This post is a reminder for everyone regarding your Homestead Exemption.
What is the Homestead Exemption? A homestead exemption reduces the taxable value of the property that you use as your permanent residence by an amount up to $50,000. This represents a substantial savings on the taxes levied against your property by the various taxing authorities.
Who May File. Every person who has legal or equitable title to real property in Florida and who has recorded the title instrument in the public records of the county where application is made. The applicant must reside on the property as of January 1st and must in good faith, make it their permanent residence to be eligible. For example, if you were residing in your permanent residence on Jan. 1, 2009, then you are eligible for a 2009 homestead exemption.
When to File. Exemption applications must be made between January 1st and March 1st for the tax year eligible. For example, if you are living in your permanent home on January 1st, 2009 then you have until the close of business of March 1, 2009 to file your homestead exemption for that year. Failure to make application by March 1 of the tax year shall constitute a waiver of the exemption privilege for that year. Homestead exemption applications may be filed after March 1, but the exemption will be applied in the next tax year. For example, if you move into your permanent home on April 1, 2009 you may file for your 2010 exemption anytime from April 2, 2009 through March 1, 2010.
Where to File:
Bay County Florida Property Appraiser's Office
860 W. 11th St.
Panama City, FL 32401
Office: (850) 248-8401
Fax: (850) 248-8447
Hours: 8AM-5PM CST Monday-Friday
Beach Office
301 Richard Jackson Blvd.
Panama City Beach, FL. 32407
"Inside Panhandle Educators Federal Credit Union"
Branch Manager: Vern Mathis
Phone: 850-236-3234
Fax: 850-236-3236
Hours: 9:00 to 5:00 Monday through Friday
Only one signature is required for joint owners who are married with the same last name; however, all documentation listed below must be provided. All signatures are necessary if owners who occupy the home have different last names.
The Following Information Is Required.
1. Recorded Warranty Deed or last tax bill.
2. Florida Driver License reflecting current residential address: all joint owners who reside on the property need Florida Driver Licenses. (Valid in Florida Only licenses are NOT sufficient).
3. Florida Vehicle Registrations reflecting current residential address. All vehicles owned by the applicants must have resident Florida registrations. This also applies to military personnel. Leased vehicles and nonresident registrations NOT accepted.
4. Social Security Numbers. Social Security numbers are required for all owners listed on the deed.
5. Declaration of Domicile or Florida Voter Registration Card reflecting current residential address. If an owner does not have a car registered in their name, one of these documents will be required as proof of residency.
Renewal. The Property Appraisers Office will mail you a renewal card each year in January. Please read the instructions carefully and be sure to comply with deadlines.
For more info, please visit the Property Appraiser's site by clicking here.
From my family to yours, have a wonderful, safe holiday!
Karen Branham, e-Pro, SFR, SRES, Broker Associate
THE BRANHAM TEAM
"Exceptional Service"
Coldwell Banker United, Realtors
726 Thomas Drive
Panama City Beach, FL 32407
Telephone: 850-832-8626
Email: karen.branham@cbunited.com
Website: http://www.KarenBranham.com
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
NORTHWEST FLORIDA named as a "Top 12 Travel Destination" of the year!
Here's a terrific article from yesterday's New Herald. Go Panama City Beach area!
Travel guide high on Northwest Florida
DUSTY RICKETTS / Florida Freedom Newspapers
2009-12-07 21:18:19
Northwest Florida residents who want to visit one of the top tourist destinations in the world for 2010 need only step outside. Frommer’s Travel Guide, one of the best-selling travel guides in the world with more than 75 million books sold, recently named the Florida Panhandle beaches as one of its top 12 travel destinations for next year.
Other areas that made Frommer’s list are Tunisia in North Africa; Hanoi, Vietnam; and Melbourne, Australia. The only other American locale that made the list was Hawaii’s Big Island.
“It’s a big deal,” said Beth Oltman, Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce CEO and president. “We’re very proud.”
