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Florida Tax Reform – Amendment 5

allan — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:56:13 +0000

The State of Florida is still in desperate need of property tax reform & reduction. The measure that was approved last year has helped to provide some limited tax reductions, but has turned out to be a complicated & very limited property tax reduction effort. There is a new initiative to significantly reduce property taxes next year, called AMENDMENT FIVE, which would eliminate from 25-40% of today’s current property taxes, creating a SIGNIFICANT reduction in the total cost of home and/or business ownership. To replace the lost revenue, Florida sales tax would increase by about 1%.

5 Reasons To Vote YES for Amendment 5

Amendment 5 is a long overdue tax cut for all property owners: families, businesses, second homeowners and investors. Property tax levies have doubled over the past six years – from $15 billion in 2000 to $30 billion in 2006. With higher fuel prices and food costs, and stagnant incomes, it’s no wonder Florida families are struggling to make ends meet. If you’re living the American Dream in Florida, you stand to save 25% to 40% on your property taxes in 2010.

Amendment 5 will jump start Florida’s economy. Economists estimate that Amendment 5 will save property owners more than $10 billion in taxes. This will increase the liquidity and net spendable income of millions of property owners.

Amendment 5 will shift the burden of funding education from property owners to all who access the public school system. Currently, property owners pay a disproportionate share, compared to renters, for our schools. And property owners whose children attend private school pay tuition and public school taxes. By funding schools through sales taxes and other measures, Amendment 5 creates a more equitable tax system.

Amendment 5 offers much-needed tax relief for millions of property owners and continues the momentum created by Amendment 1 – approved by voters in January 2008 – toward reforming Florida’s archaic property tax system. Amendment 5 also pressures legislators to get serious about tapping stable and lucrative revenue sources for schools such as Internet sales (a $3 billion cash cow and an increase in state sales tax — much of it paid by non residents!).

Amendment 5 will provide much-needed tax relief to Florida’s seniors, many of whom fear losing their homes because of an inability to pay higher property taxes on a fixed income. On November 4, you have an unprecedented opportunity to vote YES for the biggest property tax cut in Florida history. Vote YES on Amendment 5.

The Five Most Common Myths about reducing Property Taxes Further:

Myth #1
Opponents say Amendment 5 will take valuable funding away from schools.

False! Amendment 5 requires the Legislature to provide required funding for schools. Instead of the funds coming from property owners in the form of taxes, it could come from sales taxes, reduced spending or any other source determined by lawmakers.

Myth #2
Opponents say Amendment 5 will raise the state sales tax and disproportionately affect the poor and needy.

False on two counts! First, Amendment 5 does not require the Legislature to increase the state sales tax. Second, necessary goods and services will remain exempt from a higher sales tax. These include unprepared food, rent, heating fuel, medicine, electricity and health care services.

Myth #3
Opponents say Amendment 5 equals a sales tax on services.

False! Amendment 5 does not dictate to lawmakers how to make up the revenue to fund our schools — including any new tax on services. It points out obvious options, such as a reduction in spending, and encourages lawmakers to come up with other revenue sources, such as collecting sales tax on items currently taxed in retail stores but not when purchased on the Internet.

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Has Miami’s Housing Market Hit Bottom?

allan — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:36:07 +0000

Has Miami’s Housing Market Hit Bottom?

I recently came across an interview with Jim Cramer (from Mad Money on CNBC), which I believe accurately predicts future real estate trends for the Southeast Florida housing market. For anyone considering buying Miami Beach, South Beach, or even downtown Miami waterfront properties, NOW is the time to be making offers on well priced properties.

Cramer’s Key Points:

Inventory is drying up & being steadily being absorbed
Housing starts have been down for over two years
New construction projects stopped two years ago
Florida is generally one year ahead of market trends
Interest Rate cuts have had a positive effect in absorbing excess inventory (at much reduced prices)

Watch Jim Cramer’s Interview Below:

The Greater Miami Real Estate Market – A sales professional’s perspective

allan — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:17:11 +0000

The Greater Miami Real Estate Market – A sales professional’s perspective

Over the past few months I’ve noticed, especially in social environments, one of the first topics that comes up is the state of the real estate market. Usually, one of the first questions I get asked is “how’s it going?” sometimes with an expression of concern. I’d like to take this opportunity to relay my response here:

The national news media and overall real estate economic statistics are dire, and getting worse on a seemingly daily basis. The truth is that the real estate market boom was overextended and very much speculative based (as opposed to need and/or value based). These current market conditions were not a surprise to me or to anyone who has been in the business through previous market cycles. Essentially, I’m the middleman in real estate transactions, I think a very valuable middleman, but nevertheless a third party to a real estate transaction. I’ve witnessed many dire situations in the past few months where owners have lost all of their equity and stubbornly clung to unrealistic prices – ultimately losing control of properties to the bank or other creditors.

