Florida Homes and Properties

Archive for November, 2006

Today, most residential homeowners do not realize that they do not have a “legal status” of homestead on their Home.

Some states have homestead exemption(s) and homestead benefits but very few people have failed to realize that they must first “proclaim” their home as their homestead in order to be entitled to such benefits.

Currently, the states that have the the best homestead protection limits are Florida and then Texas but few homeowners have failed to legally establish their homestead status and receive their entitled protection pursuant to that state’s constitution. HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION does NOT protect your home!

The one of the worst courses of action that any homeowner can do, is download one of those “cheap, cookie cutter” homestead forms online, without having an in-depth knowledge of the homestead laws and their limitations and/or how it may affect them, specifically.

Never, Never, Never buy a generic form over the internet unless you thoroughly understand the Homestead laws of your state and you can defend the meaning and purpose of that form, in a court of law. This is highly ill-advised and probably one of the Worse Action that you can possibly do. Buying a cheap and very in-expensive Homestead form “product” from the internet (normal cost: $25-50), instead of purchasing a valuable “service”. This is very poor form of asset protection and estate planning. Your residential Home is your greatest financial asset that you & your family own – Do not become “cheap and/or thrifty” when it coming to protecting your home. Remember, the old wise saying, “You get what you pay for !” – there is much truth in that

The biggest misconception is that homeowners “assumes” that Homestead exemption protects their residential home… IT DOES NOT!

You have to protect your greatest asset – Your home against any possible future litigation and claims that can be attached against your home unless several specific self-executing procedures are completed and filed in their entirely.

We are proud to announce the expansion Homestead Services of Florida to others states and launching of our website for our revolutionary home protection service.
http://www.homesteadservicesflorida.com

What is exactly is “Homestead Services of Florida”?

What we do:

We offer Maximum Protection for your Florida Home against the all non-equity Judgments, Liens, Attachments, Lawsuits from lienors.

What liens or judgments are considered “non-equity”?

medical bills, credit cards, child support, nursing home,
judgement from lawsuits, etc.

What liens or judgments are considered “Equity”?

1) mortgage

2) Real Estate taxes

3) Assessment or maintenance fees (condo, villa, deed restricted)

4) construction or mechanics liens

Unfortunately most of us would agree, is that our legal system has run amuck and is out of control. With over 19,000,000 lawsuits filed annually generating over $135,000,000,000 billion dollars in court costs and legal fees, against individuals and companies. These numbers have consistently increased from year to year and continue to dramatically increase by surpassing the previous years totals.

Most consumers today feel that we are currently living in a “Sue-Crazy” society. Statistically speaking, a person has a three times (3X) greater risk of being legally sued in a court of law then being admitted into a hospital for an accident or sickness.

It is essential that individuals and business owners protect themselves against this realistic possibility.One of the most valuable financial assets that an individual can own today, is their Home.

If you have money, attorneys want it !!

Every time a new lawsuit is filed, it becomes a “Declaration of War”. The Attorneys are fighting to take away the assets of anyone that they can drag into their case. Just because you may never have had a legal issue yet doesn’t mean your safe by any means. Even if you have to defend yourself, it may cost you thousands of un-recoupable dollars in legal fees. You should always prepare your defensive systems. The Only way You can win this War is to have your affairs in order BEFORE a lawsuit is served against you.

Example in my state of Florida:

The Biggest Myth “assumed” by most Florida Homeowners is that they believe and have falsely assumed, that Florida Homestead Exemption protects their homestead property – It Legally Does Not!

TRUE FACT:

FLORIDA HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION DOES NOT LEGALLY PROTECT YOUR FLORIDA HOMESTEAD PROPERTY!

Florida homeowner says “But I receive my Homestead Exemption every year? Yes, this maybe true BUT this does NOT legally protect your Homestead property! Homestead Exemption’s primary purpose is for your annual $25,000 discount from Ad Valorem (Real Estate) taxes of your assessed value of your Florida home.

