Venice FL Real Estate/Englewood FL Real Estate Market Report

Is the Venice FL real estate and Englewood FL real estate getting any better? If you look at the statistics as compared to 15 months ago, September 2007; YES it is getting better but we are still in a declining market. The inventory is down (not as many homes available for sale) and more homes have sold and were are under contract to sell. The number of homes for sale in the Venice FL and Englewood FL markets combined as compared to 15 months ago has dropped 13.8%. Homes that have closed has risen 25.9% and homes under contract are up 115.3%.

The average days on the market (DOM) has dropped from 146 to 112 and list to sales price ratio although has fluctuated over the past 15 months is still at 91%, which means that the average home is selling for 8% - 9% off the stated list price.

If you want to sell your property you need to dramatically increase the Buyers attention. Buyers are looking for the best home at the best possible price. Did you know that within 15 seconds a Buyer has developed an opinion of your property? Sellers need to work on the curb appeal of your home (see my September 2008 post on curb appeal), tear down that old funky old wallpaper, put on a new coat of paint, remodel the kitchen, and whatever else is needed to attract a Buyer. Showing attention to detail and understanding the Buyer's needs is essential for a successful sale.

All reports are based on data supplied by the Mid Florida Association of Realtors, Venice Association of Realtors or their MLS. Neither Kari Battaglia, Associations nor their MLS's guarantee or are in anyway responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the Association or their MLS COPYRIGHT©TRENDGRAPHIX, Inc.

Contact Kari A. Battaglia, licensed Realtor® in Venice Florida at 941-270-1851 to list your property for sale or to help you in your search for property in the Venice FL area, which include Venice Florida, Englewood Florida, Nokomis Florida, Laurel Florida, and Osprey Florida. We currently have available properties in the Dunlap Tennessee area and have Tennessee land for sale.

Contact me by email at mailto:Kari.Battaglia@comcast.net. Need information fast, call me direct at 941-270-1851. I am currently accepting referrals.

Copyright© 2008 By Kari A. Battaglia, All Rights Reserved.

Kari A. Battaglia, GRI
Realtor®, Broker Associate
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate
331 W Venice Ave., Venice, FL 34285
941-270-1851 direct
941-484-9715 office
800-969-1990 toll free
Kari@KariBattaglia.com

www.KariBattaglia.com
http://www.veniceareahomesblog.com/
www.FloridaMoves.com/Kari.Battaglia

Self storage in Dunlap Tennessee

Finding the proper self storage facility to house your personal possesions is an important task and one that should not be taken lightly. Things you need to consider when choosing a self storage facility are most importantly the security and amenities such as:

*Totally enclosed steel or brick buildings
*Modern fire and burglar alarm systems with 24 hour monitoring in climate controlled areas
*Cooling, ventilation, and pest control throughout all storage areas
*Clean, well lit, individual units
*Secure cylinder locks

For those of you with self storage needs in the Dunlap Tennessee area please consider using my husband's business, Storage Depot. My husband, Doug Battaglia, has been in the self storage industry since 1995 and is dedicated to providing state of the art storage facilities for his customers.

About Storage Depot

The Storage Depot prides itself on offering it's customrs a wide array of value-enhanced services. Storage Depot offers two convenient locations in Dunlap, a comprehensive line of moving and packing supplies, 24 hour access, climate and non climate controlled units, free use of dollies and carts, and no moving out charges.

Dunlap, TN (North)Storage Depot in Dunlap, Tennessee (1/2 hour north of Chattanooga) was opened in January 2001. It is located just 2 miles north Of Hwy 111 on Hwy 127. This site offers A/C, Non-A/C units, Boat, Car and RV space and Moving Supplies.

Dunlap, TN (South)Valley Self Storage, Dunlap's #1 Self Valley Self Storage facility was acquired in March 2007. It is located one mile south of the Sequatchie Valley High School. This site offers A/C, Non A/C units and moving supplies.

Click here for more photos of the above facilities.


Contact Kari A. Battaglia, licensed Realtor® in Venice Florida at 941-270-1851 to list your property for sale or to help you in your search for property in the Venice FL area, which include Venice Florida, Englewood Florida, Nokomis Florida, Laurel Florida, and Osprey Florida. We currently have available properties in the Dunlap Tennessee area and have Tennessee land for sale.