Not only are the sugar-white beaches a draw for tourists, but the whole area also is becoming a thriving community, Oltman said.
“I think it’s great. Anytime you can get national recognition is a feather in your cap,” said Tracy Louthain, director of public relations for the Beaches of South Walton Tourist Development Council. “It really gets people to pay attention to you. I think the timing is good with the opening of the new airport in Panama City in 2010. There are a lot of reasons to focus on this region of the state right now.”
Northwest Florida has been suggested for inclusion in the list of top destination choices in the past, but this was the first year it made the final cut, said David Lytle, editorial director of frommers.com.
“It fit our list for the year,” Lytle said. “It’s an American destination; part of it is overlooked oftentimes. It’s got some economical choices. A family can still afford to take a vacation to the Florida Panhandle.
“It’s a gorgeous part of the country,” he added. “People tend to think of Florida, and they either think of the theme parks or they think of southern Florida. We want to give another part of the state its due as well.”
Frommer’s list of the top tourist destinations for next year will be seen by people from all over the world and will help draw new visitors to the area, said Darrel Jones, executive director of the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council.
“It’s a great thing for opening this area up to the world,” Jones said. “Advertising like this, you couldn’t pay for.”
All three tourist organizations plan to use the recognition from Frommer’s in their upcoming publicity measures, including updating their Web sites to include information on the list.
“With the economy, I think that’s important that people understand you can come to this area and have a great time, great vacation and not cost you a small fortune,” Jones said.
News Herald Writer Scarlet Sims contributed to this story.
Well, this recognition is terrific for all of us, and we are hopeful news like this will continue to help our corner of the world proceed nicely towards a path of recovery for all of us.
Have an AWESOME week everyone! Karen
Karen Branham, e-Pro-SRES, SFR, Broker Associate
THE BRANHAM TEAM
"Exceptional Service"
Coldwell Banker United, Realtors
Direct: 850-832-8626
Website: http://www.karenbranham.com
Mailto: karen.branham@cbunited.com
Travel guide high on Northwest Florida
DUSTY RICKETTS / Florida Freedom Newspapers
2009-12-07 21:18:19
Northwest Florida residents who want to visit one of the top tourist destinations in the world for 2010 need only step outside. Frommer’s Travel Guide, one of the best-selling travel guides in the world with more than 75 million books sold, recently named the Florida Panhandle beaches as one of its top 12 travel destinations for next year.
Other areas that made Frommer’s list are Tunisia in North Africa; Hanoi, Vietnam; and Melbourne, Australia. The only other American locale that made the list was Hawaii’s Big Island.
“It’s a big deal,” said Beth Oltman, Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce CEO and president. “We’re very proud.”
Not only are the sugar-white beaches a draw for tourists, but the whole area also is becoming a thriving community, Oltman said.
“I think it’s great. Anytime you can get national recognition is a feather in your cap,” said Tracy Louthain, director of public relations for the Beaches of South Walton Tourist Development Council. “It really gets people to pay attention to you. I think the timing is good with the opening of the new airport in Panama City in 2010. There are a lot of reasons to focus on this region of the state right now.”
Northwest Florida has been suggested for inclusion in the list of top destination choices in the past, but this was the first year it made the final cut, said David Lytle, editorial director of frommers.com.
“It fit our list for the year,” Lytle said. “It’s an American destination; part of it is overlooked oftentimes. It’s got some economical choices. A family can still afford to take a vacation to the Florida Panhandle.
“It’s a gorgeous part of the country,” he added. “People tend to think of Florida, and they either think of the theme parks or they think of southern Florida. We want to give another part of the state its due as well.”
Frommer’s list of the top tourist destinations for next year will be seen by people from all over the world and will help draw new visitors to the area, said Darrel Jones, executive director of the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council.
“It’s a great thing for opening this area up to the world,” Jones said. “Advertising like this, you couldn’t pay for.”
All three tourist organizations plan to use the recognition from Frommer’s in their upcoming publicity measures, including updating their Web sites to include information on the list.