Do you realize that any person, lawyer, company, government agency, code enforcement board, or any entity can place a claim of lien against your Home at any time, for any reason, without cause or notification?

Florida laws states that you do not even have to be legally notified if a lien is placed against your home! Judgments and liens can stay enforced against your homestead property for between 14 years and 20 years depending on the year is was filed!

Ignorance of the law is not a legal defensive in a court of law! We help in assisting the Florida Homeowner in exercising their legal rights in providing maximum protection while shielding their most valuable asset, their Florida Home.

By utilizing our unique professional services through the use of legal documentation, filing and recording system -We can shield your Florida Home from the majority of Judgments, Liens, Attachments, lawsuits and litigation which is typically the first asset that most judgment liens are filed against.

But without our valuable services your home is 100% financially and completely exposed to frivolous and/or bona fide Liens, judgments, Attachments and is NOT protected under the full protection of the Florida Constitution and Florida Homestead laws as you have incorrectly assumed.

Once a judgment, lien or encumbrance is attached against your Florida home, whether a frivolous or legitimate claim, then you can do only 1 of 3 things:
Hire an attorney and Contest their claim in court – very expensive
Pay their Claim – very expensive.
Use Homestead Services to make their claim Legally Unenforceable without the expense of hiring an attorney – not expensive.
Call us or send us an email and protect your Florida Home today!

The unending creativity of different groups trying to find a solution for the Property Taxes problem in Florida is starting to overwhelm and confuse most of us. Let’s try to understand:

A) First we had the Florida Legislature rolling back property taxes (to their 2006 level!). However they left the door open for cities to override the rollback by a two third majority vote, which was actually done by a few of them.
Then they put on the January 2008 ballot a package of tax relief which included raising the homestead exemption to 75% of the first $ 200,000 of property value, then 15% on the next$ 300,000. Beneficiaries of “save our homes” would lose that benefit if they opted for the homestead exemption increase. We called that “the poison pill”.

B) On October 29, after a judge had thrown out the ballot package, due to its confusing language, and weeks of indecision, the Legislature finally approved a new ballot proposal which consists of:

- Increasing the homestead exemption by $ 25,000, not applicable to school taxes, which would reduce it to a total of $ 40,000 approximately, instead of the present $25,000 exemption? The savings would amount to an average of $ 220 per year said the legislature.

- Establishing the ‘portability’ of the ’save our homes’ protection, up to $ 500,000

- Putting a cap of 10% on yearly increases of assessed value of non homestead and commercial properties.
We called this proposal: the ‘drop like a pebble’.

C) At the end of November 2007, a coalition of different groups was starting to collect the 611,000 signatures needed to put a new tax reform project on November 2008 ballot.
The new proposal consists mainly of imposing a property tax limit of 1.35% per year on the taxable value of on all properties, including non-homestead and commercial real estate.
It would keep the ’save our home’ protection. The sponsors claimed that it would reduce the average tax bill by 26%.
In this proposal, no mention of ‘portability’ of the ’save our homes’. No protection against violent raises of property value like those who hit us between 2000 and 2005.
The sponsors called it: ‘cut property taxes now’ and any owner can add his signature on their website.

D) A new initiative is pending review from the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission.
It would eliminate all Florida school taxes and replace them by expanding the Florida sales taxes to include services.

The background of all these proposals is the general opposition of public employees, and local governments to anything that would have any meaningful impact on their spending.
They are actively campaigning with their eternal threats of crippling education and schools, cutting back on police department, ambulances, and fire departments.

I am not impressed. And I will not buy into their menaces. Florida budget has bubbled to levels we wouldn’t have dreamed about a few years ago. At the same time property tax collections have doubled during the last five years, from about 16 billion to more than 30 billion. So what are these complaints all about when we try to roll back a couple of billions for the sake of our state and our people’s economy?

It’s about the ever-increasing public sector, with its dozens of cities, bureaucracies, police and fire departments, mayors and commissioners, which is a luxury that we can’t afford when our education is at the bottom level in the US, our public health problems have not been seriously addressed, and so many people are in the danger of loosing their homes on the wake of sky-high taxes, insurance premiums and mortgages.