Contact me by email at mailto:Kari.Battaglia@comcast.net. Need information fast, call me direct at 941-270-1851. I am currently accepting referrals.

Copyright© 2008 By Kari A. Battaglia, All Rights Reserved.

Kari A. Battaglia, GRI -Realtor®, Broker Associate - Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate - 331 W Venice Ave., Venice, FL 34285 - 941-270-1851 direct - 941-484-9715 office - 800-969-1990 toll free - Kari@KariBattaglia.com, KariBattaglia.com, FloridaMoves.com/Kari.Battaglia

Valuable self storage tips

For familys that are moving or relocating and need storage space, here are some valuable tips to help you in your search for the right storage facility.

1. Some facilities make it a practice to move you in at a low rate only to raise the rent a few months later. Before you decide to rent, ask the manager about the rate guarantee.

2. If at all possible, visit a storage facility the day after a rainstorm and ask to see the actual unit you would be renting. Once inside, check for puddles or leaks. Most facilities are not responsible for water damage to your goods.
3. Businesses pay a premium for office space and often use an extra office as a storage room. Renting a storage unit can "free up" a new meeting room or allow a business to expand without moving.

4. Minimal set-up fees for pest-control and locks are normal to the storage industry; not paying a small fee upon move-in probably indicates a lack of service. Many facilities still charge a security deposit or a reservation fee, these fees can easily add up to over $30 which the customer may not discover until they are ready to sign up. Be sure to ask over the phone if there are any "hidden charges." Paying a set up fee for pest control, maintenance, and a lock is fine. If there is no charge, this means that they are probably not doing proper maintenance.

5. Most people rent more space then is necessary. A two bedroom house with 1,200 square feet will fit into a 10'x10'x10' storage unit (without appliances). When checking for prices, ask how tall the ceilings are. The newer facilities are 9 to 10 feet high. This allows more cubic feet, thus allowing you to stack your items higher.

6. It is important to insure your property. Ask the manager if storage insurance is available. If a storage facility sells you insurance, they may have a financial interest in doing so. Ask where you can purchase it direct or check with your homeowner's insurance company for a rider policy.

Storage can help everyone get organized and have the space they were meant to enjoy. See how storage can help your business or household!

Information provided by www.storagedepot.biz, Storage Depot, my husband's mini storage business in Dunlap Tennessee.

Contact Kari A. Battaglia, licensed Realtor® in Venice Florida at 941-270-1851 to list your property for sale or to help you in your search for property in the Venice FL area, which include Venice Florida, Englewood Florida, Nokomis Florida, Laurel Florida, and Osprey Florida. We currently have available properties in the Dunlap Tennessee area and have Tennessee land for sale.

Contact me by email at Kari@KariBattaglia.com. Need information fast, call me direct at 941-270-1851. I am currently accepting referrals.

Copyright© 2008 By Kari A. Battaglia, All Rights Reserved.

Kari A. Battaglia, GRI - Realtor®, Broker Associate - Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate -331 W Venice Ave., Venice, FL 34285 - 941-270-1851 cell - 941-484-9715 office - 800-969-1990 toll free - Kari@KariBattaglia.com

A time for Thanksgiving

What is Thanksgiving? The month of November brings spectacular fall colors, hot chocolate and cozy nights by the fire. It's also a time of Thanksgiving - a time for Thank Yous. In reflection, we all have found what it means to be thankful by cherishing our family, friends, and entrusting customers - even and the beauty that surrounds us everyday becomes reason to give thanks.

From our family to your family...We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving this year.

"Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds." Theodore Roosevelt

Contact Kari A. Battaglia, licensed Realtor® in Venice Florida at 941-270-1851 to list your property for sale or to help you in your search for property in the Greater Venice Area, which include Venice Florida, Englewood Florida, Nokomis Florida, Laurel Florida, and Osprey Florida. We currently have properties available in the Dunlap Tennessee area and have Tennessee land for sale.

Contact me by email at Kari.Battaglia@comcast.net. Need information fast, call me direct at 941-270-1851. I am currently accepting referrals.

