Virginia Gallopo's Blog

Investment Property in Palm Beach Gardens

Virginia Gallopo (Exit Realty Oceanside) — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 22:09:22 -0700

Recently, I listed a duplex in the Palm Beach Gardens area. Each side has three bedrooms and one bath. There is a large fenced back yard and each side rents for $1,000. each. This may be worth discussing with your accountant if you are considering investment propety because they may just qualify for the "go zone" depreciation. Also, if you are considering a 1031 Exchange, this property may be worth viewing. The owner is asking $278,000 for this property. I would love to show it to you!

For More Information, Call: Virginia Gallopo (561) 346-8423

A good Locksmith is Great to Find

Virginia Gallopo (Exit Realty Oceanside) — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 21:44:39 -0700

My office is frequently my car, the coffee shop, etc. I've been concerned over the years about a certain place with arches charging me rent. Over the last 20+ years, I've written quite a few contracts under those arches. Today, I discovered I'm not the only one whose workplace is sometimes a little untypical.

I had a need for a locksmith! There was no key to the front door of a home I have listed in Jupiter Farms. The owner of the home called a locksmith and I met him at the house. When he opened his van, I discovered a whole workshop including electrical outlets. It was rather neat watching the locksmith at work. As I thought about his job, I asked him if he has kept a journal over the years. He said he had thought about it at times. I know I have interesting situations all the time with my profession, but a locksmith.....I would love to hear the stories.

In short order, he had re-keyed a lock, make several keys and as we dodged the raindrops, he was on his way. It was truly delightful doing business with him. If you need a good locksmith I would certainly recommend Cypress Locksmith in Tequesta. It doesn't matter if you live in Jupiter, Tequesta or Palm Beach Gardens, they have traveling shops!

Virginia Gallopo

Free Hurricane Home Inspections

Virginia Gallopo (Exit Realty Oceanside) — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 20:54:31 -0700

The "My State Florida Home (MSFH) Program....What is it?

It is a program where Florida Home Owners may be rewarded for "Hurricane Strengthening" their homes.

According to Florida officials today, they are one month ahead of schedule on offering free hurricane home inspections to Florida residents. The "My State Florida Home" (MSFH) program is now urging more homeowners in Florida to take advantage of the services offered through this program.

In late April, the program resumed offering inspections and more than 50,000 Floridians have received free wind inspections.

You ask how does this program benefit you.....well, keep reading!

How would you like savings on your hurricane insurance premiums and matching grants up to $5,000 to help strengthen your home against hurricanes? Receive a free inspection through the MSFH program and you may be eligible. That's right. I didn't stutter.... you may qualify for these benefits. Apply at www.MyFloridaSafeHome.com or over the toll-free helpline at 1-866-513-MSFH (6734).

If you live in a single-family site-built home you are eligible for the inspection. When you receive a free wind inspection through the MSFH program, you will receive a detailed inspection report. The report comes complete with eligibility information on matching grants. It also comes with estimated insurance premium discounts, if applicable.

The following requirements are necessary for the matching grant:

Homeowner

Must have received a completed wind inspection report after May 1,2007.

Live in a single-family, site built home - built before March 1, 2002.

Must have a valid homestead exemption

Insured value of $300,000 or less

Be located in the wind-borne debris region.

The Florida Cabinet this week is requiring insurance companies for the next 90 days to recognize the MSFH wind inspection reports as sufficient evidence for homeowners to access insurance premium discounts, if they are eligible.

Through this program, homeowners are being reimbursed for half the cost up to $5,000 on a variety of home improvements. These include hurricane shutters, reinforced garage doors and roof enhancements.

You don't have to be a genius to figure out that this may be worth checking out!

This photo was taken after Hurricane Frances. It is amazing to see how fast our damaged trees and bushes revive and become more beautiful than ever. I've traveled all over and there is no more beautiful place than Palm Beach County, Florida!

For More Information, Call: Virginia Gallopo (561) 346-8423

Protect Your Children

Virginia Gallopo (Exit Realty Oceanside) — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 19:35:56 -0700

Childproofing Your Home

Each year approximately 2-1/2 million children are injured or killed by hazards and incidents in the home. Many of these incidents could be prevented. There are a lot of child safety devices on the market. Common sense also plays an important part in child protection. Also, please remember, there is no device that is completely childproof.

Before my grandson was born, my daughter and her husband were planning all the things that needed to be done to the house in order to childproof it. In my daughter's situation, childproofing was extremely important because she is visually impaired. Without vision, it is much harder to "keep your eye" on the child.

Next best, keep your "ears on the child."

My daughter made sure she purchased a really good baby monitor. She could hear the baby from her bedroom or from the kitchen or the family room. Her ears were always on alert. Thankfully, she tookall these measurements.