“With the economy, I think that’s important that people understand you can come to this area and have a great time, great vacation and not cost you a small fortune,” Jones said.
News Herald Writer Scarlet Sims contributed to this story.
Well, this recognition is terrific for all of us, and we are hopeful news like this will continue to help our corner of the world proceed nicely towards a path of recovery for all of us.
Have an AWESOME week everyone! Karen
Karen Branham, e-Pro-SRES, SFR, Broker Associate
THE BRANHAM TEAM
"Exceptional Service"
Coldwell Banker United, Realtors
Direct: 850-832-8626
Website: http://www.karenbranham.com
Mailto: karen.branham@cbunited.com
Friday, November 20, 2009
P.C. Real Estate: Sales Up, Prices Down
Hello everyone, in case you missed it, the following article was in the Nov. 18th New Herald and makes interesting reading for both buyers and sellers.
P.C. real estate: Sales up, prices down
Nov. 18--PANAMA CITY -- Panama City is better off than some other areas in the state hard-hit by the recession, but recovery will be slow, experts say.
"I really think the future of Panama City is looking better than a lot of other places," said Tim Becker, University of Florida's Bergstrom Center for Real Estate Studies director.
At 8.9 percent, unemployment locally remains lower than the state's 11 percent average. While other areas had a narrowly defined economic base, Bay County has tourism and military, Becker said. Plus, the area had less commercial building during the early 2000s, which helped the area when the real estate crisis hit, Becker said.
Property is selling again, too. Panama City's existing home and condominium sales shot up this quarteroverlastby12and13percent, respectively, according to Florida Association of Realtors numbers released last week. Increases are even higher compared to a year ago. Panama City existing condo sales were down 6 percent during the second quarter but increased 28 percent this quarter over 2008.
Sales are up, but median prices are down. The median home price was $151,500 for October, down about 12 percent from the same time last year, according to Metro Market Trends, a data collection and analysis company. That also is lower than the median price of $154,400 reported in September.
Home prices appear to be reaching the bottom, said Marla Martin, Florida Association of Realtors spokeswoman. Sales are up, in part, because of distressed sales and the tax credit for new homeowners. Bay County is working through a glut of distressed property, said Darren Haiman, Bay County Association of Realtors president-elect.
Until unemployment numbers improve, the economy is not recovering, said Alex Charfen, The Distressed Properties Institute CEO and co-founder. Realtors expect a swath of homeowners with loan payments set to balloon next year to file for foreclosure.
No one knows for sure what will happen, Becker said, but with Southwest Airlines choosing the new international airport, the area is poised for a better recovery, Becker said.
Companies are looking to locate in Panama City, said Janet Watermeier, Bay County Economic Development Alliance executive director. The Nemo Project is expected to bring hundreds of jobs in the next three years. At least one company has shown interest in Port Panama City's new intermodal distribution center.
Homes are more affordable than ever and the community is pulling together to bring in high-wage jobs, Watermeier said.
"This won't happen overnight," Watermeier said. "Hopefully, this is going to happen slow and steady."
ON BEHALF OF MY TEAM AND FAMILY, I WISH YOU ALL A WONDERFUL, SAFE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY! I AM THANKFUL FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, BUSINESS AND REFERRALS. Karen
Karen Branham, e-Pro, SFR, Associate Broker
THE BRANHAM TEAM
"We Make Dreams Happen"
Coldwell Banker United, Realtors
726 Thomas Drive, Suite B
Panama City Beach, FL 32408
Email: karen.branham@cbunited.com
Website: www.karenbranham.com
Direct: (850) 832-8626
Monday, November 9, 2009
Tax Credit For Homebuyers Extended
It was a unanimous vote in Washington - how rare is that! The very important and much needed extension of the $8,000 Tax Credit for first time home buyers will now follow into 2010. All qualified buyers will be able to continue to enjoy this $8000 tax credit through April of next year. Many of our clients were under pressure scrambling to beat the deadline so this will benefit those that did not move fast enough and those buyers that could not close by November 30 of 2009.