Copyright© 2008 By Kari A. Battaglia, All Rights Reserved.


Kari A. Battaglia, GRI
Realtor®, Broker Associate
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate,Venice, FL
331 W Venice Ave., Venice, FL 34285
941-270-1851 direct
941-484-9715 office
800-969-1990 toll free
Kari.Battaglia@comcast.net

www.BattagliaProperties.net
www.VeniceAreaHomesBlog.com
www.FloridaMoves.com/Kari.Battaglia

What does a real estate agent (selling) do?

What does a real estate agent (selling) do? Getting the most for your home or property means doing more than putting a "For Sale" sign out in your front yard and entering information into the MLS. In this competitive market your property needs to be seen in a variety of places in order to stand out. And sometimes the right buyer is waiting out of state, or even in another country. To ensure sure your property gets noticed and sells without any problems you need to evaluate your marketing plan and you market position. It could mean the difference between no sale, and the payoff you've been waiting for.When I work with my home sellers I discuss their home sale needs, understanding and meeting my customers needs are my top priority; pricing your home correctly from the beginning and give you an estimate of net proceeds; present you with a competitive market analysis providing you with details about what buyers are willing to pay for properties similar to yours in your local market; develop a guaranteed full service marketing plan specific to my customer which include of course yard sign, postcards mailed to target areas, local & national advertising, internet property marketing (with more than 80% of buyers checking the web first when looking for a home, this is a part of your marketing strategy you can't afford to miss); home preparation recommendations; skillfully evaluating offers and negotiate counter offers; transaction management which is to coordinate and supervise document preparations, inspections, appraisals, contingency removals; and most importantly confirm the communication process (the biggest complaint most people have is lack of communication with their real estate professional). Have your agent provide you with their marketing plan and tell them that you would like to receive weekly or monthly updates via phone email etc., whatever makes you comfortable. Let your agent know what you expect and hold them accountable. Communication is the number one complaint that home buyers and home sellers have regarding their agent.Receiving the highest price for you home in the short amount of time is the goal for all home sellers. Using a professional make sense for what most people may be the biggest transaction of their life.

Should you sign paperwork before your home search begins?

There is no required paperwork needed between buyer and realtor before the physical home search begins. But if you ask some Realtors who have been in real estate for a while you hear stories about how they wished they did have their buyers sign an buyers agency agreement. Just like the listing agreement, the buyers agreement spells out the responsibilites of both the Realtor and buyer. What could happen is that an agent will be working with a buyer who has emailed listings to customers, called other agents on behalf of the buyers to determine availability of properties and to schedule appointments, drive the buyers from one neighborhood to another possibly for months and then one day get a call from the buyer and they found a wonderful subdivision and the new home of their dreams and they just signed a contract with the buider. From the agent's perspective this is not good news as they have spent valuable time and money with this buyer with the expectations of payment for services upon the purchase of a home and I am sure most buyers don't even realize what has just happened. Not many agents like to work for free and I am sure no one else does either. Should you sign an exclusive agreement? Many buyers are uneasy about signing any agreements now a day but you can take steps to protect yourself should the arrangement not work your in best interest; ask for a short term agreement, ask for guarantees (make it a two way street), specify terms of purchase and price range and request a non exclusive agreement that protects the agent for procuring cause but does leaves you free to search for homes with other agents.

Contact Kari A. Battaglia, GRI, Realtor®, Broker Associate, Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, Licensed Realtor® in Florida at 941-270-1851 to list your property for sale or to purchase a property in Venice Florida, South Venice Florida, Englewood Florida, Nokomis Florida, Laurel Florida and for Tennessee real estate investments. I am currently accepting referrals.
Contact me by email at kari.battaglia@floridamoves.com. Need information fast, call me direct at 941-270-1851.
Copyright © 2008 By Kari A. Battaglia, mailto:kari.battaglia@floridamoves.com, All Rights Reserved, http://www.karibattaglia.com/.

Green homes sell faster, tips to make your house stand out from the rest

Environmentally friendly homes are not just good for the planet but also are a huge draw for conscientious buyers with green houses typically selling 20% faster than traditional houses. More and more homebuyers are interested in living a greener lifestyle and you do not want to miss the opportunity to market your home to those potential buyers. There's even a dedicated worldwide multiple listing service for green properties, hosted at http://www.listedgreen.com/. Here are some simple ways to minimize your impact on the environment and make your house stand out from all of the rest.

