How to lower your property taxes
Despite home prices in major urban centers decreasing 31 percent between 2005 and 2009, property taxes across the U.S. increased by nearly 20 percent. There is good news, however; homeowners can fight back.
Making sense of the story
• Homeowners should keep in mind that property taxes do not always correspond with home values, because local governments typically don’t measure values every year and some have limits on annual property-tax increases.
• As a result, current property taxes might reflect the home’s value when the market was healthier. According to the Congressional Budget Office, property-tax adjustments lag behind changes in home prices by an average of three years.
• Although homeowners cannot change their property-tax rate, which is set by the local government, homeowners can get their assessment lowered if they appeal to their local assessor.
• One key to a successful appeal is fact checking the assessor’s work. About half of all successful appeals come from homeowners pointing out an error in the assessor’s description of the home, according to one property tax expert.
• During the appeal process, which is similar to a less-formal court hearing, homeowners may present their case to several local officials or representatives. The simplest way to convince officials that a property has been incorrectly valued is to provide evidence of the sales price of homes that are comparable to the property being discussed. This should include square footage, amenities, and neighborhood characteristics. Sale documents and photos of the property in question, as well as the comparable properties also should be brought in.
• Homeowners who have made improvements or substantial changes to the property should be cautious about appealing an assessment though, as it could have negative effects and actually increase the property’s value and, in turn, the property taxes.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
SOLD! Still Standing on the Market? Call Me!!
SOLD! Still Standing on the Market? Call Me!!
SHORT SALE SELLER WALKS WITH $29,000!!! ASK ME HOW!
For Sale: 1BR/1BA Condo in San Diego, CA, $235,000
SHORT SALE SELLER WALKS WITH $29,000!!! ASK ME HOW!
For Sale: 1BR/1BA Condo in San Diego, CA, $235,000
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Made in the USA - Just like You!
Subject: MAY 1ST TO JUNE 1ST
Did you see that Diane Sawyer has a special report coming up this week? They removed ALL items from a typical, middle class family's home that were not made in the USA .
There was hardly anything left besides the kitchen sink. Literally. During the special they are going to show truckloads of items - USA made - being brought in to replace everything and will be talking about how to find these items and the difference in price etc..
It was interesting that Diane said that if every American spent just $64 more than normal on USA made items this year, it would create something like 200,000 new jobs!
70% of Americans believe that the trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended.
Why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges? DO IT YOURSELF, AMERICA!!
Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says 'Made in China ' or 'PRC' (and that now includes Hong Kong ), simply choose another product, or none at all. You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products, and you will be equally amazed at what you can do without.
Who needs plastic eggs to celebrate Easter? If you must have eggs, use real ones and benefit some American farmer. Easter is just an example. The point is do not wait for the government to act. Just go ahead and assume control on your own.
THINK ABOUT THIS: If 200 million Americans refuse to buy just $20 each of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favor...fast!!
Most of the people who have been reading about this matter are planning on implementing this on May 1st and continue it until June 1st. That is only one month of trading losses, but it will hit the Chinese for 1/12th of the total, or 8%, of their American exports. Then they might have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and
lawlessness were worth it.
Remember, MAY 1 TO JUNE 1st !!!!!!
START NOW.
Send this to everybody you know. Let's show them that we are Americans and NOBODY can take us for granted.
If we can't live without cheap Chinese goods for one month out of our lives, WE DESERVE WHAT WE GET!
Pass it on, America...... BUY AMERICAN !!!!!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
IT'S TIME TO BUY!
The seasons are changing and so is the market! Summer is once again right around the corner and it is time for the improvement's to keep on coming. Always looking for ways to progress! I just hired a young new intern that is passionate for real estate, dedicated, and ready for hard work. His name is Marcello Margott be sure to look for him in the next couple years I know he will do great! San Diego is warming up and the weather has been absolutely gorgeous. Come on everybody get out doors and come see some beautiful Southern California homes that may be just what you are looking for!
here are just one of our many dream homes you might want to look at!
BANK OWNED SHORT SALE..
come get your moneys worth!
One of our MANY dream homes ONLY $1,475,000!!!
here are just one of our many dream homes you might want to look at!
BANK OWNED SHORT SALE..
come get your moneys worth!
One of our MANY dream homes ONLY $1,475,000!!!
Monday, April 25, 2011
WEBBY AWARDS
The folks at the Webby Awards -- given to the best of the best on the Internet every year -- have announced their 2011 picks of what they consider excellent sites in the real estate market. Three of the seven honorees in this category cater to a fairly wide audience while the rest focus on niche markets, such as New York City apartment seekers.
More than 10,000 entries were considered this year for categories, including news, government and health. Fewer than 10 percent were named honorees, according to the site, and the judges included celebrities such as Twitter co-founder Biz Stone and Martha Stewart.
