National education experts visited Socorro Independent School District campuses Wednesday to decide whether the district should be considered the country's best at teaching children. Socorro is one of five finalists for the $2 million Broad Prize for Urban Education, which is equivalent to the Academy Award for school districts that show the greatest improvement in student achievement. To receive the prize, districts must also demonstrate that they have reduced the achievement gaps between poor minority children and their affluent Anglo counterparts. A winner will be announced by U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Sept. 16 in Washington, D.C., and will receive $1 million in scholarships for high-school seniors who will graduate in 2010. The other four finalists will receive $250,000 each in scholarships, which means Socorro is guaranteed that amount. "Everyone is passionate and enthusiastic, but what this shows most is that we have established processes and strategies that will guarantee student success in the long-term, even if one of us leaves," said Pat O'Neill, the district's assistant superintendent for administrative services. Education leaders have already looked at data that include scores from state standardized tests, performance on the SAT and ACT college entrance exams, and graduation rates. Thursday, they will continue to examine operations, planning and instructional strategies in the district. Two things stood out about Socorro during the trip -- high expectations for students and programs to help at-risk children. So many districts claim they do these things, but we can see that this is really the case at Socorro, This is a district that has had such high levels of growth and could have easily collapsed like others with such increases in student population, but instead focused on academic rigor." Socorro surpassed the state average at increasing the percentage of students who were proficient in math and reading between 2005 and 2008, according to the Broad Foundation. The district also narrowed the achievement gaps in reading and math between poor students and more-affluent students. In 2008, Socorro outperformed other districts in Texas that have students in similar income levels in the two subjects. Win or lose, the district will have access to scholarships from the foundation, which will be available to students who demonstrate academic improvement and show financial need.
I got my notice in the mail and the value only went up a few dollars. Great!!
My assistant got hers and her value is easily $30,000 more than anyone could sell it for. We must protest.
An acquaintance got theirs and it is easily $50,000 less than it would sell for. They smiled and left the conversation.
I hear from others theirs went up measurably. CAD (Central Appraisal District) advises they only upped the values about 2% overall.
My thoughts you ask?Property Values have decreased morethan 2%.Taxpayers have a very limited window to request a protest. Must be filed by June 1 or 30 days from the receipt of the notice. Question we should all ask, can I sell my house for what CAD has it valued at? Not sure, call your favorite REALTOR and ask for a CMA. Check out www,PropertyTaxesInElPaso.com
I was just reading the reviews of Mayor Cooks state of the city address. So some are to think the address was timed to benefit his reelection. While this blog is not supporting any mayoral candidate, I am wondering if the Central Appraisal District’s mailing of the Notices of appraised value are also late to benefit the election. Will we not get the overdue and long awaited for envelopes until after the election? Surely not. I have not heard anyone addressing the state of property taxes as they are. Plans are not to increase taxes but will be see significant increases in values. I think a lot of us are waiting.
Spring has sprung, dust bowl is alive, buds and blooms are sprouting and to be noted this month is Easter, April 15 Income Tax Deadline and Central Appraisal Distruct mails out the 2009 PROPERTY TAX Valuations are due any minute.Will your valuation be higher or lower. Don't laugh!
New website, blog and twitter just about Property Taxes in El Paso...
So drop on by the site, post your comments, tell everyone why we need taxes (and we do),your ideas for improvement if any and learn about filing protests, contacting elected officials that influence your taxes and share with your neigthbors and coworkers becuase in El Paso we are one great community together.
Of Note: I am not a tax professional, nor do I play one on TV or the Internet. You should seek advice from a CPA or professional tax preparer. If the IRS comes after you with guns blazing for anything you read in this post or anything you think you read in this post, it's not my fault. Seek professional help!
FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER TAX CREDIT As Modified in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act February 2009 SO WHAT CHANGED
• Amount of Credit from $7500 to $8000
• Now it can be used with mortgages that were bond money, prior could not.
• Do NOT have to repay
• If you sell in 3 years or less you have to give back
• Ends December 2009
• Effective as of January 2009 And if you bought in 2008 what can you or should you do File for the $7500
So if you have not bought a home and you are a first time home buyer (have not owned of home in your name or spouse's name in 2 or more years) what are you waiting for?
This is an awesome time to buy! Buying in El Paso is a good investment (one of the best markets in price, in growth, in forecasted future)! If you have not bought, have friends that have not bought, call me and lets see how we can get you that great home at the great price in a great location at great interest rates ever and with the only REALTOR you will every need.
Me, Cynthia Morris Sounds great to me, what do you think?
Still have questions, just call or email me any time - Or you can just call just to say Howdy!
Wishes for a an awesome day to all!
Next Newsflash(s)
*Property tax Protests
*Do your elected officials affect your property taxes?
*What can you do if you cannot make your mortgage payments
*How to find foreclosures and shorts sales for you to buy *Filing for the stimulus credit to receive
*Over 65 and moving carrying a lower valuation is awesome
Many of the residential properties have homestead exemptions which reduce the amount of taxes accessed and required to be paid. Exemptions reduce the total appraised value and then reduce the amount of taxes to be paid. Yea! The most common is the Home Owners Exemption which is filled annually between January 1 to April 15th. Aside from the most common there are many other exemptions out there that may just have some savings dollars for you. List of exemptions can be found at http://www.epcad.org/pdf/TaxingEntityExemptionList.pdf Yes, there are a number of residents in our county that have reduced their taxes to a very low amount. Want to discuss contact by email Cynthia@EPHomeSearch.com or phone 915 471 4300 to discuss anytime. Next Post, Hey I got my estimated value and yikes, what can I do about this, or my home is valued at more than I can sell it for, or can they do this, or what am I looking at?