Energy Efficiency

Home utility bills have seen double-digit growth in the past few years, spurred by record-high oil and gas prices and water shortages. "That means if you can show lowered utility bills to potential buyers, it makes a big difference in today's market," explains Kerry Mitchell, the president and founder of Green Real Estate Education, and a real estate broker with more than 14 years of experience in Maryland and Florida.

Mitchell trains real estate professionals about the benefits of going green, as well as how to apply for various regional and national green certifications (such as the EPA's Energy Star for homes and the U.S. Green Building Council's emerging LEED for Homes program).

The key is to make improvements to your home's energy efficiency, and document how the monthly bills change over time. Highlight the savings to your broker and any potential buyers, and provide comparisons to typical bills for similar-sized houses in your region (call FPL or visit http://www.fpl.com for details on FPL’s Home Energy Survey and controlling your energy costs).

Small Steps Add Up

So, how do you get started? It may sound trite now, but Mitchell says the first thing you should do is to replace as many light bulbs as you can with CFLs (compact fluorescents). CFLs use a quarter of the electricity as regular bulbs, and lighting accounts for 20% of home energy use.

Upgrade Your "Energy Hog" Appliances

The next step is to upgrade any old or questionable appliances with new Energy Star-certified models. "There is a definite payoff with Energy Star," says Mitchell. The EPA's blue and white label indicates models must be 10% to 50% more efficient than standard offerings. It's also a good idea to install a programmable thermostat and motion detectors, suggests Mitchell.

Insulation Can Be a Selling Point

Make sure cracks are tightly caulked and leaks are sealed. Just doing that can drop your annual heating bill by $100, according to Department of Energy figures. Also consider if your insulation might need beefing up.

Going Healthy Sells

Another potentially untapped market is to capitalize on making your home as healthy a space as possible. There are many people with allergies, asthma, chemical sensitivities and so on who consider top indoor air quality a necessity. In addition, more and more people are interested in cutting down on their exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

So putting on a fresh coat of the new and now-widely available "low-VOC" paints can go a long way toward attracting buyers, says Mitchell. "It gives Realtors something to market," she says.
You'll also want to deal with what's underfoot. Old carpets can be a real turnoff, and can emit allergens and toxins. Exposing any hardwood floors is a good way to bring out your home's beauty and value, but if you don't have that option consider new, eco-friendly carpeting.
Any opportunities you have to replace polyvinyl chloride (PVC) will also improve indoor air quality, since the plastic is known to off-gas fumes. It may be present in flooring, shower curtains, plastic board material and more.

If your home is older, you'll want to assess the situation of possible lead paint and asbestos — issues much better left to qualified professionals.

Call the Pros

Speaking of pros, the best thing you can do when considering selling your home green is to call in experts to make recommendations. They may start with an energy audit, for instance.
Remember that you may also qualify for federal, state or local tax credits by going green.

Contact Kari A. Battaglia, GRI, Realtor®, Broker Associate, Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, Licensed Realtor® in Florida at 941-270-1851 to list your property for sale or to purchase a property in Venice Florida, South Venice Florida, Englewood Florida, Nokomis Florida, Laurel Florida and for Tennessee real estate investments. I am currently accepting referrals.

Contact me by email at kari.battaglia@floridamoves.com. Need information fast, call me direct at 941-270-1851.

Copyright © 2008 By Kari A. Battaglia, mailto:kari.battaglia@floridamoves.com, All Rights Reserved, http://www.karibattaglia.com/.

Portability of Sarasota County property tax value

For Sarasota County property owners, you may have noticed a change in the assessed value of your property for 2008. In January, 2008 the voters of Florida passed "Amendment One" which includes four significant changes to the way property taxes are calculated:

1) Homestead properties receive an additional $25,000 exemption, for all districts except the School Board.
2) Allows "portability" which enables homestead owners to take all or part of their Save Our Homes benefits with them to their new property.
3) Provides a $25,000 exemption to tangible personal property (benefits primarily business owners).
4) Caps non-homestead assessed value growth at 10% per year, beginning in 2009.

