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.