Third Homestead Exemption of additional$ 25,000 on Nov. 6 Ballot

[Marc Middleton]

Originally Posted by EMTAdam

Apparently NOT everyone knows the taxes dont stay the same. Myself a first time home buyer, as well as a close friend, who was also a first time home buyer around the time I bought, were never told this. In my case, I believe the realtor knew that I would balk at the high taxes coming my way and not buy the house, so he chose not to say anything about it. I cant speak for what happened with my friend, but he and his wife had no idea about the tax changing either. Its not something that us younger then 40 sit around and talk about since we have absolutely nothing else to do with our lives.

So you and your friend were dupped by into buying a house by a grand conspiracy crafted by the Realtor, Your mortgage broker and the title agent? (all of whom know the taxes are based on the assessed value).

Originally Posted by EMTAdam

I grew up here. I didnt just decide to move to florida and buy/sell to make profit. I have been here nearly 30 years. Im not a "flipper" from up north trying to make a buck. Im a first responder that can barely afford to pay property taxes in a median level home.

Wow so 30 years living in Florida and never heard of Save our Homes, Tax Assessments, Homestead exemptions, etc.?

You spent a quarter of a million dollars on a house and did zero research on what it would cost to own a home or asked any questions regarding taxes to your Realtor, Mortgage Broker, or Title Rep?

And regarding the ORIGINAL reason for this topic, did you at least vote yes so you can further reduce your property taxes?

[ron e wheels]

Some people live in a bubble and just don't do the homework they should. When that comes to roost, it's someone else to blame. What's common knowledge to most of us eludes many people. It's harder to understand these days since most of the info is available on line.

[Taratova]

Originally Posted by Marc Middleton

So you and your friend were dupped by into buying a house by a grand conspiracy crafted by the Realtor, Your mortgage broker and the title agent? (all of whom know the taxes are based on the assessed value).



Wow so 30 years living in Florida and never heard of Save our Homes, Tax Assessments, Homestead exemptions, etc.?

You spent a quarter of a million dollars on a house and did zero research on what it would cost to own a home or asked any questions regarding taxes to your Realtor, Mortgage Broker, or Title Rep?

And regarding the ORIGINAL reason for this topic, did you at least vote yes so you can further reduce your property taxes?

Fact is , this is such a crazy set up .. the save our homes, Homestead exemption.. it is quite ridiculous.. never have I ever heard of such a stupid way to access a house and the new retirees who move here have to foot most of the bill. I know some who already moved.. plus when they heard of the 24 k they had to pay to get the sewer connected to their home.. they left . Many have talked about selling because they cannot afford the new tax bill which would also eventually include the payment for the sewers..and the high reassessment.. all did NOT KNOW about it. No one told them. Maybe some can afford it. Luckily I had my home in Jersey paid for and sold it in 2016, bought here in 2009 and paid cash for this home in Florida with my savings and have a nice income and have more than enough money.. fact is, many people don't..


The retired couple actually, they both got jobs here and when they heard they had to come up with 24 K they sold their home and moved back to West Virginia. Cape Coral loses some really decent people.



Many lot owners will get a nice sewer bill in the mail and some will swing that property back to the city.. this happened before.. The city is greedy. They don't care about the people on a fixed income with a tight budget.



I have two lots so I will have to pay double when the sewer comes through.... but before I bought the second lot I knew I would have to pay double.. many people have no idea until they get the bill in the mail. And when the sewers go through, the tax assessor office said every lot will be assessed adding 25k value to every property and you have to pay the higher tax bill of that 25K. What a windfall the city will have. They will all get a raise because they will be rolling in dough.

[LifeIsGood01]

Originally Posted by Taratova

Fact is , this is such a crazy set up .. the save our homes, Homestead exemption.. it is quite ridiculous.. never have I ever heard of such a stupid way to access a house and the new retirees who move here have to foot most of the bill. I know some who already moved.. plus when they heard of the 24 k they had to pay to get the sewer connected to their home.. they left . Many have talked about selling because they cannot afford the new tax bill which would also eventually include the payment for the sewers..and the high reassessment.. all did NOT KNOW about it. No one told them. Maybe some can afford it. Luckily I had my home in Jersey paid for and sold it in 2016, bought here in 2009 and paid cash for this home in Florida with my savings and have a nice income and have more than enough money.. fact is, many people don't..


The retired couple actually, they both got jobs here and when they heard they had to come up with 24 K they sold their home and moved back to West Virginia. Cape Coral loses some really decent people.



Many lot owners will get a nice sewer bill in the mail and some will swing that property back to the city.. this happened before.. The city is greedy. They don't care about the people on a fixed income with a tight budget.



I have two lots so I will have to pay double when the sewer comes through.... but before I bought the second lot I knew I would have to pay double.. many people have no idea until they get the bill in the mail. And when the sewers go through, the tax assessor office said every lot will be assessed adding 25k value to every property and you have to pay the higher tax bill of that 25K. What a windfall the city will have. They will all get a raise because they will be rolling in dough.

There is some kind of program if you are low income that the cost can be waived. https://www.capecoral.net/department...p#.W_QIS-hKjIU

[MadManofBethesda]

Originally Posted by EMTAdam

But the tax burden isnt fair as it is. And they ARE burdened by a select group. New home owners. Let me explain...

I bought my house in 2016. The previous year, and just about every year before that, the previous owner who built the house in 1996 paid roughly $2,000 a year in property tax.

My first tax bill in 2017 was $5,100. Imagine the surprise on my face when I saw that.. I did not know, and no one mentioned to me that homes are re-assessed when sold to a new homeowner. So all of the people in Cape Coral that have been in their homes for 15+ years pay squat for taxes compared to the people that bought houses in the last 15 years.

Example....

My house this year assessed at $272,000 and my tax bill is $5,210 AFTER the 50k homestead.

My aunt who has been in her house since 1987 and lives in a nicer area off pelican, her house assessed at a mere $88,000... But the Market value on her home is $250k +/-. Her tax bill this year is $998.

Why am I paying 5x the tax for my property then she is hers when there is only a $22k real value difference?

New home owners are getting screwed here. We are footing a LARGE part of the tax bill. All taxes should be divided equally.

I went to the property appraisers office to talk to them about it and was told point blank "well, in 20 years youll be getting the tax break as the next round of homeowners foots the bill"...

That was her word for word response. What a joke. Time to sell and get the hell out of here..

Good luck. Let me know when you find a place that doesn't recalculate taxes on new homeowners.

Originally Posted by boxus

Why should homeowner A pay more than homeowner B just because their home is worth more?

For the same reason that Worker A pays more than Worker B just because his or her income is higher.

[Taratova]

Originally Posted by LifeIsGood01

There is some kind of program if you are low income that the cost can be waived. https://www.capecoral.net/department...p#.W_QIS-hKjIU

The hardship program is only to postpone the payments until you sell your property. There is no reduction at all. They must pay every dollar eventually. It is just a postponement of payment until a later time..
On this website..

With the Hardship Deferral Program you receive no money. A percentage (between 10% and 100%) of your yearly bill will be deferred until such time as the property is sold or transferred or you no longer qualify for deferral. The undeferred portion of your yearly bill is still due and payable.