The Florida homestead exemption "Save Our Homes" benefit is now "portable" because of the passage of the constitutional amendment on January 29, 2008. The "Save Our Homes" benefitis the difference between the assessed value and market value of a homestead property due to the annual limit on increases in assessed value. Portability means that, from now on, you can transfer some or all of your old home's "Save Our Homes" benefit to your new home.

You must apply to your property appraiser to transfer your "Save Our Homes" benefit. For contact information on Florida's property appraisers, go to http://www.scgov.net/CFPO/BudgetGuide/trimnoticefaq.asp.

Portability for 2008

Portability first becomes available for homeowners who had a 2007 homestead exemption on their old home and established a new homestead by January 1, 2008.

If you moved into a new home by January 1, 2008, you have through March 1, 2008, to apply to your property appraiser for your new homestead exemption and for the transfer of the "Save Our Homes" benefit to your new homestead for 2008. If you have already applied for a homestead exemption on your new home, you must complete a

separate application by March 1, 2008, to transfer the "Save Our Homes" benefit to your new homestead.

Portability for 2009 and after

If you move into a new home after January 1, 2008, and by January 1, 2009, and had a previous homestead exemption in either 2007 or 2008, you must apply for your 2009 homestead exemption and the transfer of your "Save Our Homes" benefit by March 1, 2009. In future years, you will be able to transfer your "Save Our Homes" benefit to a new home if you had the homestead exemption on your old home in either of the two preceding years.

Information source: http://myflorida.com .

Contact Kari A. Battaglia, licensed Realtor® in Venice Florida at 941-270-1851 to list your property for sale or to help you in your search for property in the Greater Venice Area, which include Venice Florida, Englewood Florida, Nokomis Florida, Laurel Florida, and Osprey Florida. We currently have available properties in the Dunlap Tennessee area and have Tennessee land for sale.

Contact me by email at Kari.Battaglia@comcast.net. Need information fast, call me on my cellular direct at 941-270-1851. I am currently accepting referrals.

Copyright© 2008 By Kari A. Battaglia, All Rights Reserved.

Kari A. Battaglia, GRI Realtor®, Broker Associate Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate 331 W Venice Ave., Venice, FL 34285 941-270-1851 direct 941-484-9715 office 800-969-1990 toll free Kari.Battaglia@comcast.net www.KariBattaglia.com www.VeniceAreaHomesBlog.com www.FloridaMoves.com/Kari.Battaglia.

Protect Your Laptop and your valuable information

I wanted to share with everyone something I learned from a real estate agent a few months ago during a GRI class I attended in Sarasota, Florida. I noticed that one of my fellow classmates had one of those cool new paper thin Apple laptops with a small box the size of a deck of cards attached to it. I had to go over and check out this great new laptop. After speaking with her I learned that she had recently gone through what she explained to be nothing short of a nightmare; her business laptop had been stolen! Replacing the stolen laptop is easily done, but replacing your customer data base, history of customer communications, tasks lists, calendar, emails, documents, spreadsheets, pictures, etc. may not be replaceable. It took her months and countless hours to restore her lost information. My classmate then gave me some valuable information that I took to heart. Store all of your information on a portable external hard drive.

A portable or external hard drive is quite a useful piece of equipment. It allows the user to back up or store important information separate from the main internal hard drive, which could become compromised by online or offline activities. Sensitive documents, large music files, DVD images, movies, disk images, and even a backup of the contents of your main internal hard drive, can all be kept securely and safely on an external hard drive. When you are online, you can even leave the external drive turned off.

Another advantage of an external hard drive is that it is portable and operates on a plug-and-play basis. Any computer with a USB will recognize the external hard drive as a storage device, and assign it a letter to designate it. The drive can then be accessed like a normal internal hard drive. It's a snap to transfer huge files back and forth from work to home, to a friend's house, or between your desktop and laptop. Just plug in the interface cable to quickly reconstruct a working environment, making your favorite programs virtually portable. You can even buy several external hard drives (storage capacity 40GB up to 750GB), using one for multimedia storage, one for imaging, one for backup, one for work and so on.

