfa.com
I hope this information is helpful. Message me if you have any questions or need any assistance in pursuing your dreams of employment as a Public Safety professional.
"Copyright © 2007 by Scott Slocum. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the written consent of the author."
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