I work for one of the largest and strongest local real estate companies, and yet I’ve noticed that around my office the number of active agents has dwindled. The ones that are left are those consistently ranked over the years as “Top Producers”. These real estate sales professionals are not one, two, three or even four “deal wonders” but those that have the discipline, work ethic, business and organizational skills, as well as the experience to provide value-added services to their clients. Market conditions honestly make an impact on how we work on a daily basis- in a buyer’s market the skills I just mentioned become MUCH more important.

So, my response to the casual question “How’s it going?” is- it’s a challenge, an exciting challenge that makes all of us so called “Top Producers” reach deep down inside ourselves and our skills to make sure we have the discipline in guiding both buyers and (especially) sellers to “get real” and make informed decisions. Deals are still getting done, there are many foreign as well as local buyers making offers and closing on properties. However, everyone today knows that this is a buyer’s market (especially the Greater Miami area and even the coveted South Beach market). A seller today must start by pricing aggressively and working with a qualified real estate sales professional. In the past ten days, I have personally written four sales contracts/offers totaling over six million ($6 Million) for a combination of both commercial and residential properties. The one thing these had in common: all were priced right, in very good locations, and were being handled by competent real estate sales professionals that know how to present the properties to qualified buyers and their agent (me).

I’ve noticed that contracts take longer to close, and negotiations are longer and more protracted with financial underwriting departments looking much more carefully at each and every loan application. The value equation HAS to be present today and for the foreseeable future- the latest evidence of this are the headlines from newspapers indicating a pending revision of national mortgage broker regulations and new stricter national underwriting standards.

So, to summarize, the real estate sales business is still healthy for “Top Producers”- those of us that have the ability to be selective with whom we work with, and for those of us that also have the discipline to stay focused and use our hard-earned skills to provide a true value-added service for our clients.

My Key to Success

· My team and I focus only on motivated sellers- those willing to do whatever it takes to sell their property.

· Working with motivated and qualified buyers-particularly those from Europe that understand the value in purchasing income producing and/or prime waterfront properties. If a buyer has the goal of purchasing for x dollars per square foot, then we set up a purchasing system until they get what they want.

· Continuously and religiously following up with creative & innovative marketing programs and then with direct buyers, cooperating agents, and interested parties on behalf of our clients.

Miami Beach Buyer’s Market

allan — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 16:41:04 +0000

Miami Beach Buyer’s Market

The Real Estate Diamonds in the Rough

Miami Beach real estate can no longer claim to appeal strictly to people with six or seven figure salaries. Today the surplus of properties up for sale in the city has eroded prices, revealing plenty of possible investment prospects for those willing to ignore the steadfast doom cries of the real estate soothsayers and find their next lucrative opportunity.

If you’re renting at a condo like Terra Beachside Villas or ICON, it may come as a slight shock to be told that the money you’re plunking down for your lease is potentially going to waste. Instead of it becoming something that will return you a long term profit, you’re periodically losing hundreds.

Recent news reports show overall property values have plummeted to an eight year low, which essentially equates to being able to actually live in that luxury condo by the ocean closer to an imminent reality than the future pipe dream it once seemed. Pre-construction units continue to materialize and their prices also come with an increasingly reasonable price tag. If you decide to simply wait it out and join the legion of â¬Sdoomersâ¬, don’t be surprised if you find yourself possibly regretting that decision once the market returns to a healthier state.

Since you’re already living in Miami Beach, it’s safe to assume you’ve got fairly deep pockets. If you’re managing that spare change in order to pay off your â¬Spadâ¬ in the next decade or so it’s quite likely the market will be in better shape come that time which means your condo’s value would likely have increased substantially.

If you’re not in it for the money, that’s fine. Then again, a hint of bragging bravado never hurt anyone. You may find yourself filled with giggly delight as your friends and loved ones stare in amazement at how you were capable of conjuring the funds for that bewildering three bedroom sanctuary with all the bells and whistles that often come with the word “luxury” attached to them. Obviously you didn’t pay anywhere near the princely sum they have in mind but that will be your own little secret.

Nobody’s telling you to go out and splurge on the first property that catches your eye but, just like the old adage “misery loves company”, don’t just sit around with your arms folded like so many of these pessimistic real estate enthusiasts and let a potential opportunity pass you by. After all, there’s absolutely no harm in looking.