Also make sure that you password protect your laptop to prevent unauthorized access. You will be protecting the confidentiality of your customers, work product and any sensitive documents you may have stored on your hard drive.

Thank you to my friend in Englewood for your excellent advice!

"Curb Appeal," How to prepare your home for a successful sale

My goal is not simply to sell your house, but to help you realize the best price obtainable for your property in the shortest period of time. These suggestions require a minimum amount of time and expense to complete and are designed to make your house stand out from the competition. You have probably heard how important first impressions can be. But did you know that within 15 seconds a buyer has developed an opinion of your property? This is why establishing the right first impression is critical to achieving a successful sale.

The Home Front

Your property's landscape is not limited to the lawn and shrubs but encompasses everything from the street to your doorstep. For this reason, you must make sure each component of the visual landscape looks its best. This is referred to as "curb appeal."

1. Street - make sure the street in front of your house is free of litter and debris. If necessary, give it a fresh sweep.


2. Sidewalk - sweep your sidewalk if needed and remove weeds that may be growing between cracks.


3. Fence - A freshly painted fence gives a home a crisp look. You should never let a peeling, tired-looking fence or squeaky gate stand between a prospective buyer and a positive first impression.


4. Mailbox/Light Fixtures - A quick painting of an old mailbox will elt the buyer know you care about the details. If outdoor lamps look rusted and worn out, new ones will cast a positive light on your property.


5. Fire Hydrant - Although you do not own the fire hydrant in front of your house, you should still be concerned about how it looks. If it needs a freshening up, get permission from your town and paint it.
   

Landscaping

Neatly trimmed shrubs are essential. Taking the time to do this costs little, but has a big impact. Besides freshly mowed and trimmed, a lawn should look healthy. If there are spots that looks beyond help, a little sod goes a ong way to restoring the look of a well-maintained lawn.

Paint

A fresh coat of paint can be one of the best investments you can make to increase the value of your property. If you do not want to spend the money to pain the entire house, consider just the shutters or the front of the house.

Windows

Attractive windows can help increase the appeal of your property. Replace any cracked or broken glass; make sure windows are sparkling clean; add shutters to the front of your house; install window boxes with bright flowers; apply touch up paint where needed.

Roof

The roof may be the single most important aspect of your home front. A well maintained roof will say a lot about the overall condition of the property. Replace any broken or missing shingles or tiles; repair flashing where needed; paint eves and fascia boards; if the roof is old and needs to be replaced, considered having the work done before showing the property.

Doorway

The doorway is the focal point of your house. Repaint the door; apply new door hardware; install a brass kick plate; replace house numbers; put a flower box or planter alongside the door; install a new front light fixture.

Showing attention to detail and understanding the buyer's need can dramatically increase the saleability of your property. I would be happy to assist you with recommendations to help your house sell for the highest price obtainable in the shortest period of time. Give me a call anytime at 941-270-1851.

Contact Kari A. Battaglia, GRI, Realtor®, Broker Associate, Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, Licensed Realtor® in Florida at 941-270-1851 to list your property for sale or to purchase a property in Venice Florida, South Venice Florida, Englewood Florida, Nokomis Florida, Laurel Florida and for Tennessee real estate investments. I am currently accepting referrals.

Contact me by email at kari.battaglia@floridamoves.com. Need information fast, call me direct at 941-270-1851.

Copyright © 2008 By Kari A. Battaglia, kari.battaglia@floridamoves.com, All Rights Reserved,

I am now with Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate

Now I can provide you with the complete resources of North America's premier real estate organization. As a Coldwell Banker broker associate, I take pride in being part of an elite network of more than 100,000 Sales Associates and employees in over 3,500 offices across North America. I am proud of the quality service that dates back to 1906. We offer powerful national advertising, our innovative Buyer Service and Seller Service marketing systems, a wide array of mortgage financing alternatives, and industry leading relocation programs. When you are ready to sell your house, buy a home, or relocate just give me a call. I'll give you the personalized service you deserve.