Here are the picks in real estate. Give them a spin and let us know what you think:
Coldwell Banker
About: It was the sole nationwide corporate company to be named an "honoree" in the real estate category. Coldwell Banker, which serves both the residential and commercial sectors, relaunched its site in May with more tools "because the consumer is demanding it," said David Siroty, the company's vice president of communications. Those new features included BlueScapes, which allow users to give a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" of landscapes to help them visualize what they want in a home and community. Images include snowmobiles and taxicabs. After giving their assessments, users can enter a query and the technology will find homes that may be a match.
The site: www.coldwellbanker.com
PadMapper.com
About: The web app that lets you see apartments on a Google map. In the left-hand box, you can filter and get rid of listings, which are from Craigslist and other sources such as Apartments.com. After searching, PadMapper.com gives users information about the picks. From the website's "About" section: "When I was hunting for an apartment, I found myself reading through lots of ads that each had some fatal flaw (usually related to location) which was really time-consuming to find for each one."
The site: www.padmapper.com
RentJungle.com
About: The site looks through numerous websites to filter out only rentals in the places you care about. The site helps would-be renters and managers.
The site: www.rentjungle.com
SnapDigs
About: This honoree caters to New York apartment hunters. What sets it apart is its ability to let consumers search by specific details including sustainability and big windows.
The site: snapdigs.com
StreetEasy.com
About: This is another site for New Yorkers looking to buy or rent. An interesting feature: Users can search recorded sales data that comes straight from New York City's Department of Finance in an easy-to-understand format, according to the company's website.
The site: streeteasy.com
The Savoye
About: This honoree is a marketing site for Savoye, urban living spaces in Addison, Texas. The site gives people an idea of the floor plans and the neighborhood around it, including nearby coffeeshops.
The site: www.savoyeaddison.com
Zoopla.co.uk
Aboutd: It's a property site for would-be renters and homebuyers in the U.K. One of the site's hallmark's is AskMe!, which lets users enter questions, which are answered by real estate pros and locals.
The site: www.zoopla.co.uk
Want to see the other Webby honorees, http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/current_honorees.php?season=15.
Courtesy of:
Lily Leung: (619)293-1719; lily.leung@uniontrib.com; Twitter @LilyShumLeung
More than 10,000 entries were considered this year for categories, including news, government and health. Fewer than 10 percent were named honorees, according to the site, and the judges included celebrities such as Twitter co-founder Biz Stone and Martha Stewart.
Here are the picks in real estate. Give them a spin and let us know what you think:
Coldwell Banker
About: It was the sole nationwide corporate company to be named an "honoree" in the real estate category. Coldwell Banker, which serves both the residential and commercial sectors, relaunched its site in May with more tools "because the consumer is demanding it," said David Siroty, the company's vice president of communications. Those new features included BlueScapes, which allow users to give a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" of landscapes to help them visualize what they want in a home and community. Images include snowmobiles and taxicabs. After giving their assessments, users can enter a query and the technology will find homes that may be a match.
The site: www.coldwellbanker.com
PadMapper.com
About: The web app that lets you see apartments on a Google map. In the left-hand box, you can filter and get rid of listings, which are from Craigslist and other sources such as Apartments.com. After searching, PadMapper.com gives users information about the picks. From the website's "About" section: "When I was hunting for an apartment, I found myself reading through lots of ads that each had some fatal flaw (usually related to location) which was really time-consuming to find for each one."
The site: www.padmapper.com
RentJungle.com
About: The site looks through numerous websites to filter out only rentals in the places you care about. The site helps would-be renters and managers.
The site: www.rentjungle.com
SnapDigs
About: This honoree caters to New York apartment hunters. What sets it apart is its ability to let consumers search by specific details including sustainability and big windows.
The site: snapdigs.com
StreetEasy.com
About: This is another site for New Yorkers looking to buy or rent. An interesting feature: Users can search recorded sales data that comes straight from New York City's Department of Finance in an easy-to-understand format, according to the company's website.
The site: streeteasy.com
The Savoye
About: This honoree is a marketing site for Savoye, urban living spaces in Addison, Texas. The site gives people an idea of the floor plans and the neighborhood around it, including nearby coffeeshops.
The site: www.savoyeaddison.com
Zoopla.co.uk
Aboutd: It's a property site for would-be renters and homebuyers in the U.K. One of the site's hallmark's is AskMe!, which lets users enter questions, which are answered by real estate pros and locals.
The site: www.zoopla.co.uk
Want to see the other Webby honorees, http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/current_honorees.php?season=15.
Courtesy of:
Lily Leung: (619)293-1719; lily.leung@uniontrib.com; Twitter @LilyShumLeung
Thursday, March 31, 2011
For Sale: 4BR/4+1BA Single Family House in San Diego, CA, $1,995,000
THE MARKET IS CHANGING AGAIN, LIKE THE SEASON OF SPRING! TIME TO STEP IT UP! For Sale: 4BR/4+1BA Single Family House in San Diego, CA, $1,995,000
Monday, March 28, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Daylight Savings Time - Interesting Take
Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins on Sunday, March 13, 2011. The way we refer to time zones also changes. For example, Eastern Standard Time (EST) becomes Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
But remember, some areas of the United States don’t use DST, such as Arizona, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the US Virgin Islands and American Samoa.