I am a Broker Owner in El Paso Texas and came across the following interest research article. I know this is a great market and now everyone will know!! According to the real estate research service, Local Market Monitor, six towns qualify as under-valued according to their most recent survey. An interesting note is that two are in Texas and all in more southern areas of the U.S.
Under-valued U.S. residential real estate markets:
Augusta, Georgia El Paso, Texas Fayetteville, North Carolina Little Rock, Arkansas Mc Allen-Edinburg, Texas Memphis, Tennessee
Price per sq ft ranges from $60 to $110. Of course their are some high high ends and some serious bad ones but the average is aweome. Buying El Paso Real Estate is a deal, a great deal.
Sellers, well it depends when they bought like in any market, but we are having success if the house is ready to show, easy to show, curb appeal, priced right. This is the same criteria of any time and any market condition but I do find that market, market, market is what sets apart the solds from the ones still on the market.
Hey, what no mention of foreclosures, just undervalued. I speak about El Paso and the undervalue comment is a fact. And then with the market as it is, foreclosures and short sales, add to the formula of 30,000++ military descending upon the community between now and 2011, huge medical school complex, manufacturing capital of Mexico across the river, this spells BUY. I am not talking today about flipping, but purchasing properties that are desirable rentals and cash flowing. Imagine, if you will, owning, 10, 20, 30 or more properties paid in full and 100% occupancy. Thought that dream went away? Think it is possible in El Paso? I do and I do it and my clients do it. Just writing this opens my eyes and all I can say is WOW!
Whether I am in favor of the stimulus package as is or not is frankly irrelevant. News alone yielded a tiny bit of confidence world wide of our economy and the majority of citizens in US are so excited. How we get back into financial wonderfulness concerns me but I would not want to be the Senator(s) or affiliated with the Senator(s) that caused this to fail or delay. We all know that attitude and mind set for us as Americans is powerful and how we are perceived world wide has to return the land of opportunity! We cannot fail as the US in the eyes of the world and we must....MUST..... present a strong and united front. Stop politics and agenda, think country and do it now!
YEA MONEY FOR ME, MY SPOUSE AND MY CHILDREN! THANK YOU CONGRESS, THANK YOU PRESIDENT BUSH AND SO..........HOW TO SPEND THE MONEY!
Okay, first question is how much will I get?
$600 for individuals, $1,200 for couples and, for families, an additional $300 a child.
Estimated checks will be mailed in May 2008 or so.
So it is possible to get an IRS refund in February, and the stimulus check in May. This could add up to a whole lotta dollars for many and the economists are already saying nixed the recesssion. With such a nice surpise how will many spend it? Vacation, car, downpayment on a house, pay off credit cards, plan education, fix up the house, buy an engagement ring (getting close to Valentines so I am a bit in the romantic mood), give to the Church or other worthy organization, buy new computers, Plasma TV.
Can you just imagine the advertising that will be coming out to get your dollars...think some of it will be in Superbowl commercials? Okay how about a little game, email me every time you see a commerical on TV, in the newspapers, hear on the radio?
Who will be the first to advertise.
BTW, if you are thinking of using those dollars on a house, don't wait the market in El Paso is hot, is just starting to swing from a buyers market to a sellers market and really great deals can be had. Call or email me to let you know about all the special deals!
Wishes to all a great day and that every day be better than the last from EP and the EPHomeSearch Team!
The Wyatts are lovely family of 3 -- well 3 when we first met. Sgt Daniel is originally from Florida....met Kara (who is originally from California)in Korea where they were both stationed and married in California and now reside in William Beaumont Army Medical Housing - El Paso Texas. They have Logan who is a healthy 14 month old boy and is the most photogenic child at Ft. Bliss. Now Kara is expecting a princess in May and Danny just got a Bull Mastiff puppy. Talk about life changing. From 2 to 3 to 4 to 5 in a household overnight! That is some heavy duty multiplying!
The Wyatt's looked at what they were paying for post housing, and compared to the tax deduction they would be getting and the equity they would build before leaving El Paso. Why it would be a downright waste of money to rent verses buying a home. Huge huge savings! Just think in the first few years majority, really almost all, of payments are tax deductible and even in the worst markets homes increase in value. The assignment given to Cynthia Morris was to find a home 10 minutes or less from Ft. Bliss, great neighborhood with kids and looking upscale to enjoy and for resale, and of course for a wonderful payment with no down and no closing. "piece of cake" says Cynthia. We found the house after looking in Mesquite Hills, North Hills, Sandstone and Northview. Lots of choices but not one that was the "one" was selected until they found a CareFree Home in NorthView. Sitting there was the house that had all they wanted, the tings they would like and those few more items they dreamed of....in a downright wonderful neighborhood, 8 minutes to Ft. Bliss. So the sales contract was written and submitted, and an appointment with Sam Guido at State National Bank made for approval. Sam approved the Wyatt's and surprised them with a downright incredible low interest rate, no down, no closing costs and everybody was singing the I got a new house song. Whoops.....CareFree calls and they recovered 3 contracts on the Wyatt house. WHO SAYS THE MARKET IS SLOW, TAKE A LOOK AT THE GREAT MARKET IN EL PASO. Dreams smashed, oh no....but to the rescue another of the same model is found one block over and it has a view of the beautiful Franklin mountains as well. Okay back on track towards the Wyatt's new home. Next step off to select the new appliances tomorrow and then the inspection. Looks like the Wyatt's could be in this house by Valentines.. Bye for Now.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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