August 22, 2008 TRIM Notices Were Mailed to Sarasota County Property Owners

Today all Sarasota County property owners should be receiving their Notices of Proposed Property Taxes (TRIM) notice from the Sarasota County Property Appraisers office. The notices were mailed on August 22, 2008. It is important to know the date of the mailing marks the beginning of a 25-day window during which property owners who disagree with the property appraiser's determination may file an appeal with Value Adjustment Board (VAB). Petitions to the VAB must be filed on or before September 16, 2008. Below is an article from the Trim Notice Extra August 2008 from the Sarasota County Property Appraiser's office which was included with all TRIM notices mailed to Sarasota County property owners.

Challenging the Taxable Valuation of Your Property In Sarasota County

Property owners have three options for challenging their property value or tax exemption disapproval. It is not necessary to employ all of them. You can choose one or a combination of the three. It is important to know that each challenge process has certain limitations and deadlines.

Option 1

Informal Conference with the Property Appraiser or his Deputy

This is normally the most successful option since it presents the opportunity for the owner to provide information the property appraiser might not be aware of that could influence the property's value or exemption status. Factual information and regulations guiding the property valuation and tax exemption process can also be explained. Since this is the least expensive and least complicated option, the taxpayer is urged to take advantage of this opportunity regardless of other considerations.

Option 2

Petition the Value Adjustment Board (VAB)

The VAB is a body that is separate and independent from the property appraiser. If you choose this option you must file a petition with the Clerk to the VAB within 25 days of the TRIM Notice mailing. At an administrative hearing, you and a Property Appraiser representative each present evidence before a Magistrate appointed by the VAB to review the evidence and make recommendations. The final determination will be made by the VAB. More information is available under Value Adjustment Board's website.

Option 3

Circuit Court Suit

If you choose this option a formal hearing will be conducted by a Judge. You should consult your attorney or legal professional.

It is important to keep in mind the date of value is not the current date but January 1, 2008.

For TRIM questions and answers please visit the Sarasota County Property Appraisers website.

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Hanging Rock development moving forward

Doug Battaglia along with his partner, Mark Knauf CPA, acquired this spectacular bluff mountain property in 2005. Two hundred acres of bluff mountain property with 4000 feet of bluff, creeks, abundant wildlife and a waterfall. Hanging Rock Development is located in Dunlap TN on Fredonia Mountain just 30 minutes to downtown Chattanooga. Centrally located, Dunlap TN is just a two hour drive in either direction to Atlanta, Nashville, or Knoxville and 3 hours drive to Gatlinburg, TN. The proposed Hanging Rock Development got it's name from a very distinct feature on the property - the hanging rock's on Fredonia Mountain. The propose design is based on the natural features of the land that enhance the experience of being almost one with nature and the wildlife of the mountain top. We have a preliminary plat for 100 of the 200 acres. A gravel road has been roughed in. Explore some of the area’s many outdoor activities and attractions which include the Tennessee Aquarium and IMAX Theatre, Ruby Falls and Rock City, Incline Railway, and the Creative Discovery Museum. Plans to develop this property are underway. Should you have any interest or questions regarding investment opportunities or land purchases please give Doug a call direct at 941-232-5391. You are welcome to enjoy more pictures of this spectacular montain property at Hanging Rock's picture gallery.

An example of rural achievement

Dunlap, TN, the fastest growing town per capita in the state of Tennessee, is an obvious example of rural achievement. Nestled in the center of the Sequatchie Valley, the charming community of Dunlap boasts low crime, low taxes and extraordinary hospitality. Southeastern Tennessee's Sequatchie Valley is one of the most unique valleys in the world; one of only two 'rift valleys,' the other being the Great Victoria Valley in Africa (Southeast Tennessee Tourism, 2004). For more local news and information about Dunlap Tennessee visit Topix website.

First day back at school in Sarasota County Florida and here comes Fay!

Today is the first day of school in Sarasota County. Summer vacation is over. This is a great day for Mom and a sad day for one of my children. This year all three of my children will be in the same school. One drop off time and one pick up time. This is going to be a good year. My middle daughter is not that thrilled about school starting, she still wishes for the lazy days of summer and to be swimming at the beach. My other two can't wait to go back to school to see their friends and for the opportunity to make new friends. I always joke with my children that the first day back from school is the best day of the year for all the Mom's. The joke is on Mom this time. Hurricane Fay is threatening Southwest Florida and all schools will be closed tomorrow for the impending storm. Now my kids are joking around with me. Fortunately the storm is not as strong as was predicted a few days ago, so we will be waiting out the storm. We have made all the "preparations" needed; bringing in all the plants, putting patio furniture in the pool, putting all the trash in the garage, stocked up on canned goods and non perishables, made sure that all the flash lights have fresh batteries, and most importantly brought our pet bunny, Midnight, inside. This has become an annual routine for our family. Tomorrow holds uncertainty and we are praying that the storm will pass over all with little to no damage.