Benefits of Daylight Saving Time
Despite some concerns, Americans overwhelmingly like Daylight Saving Time. There is simply more sunlight in the evenings to enjoy the outdoors and get things done. Plus, additional hours of daylight can help save energy on a national scale - as much as 100,000 barrels of oil per day according to some estimates.
And brighter is safer. Studies have shown that the DST shift reduces traffic accidents. Additionally, a study by the US Law Enforcement Admin also determined that crime is consistently lower during DST, with violent crimes down as much as 10% to 13%. For many crimes, like mugging, darkness is a factor--so more light in the evening hours reduces these types of crimes.
Cons of Daylight Saving Time
Not everyone benefits from DST. For example, many farmers say that DST has a negative impact on their livestock’s natural schedules. The airline industry also reports that it costs millions of dollars to adjust time schedules - and even then, airlines report numerous problems with international flight connections during the transition time since DST isn’t followed uniformly around the world.
Interesting DST Facts
• A man was actually able to avoid the draft for the Vietnam War using a Daylight Saving Time loophole. When he was born, it was just after midnight, DST. When he was drafted, he successfully argued that in his home state of Delaware, standard time - not DST - was the official time for recording births. So he was technically born on the previous date - which had a much higher draft lottery number - and he was able to avoid being drafted.
• In September 1999, the West Bank was on Daylight Saving Time, while Israel had switched back to standard time. A group of West Bank terrorists prepared some timed bombs. Unfortunately for them, they misunderstood the time change and the bombs exploded early - killing the terrorists themselves rather than the intended victims, two busloads of innocent citizens.
• In the 1950s and 60s, each state and locality was permitted to choose start and end DST dates as they desired. During 1965, Minneapolis and St. Paul - which are considered one metropolitan area - didn't agree on start dates, and for a period of time, these Twin Cities had a one hour time change between them. And on one Ohio to Virginia bus route, passengers technically had to change their watches seven times in 35 miles!
• To keep to their published timetables, Amtrak trains cannot leave a station before the scheduled time. So when the clocks "fall back" in the fall, all trains that are running on time actually stop at 2 am - the official time of DST change - and wait one hour before resuming their routes. In the spring, the routes instantaneously become one hour behind schedule, but they just keep going and do their best to make up the time.
But remember, some areas of the United States don’t use DST, such as Arizona, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the US Virgin Islands and American Samoa.
Benefits of Daylight Saving Time
Despite some concerns, Americans overwhelmingly like Daylight Saving Time. There is simply more sunlight in the evenings to enjoy the outdoors and get things done. Plus, additional hours of daylight can help save energy on a national scale - as much as 100,000 barrels of oil per day according to some estimates.
And brighter is safer. Studies have shown that the DST shift reduces traffic accidents. Additionally, a study by the US Law Enforcement Admin also determined that crime is consistently lower during DST, with violent crimes down as much as 10% to 13%. For many crimes, like mugging, darkness is a factor--so more light in the evening hours reduces these types of crimes.
Cons of Daylight Saving Time
Not everyone benefits from DST. For example, many farmers say that DST has a negative impact on their livestock’s natural schedules. The airline industry also reports that it costs millions of dollars to adjust time schedules - and even then, airlines report numerous problems with international flight connections during the transition time since DST isn’t followed uniformly around the world.
Interesting DST Facts
• A man was actually able to avoid the draft for the Vietnam War using a Daylight Saving Time loophole. When he was born, it was just after midnight, DST. When he was drafted, he successfully argued that in his home state of Delaware, standard time - not DST - was the official time for recording births. So he was technically born on the previous date - which had a much higher draft lottery number - and he was able to avoid being drafted.
• In September 1999, the West Bank was on Daylight Saving Time, while Israel had switched back to standard time. A group of West Bank terrorists prepared some timed bombs. Unfortunately for them, they misunderstood the time change and the bombs exploded early - killing the terrorists themselves rather than the intended victims, two busloads of innocent citizens.
• In the 1950s and 60s, each state and locality was permitted to choose start and end DST dates as they desired. During 1965, Minneapolis and St. Paul - which are considered one metropolitan area - didn't agree on start dates, and for a period of time, these Twin Cities had a one hour time change between them. And on one Ohio to Virginia bus route, passengers technically had to change their watches seven times in 35 miles!
• To keep to their published timetables, Amtrak trains cannot leave a station before the scheduled time. So when the clocks "fall back" in the fall, all trains that are running on time actually stop at 2 am - the official time of DST change - and wait one hour before resuming their routes. In the spring, the routes instantaneously become one hour behind schedule, but they just keep going and do their best to make up the time.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
http://ranchosantafe.postlets.com/
Visit my gallery of homes! Under construction and building business all the time!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
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