One of the main issues that worry them are the retirement pensions of this new-formed social class. These pensions are steadily guzzling their budgets and there are starting to feel the fear of loosing these benefits that are negated to many Floridians.
We will always affirm workers’ right to secure their retirement. How could we negate the importance of good police and fire departments? But everything must be done within the reasonable and the possible.

That is the reason why we should address the problem in its deep root. Uncontrolled spending must be stopped and rolled back. Efficiency must be the rule and not the exception. And our local government, as well as our State government must abide by the same belt-tightening measures that it has forced onto a majority of our population.

One of the first steps, in my modest opinion, is the regrouping of city services, and the undoing of this hundred-head bureaucracy that we don’t need.

The exercise of swapping and juggling with tax revenues is proving to be a vain purpose. We have to modify our Tax Property system to make it more equitable; encouraging first time buyers, investors and out-of-state buyers, instead of chasing them away. This won’t be accomplished without reducing our government expenses to acceptable levels.

We definitely need a reform. We do not need a temporary patch. A big part of Florida’s future depends on what is done now. All parties should agree on this basic fact and work to reach a real solution.

Thinking about buying a home in Florida? Let your relationship with Disney lead the way…

It makes financial sense when buying property as an investment to secure a location that you can be assured will attract those who will want to rent your home. Property investors that can attain higher rentals and capital growth at the same time are obviously in a ‘win win’ situation.

Attaining a higher rental income

Letting your investment property out to a local family will secure you a regular income. However property investors looking for a higher rental income should look to holiday letting. Property investors who can rent their home to holiday makers on a regular basis will achieve higher returns. Its simple those who are on holiday for a short period of time are prepared to pay higher rent for their accommodation. A week spent on a holiday home can be the equivalent of a months rent for standard letting. The trick is to find an area where holiday makers are in their plenty. A location where the attractions and communications are available all year round. One such area is Florida Disney in Orlando.

Orlando Disney Florida is a serious location to invest.

With attractions and investment made every year by Disney the visitor rates are up to the sunshine state of Florida. Disney Florida commitment to its world famous theme parks is second to none. Every year there are new theme park attractions and improvements to old favourites. This investment will have visitors retuning again and again.

Disney Florida will always attract repeat visitors

There is always something new to do at Walt Disney World Resort. It’s hard to experience it all in one visit. For new and returning Guests, there are never-ending new attractions, magical shows and numerous dining possibilities along with treasured, timeless favourites.

About Disney Theme parks

Orlando Florida is the location of Disney’s world famous theme parks and is one of the reasons why Florida has become one of the hottest locations for overseas visitors. Served by two international airports and good road network this part of Florida is set for good sustainable growth.

The following theme parks are part of the reason for Disney’s success in Florida.

Disney’s Magic Kingdom

Journey to imaginary lands of adventure, fantasy, the past and the future. Some of the attractions at the Magic Kingdom Disney Florida include
Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel, Country Bear Jamboree, Donald’s Boat, Dumbo the Flying Elephant

Disney Florida Epcot centre

with dazzling shows, interactive experiences and amazing attractions Epcot is a must for visitors to Disney’s Epcot centre. Some of the attractions include:
Mission SPACE, Test Track, Turtle Talk with Crush and “Honey, I Shrunk the Audience”

Disney MGM Studios

Entering the world of showbiz — from the Hollywood classics of yesteryear to the best in popular entertainment. The MGM studious attractions include:
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith, Fantasmic!,Playhouse Disney – Live on Stage!,
“Beauty and the Beast” – Live on Stage.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Thrilling attractions, shows, the beauty of nature and the fascinating animals — real and imagined Disney Animal Kingdom will always remain a favourite some of the attractions include:
Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade, Festival of the Lion King, It’s Tough to be a Bug!

Florida property investors with new ways to finance a Florida investment property, overseas property buyers will flock to the sunshine state for years to come.