Wind Insurance Discounts Available To Florida Homeowners

Not many people are aware that the My Safe Florida Home Program for Florida homeowners with a single family detached home helps homeowners save money on their wind insurance premiums. Florida’s Chief Financial Officer is lobbying to get the Florida Legislature to continue the funding for this successful program. Currently over 35,000 grants have been awarded to qualified homeowners and over 400,000 free wind inspections have been provided. Although the program is no longer offering free wind inspections or grants, homeowners may not be aware that they can pay for their own wind inspection. Your wind inspection report will give you an estimate of the discounts you may receive on the wind-portion of your homeowner’s insurance premium. Savings will vary depending on the structure and the improvements you make. I personally received a substantial savings on my wind insurance premiums. Call your insurance agent or company and get a referral for an “insurer-approved” wind inspector and for information on discounts that are available to you. For more information on this program please visit My Safe Florida Home.

The World's Longest Yard Sale

The World's Longest Yard Sale, also known as The 127 Sale, is a 4 day event which started August 7th and ends August 10th. The sale takes place along &S 127 Corridor and goes straight through Dunlap. The yard sale runs 630 miles beginning at Noccalula Falls Park in Gadsden Alabama and goes through Georgia, Tennessee, and ends in Covington, Kentucky. HGTV's Endless Yard Sale, hosted by Steven Lee and Nancy Luray., and will be covering this event for their TV show. For more details (directions, maps, editorials) visit web site http://www.tourdekalb.com/yardsale.html.

New Housing Bill signed into law July 30, 2008

President Bush signed the Housing Stimulus Bill Wednesday July 30, 2008. This new law is designed to provide mortgage relief for hundreds of thousands homeowners facing foreclosure and to assist the nations two largest mortgage companies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Under the legislation trouble homeowners could avoid foreclosure by trading the old loans for new more affordable loans through FHA. Your lender must agree to trade the loan, take the loss and and reduce the principal of the loan before you refinance. The Housing Bill also includes a credit of up to $7,500 for first-time home buyers for people who bought homes between April 9, 2008, and July 1, 2009. Although this rescue bill offers assistance to many of those facing foreclosure, one of the bill's components will affect many new homeowners by completely eliminating the down payment assistance program by September 30, 2008. This program has helped approximately 700,000 with the purchase of their first home. Many home buyers will be unable to get a loan without this assistance. This bill brings the hope that the worst of the housing crisis is coming to an end but is unlikely to by end of the year.

Lewis Chapel: 3 Parcels Sold In 2008

Lewis Chapel, LLC is a limited liability Corporation that was founded in July 2006 in Englewood Florida for the benefit of purchasing this 54+ acre mountain property that is located within minutes from downtown Chattanooga and Dunlap Tennessee. Notable neighbor, Reba McIntire, has an estate just 2 miles down the road from the property. Lewis Chapel LLC sold two tracts in 2006. Due to the downward slide in the housing market we had little interest and no sales in 2007. Although it is getting harder and harder to find real estate markets with appreciation. interest in our Lewis Chapel property have increased in 2008. We had three closings and currently have several parties that are showing an interest in this beautiful mountain property. Doug Battaglia would like to extend his appreciation to our investors for their support over the years and recognize that our most important resource are the relationships that we build with our investors.

Planned Development on Fredonia Mountain

I just read an article in the Dunlap Tribune from a few weeks ago and am very excited to hear about a development underway on Fredonia Mountain in Dunlap, Tennessee. Mantria Communities, www.mantria.com, is the developer for this eco-friendly community. Not only should this planned development bring new job opportunities to its citizens but also confirms that the Dunlap TN area and its surrounding communities are one of the fastest growing, emerging markets in real estate today.