Interest rates are hovering around 4.5% and sales prices in the Panama City area are close to some of the lowest prices we've seen in years. This critical combination, along with the tax credit, is the perfect formula for buying property in the Panama City area. Southwest announcing last week their commitment to flying out of our new International Airport is another reason. This is one of those moments where you stop and think "maybe NOW is the right time to become a homeowner!".
In addition to the $8000 Tax Credit, our friends in Washington also authorized a tax credit up to $6,500 for repeat homebuyers. This is awesome as well. For more info and details on the tax credits, please visit http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/today.
Karen Branham, Broker Associate, E-Pro, SFR
THE BRANHAM TEAM
"We Make Dreams Happen"
karen.branham@cbunited.com
850-832-8626
Interest rates are hovering around 4.5% and sales prices in the Panama City area are close to some of the lowest prices we've seen in years. This critical combination, along with the tax credit, is the perfect formula for buying property in the Panama City area. Southwest announcing last week their commitment to flying out of our new International Airport is another reason. This is one of those moments where you stop and think "maybe NOW is the right time to become a homeowner!".
In addition to the $8000 Tax Credit, our friends in Washington also authorized a tax credit up to $6,500 for repeat homebuyers. This is awesome as well. For more info and details on the tax credits, please visit http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/today.
Karen Branham, Broker Associate, E-Pro, SFR
THE BRANHAM TEAM
"We Make Dreams Happen"
karen.branham@cbunited.com
850-832-8626
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Ironman 2009 Returns to Panama City Beach
It's that time of year again when approx 2,000 athletes hit the sand to compete in Ironman 2009 held at the Boardwalk Beach Resort on Sat. morning, Nov. 7, 2009. Ironman is one of the most grueling events in the world of sport, and also one of the most inspiring. Ironman starts with a 2.4-mile swim, then a 112-mile bike, and finishes with a complete marathon of 26.2 miles all in succession. These incredible athletes have just 17 hours to finish the event which kicks off at 7 a.m. and wraps up at midnight.
Ironman began in 1977 and presents the ultimate test of body, mind and spirit for professional and amateur athletes. And as Ironman has emerged into the mainstream sports light, the Ironman experience continually transcends pure sport. It centers on the dedication, courage and perseverance exhibited by athletes who demonstrate the Ironman mantra that “ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.™” Some of the athletes we see will be coming off of chemo or have battled cancer as recently as this year. This is a dream come true for many of them.
Good luck to all our athletes, including friend and financial advisor, Alan McCurley from Panama City Beach who is competing in his first full Ironman at the age of 40. Go Alan!
Yes, we'll have a little bit of traffic for the day but to think about what these incredible athletes have done all year to get here is truly amazing. Whether you want to volunteer race day or cheer them on from the sidelines, it is a truly an exciting day for all! The athletes really appreciate our encouragement and volunteers to make it an awesome event. If you never watched the race before, come out for an hour. Hope to see some of you on the streets Saturday and everyone, be safe out there!
Ironman began in 1977 and presents the ultimate test of body, mind and spirit for professional and amateur athletes. And as Ironman has emerged into the mainstream sports light, the Ironman experience continually transcends pure sport. It centers on the dedication, courage and perseverance exhibited by athletes who demonstrate the Ironman mantra that “ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.™” Some of the athletes we see will be coming off of chemo or have battled cancer as recently as this year. This is a dream come true for many of them.
Good luck to all our athletes, including friend and financial advisor, Alan McCurley from Panama City Beach who is competing in his first full Ironman at the age of 40. Go Alan!
Yes, we'll have a little bit of traffic for the day but to think about what these incredible athletes have done all year to get here is truly amazing. Whether you want to volunteer race day or cheer them on from the sidelines, it is a truly an exciting day for all! The athletes really appreciate our encouragement and volunteers to make it an awesome event. If you never watched the race before, come out for an hour. Hope to see some of you on the streets Saturday and everyone, be safe out there!
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