My son-in-law thought it was a little much when my daughter insisted that every piece of furniture in the baby's room be bolted to the wall. Also, in other rooms where the baby would be going, large pieces of furniture were bolted to the walls.

On one occasion, she heard a little whimper coming from the baby monitor. Mothers get to know the sounds of their babies and have a second sense about their well being. She was instantly in his room. This child was born with a "climbing gear." He had managed to climb from his crib onto a small chest and from that he had climbed on top of a six foot book/toy case. Fortunately, it was bolted to the wall. She went into his room and reached up and took a very scarred little boy of the top of the bookshelf. He was less than a year old. There was a toy on the top of the book shelf and he decided to go after it.

Because of her lack of vision, my daughter put bells on her son's little shoes. Everyone thought it was cute, but it was her way of knowing his every movement.

On one occasion, my daughter was in a room full of sighted people, and she heard the little bells. She knew from the sound that these little bells were heading for the front door of the building. No one saw the little fellow heading for the door, but she heard him. Someone had negligently left the front door open and the little nature lover was heading down the steps to explore. Daddy was sent to the rescue.

Along with a lot of common sense, Some safety devices that can help prevent injuries to young children are as follows:

A Great Baby Monitor!!! Enough said about that.

Safety Latches:

Place safety locks on cabinets and drawers in kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas. This can help prevent injuries as well as poisonings. Medication, household cleaners, knives, and sharp objects should be out of reach of children and locked away with safety latches.

Safety latches and locks should be sturdy enough to withstand pulls and tugs from children and should be checked often.

Safety Gates:

Use to keep children away from dangerous areas and to help prevent falls. Safety gates can help keep children away from stairs or rooms where they should not enter. Gates that screw to the wall are more secure than pressure gates and should be used at the top of the stairs.

Make sure the gates cannot be dislodged easily by children, but that adults can open and close without difficulty. New safety gates that meet safety standards display a certification seal from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). Be careful of older gates. A child could get its neck or head caught in the older gates with the large V designs.

Door Knob Covers:

Helps prevent children from entering rooms and other areas where they should not go. Be sure the door knob cover is sturdy enough not to break, but allows a door to be opened quickly by an adult in case of emergency.

Door Locks:

Definitely should be used to deny access to swimming pools and they should be placed high out of reach of young children. In addition to fences, door locks should be used to keep children away from the pool. In addition, I would advocate setting the security alarm so that it makes a noise every time a door is opened. Little people can slip away so fast.

Anti-Scald Devices:

This probably should be installed by a plumber on shower heads and faucets so that the water temperature will be regulated to a maximum temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent burns. Also, set water heater temperature at 120 degrees to prevent burns from hot water.

Smoke Detectors:

Use Smoke Detectors on every level of your home and near bedrooms to alert you to fires. Check smoke detectors once a month to make sure they're working.

Outlet Covers and Outlet Plates:

Use to help prevent electrocution. Be sure the outlet protectors cannot be easily removed by children. Make sure the covers are large enough that children cannot choke on them.

MiniBlind Cords:

Cut Window Blind Cords and use Safety Tassels and Inner Cord Stops to help prevent children from strangling in blind cord loops. On older miniblinds, the cord loop should be cut and buckles removed. Be sure older blinds and drapery cords have tension or tie-down devices to hold cords tight. If you are shopping for new miniblinds, make sure to ask for safety features to prevent strangulation.

Cordless Phones:

A Cordless Phone gives you the freedom to continuously watch young children, especially when they're in bathtubs, swimming pools, or other potentially dangerous areas.

Security System:

My security system is set so that it beeps when a door is opened. When my grandson visits, the system is immediately turned on when he goes to bed because Grandma wants to know if he opens a window or door during the night.

Grandma also knows when he decides to go outside to explore. (First of all, he has to ask before going outside, but just in case.....) You better believe, Grandma is right there exploring with him! We check out flowers, bumble bees, worms, frogs, lizards and all those exciting things that little boys like. Safety for children goes beyond gadgets and systems!

For More Information, Call: Virginia Gallopo (561) 346-8423

Florida Legislature passes Property Tax Relief Package

Virginia Gallopo (Exit Realty Oceanside) — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 03:12:14 -0700

Property tax reform passed

The Florida Legislature, in three short days, passed three bills that make up the property reform package.

The package includes a statutory rollback and cap of the property tax rates. Also, a proposed constitutional amendment which creates a "Super Homestead Exemption" along with a bill designating the January 29, 2008 presidential preference primary as the date for the residents of Florida to vote on the "Super Homestead Exemption" amendment. The agreement consists of a two-tiered plan to achieve immediate and long-term tax reform.

Immediate Tax Relief:

Recently, I attended a "Town Hall meeting" in which Governor Charlie Chris and Congressman Atwater promised the citizens of Palm Beach County that they would to do everything in their power to get a bill passed in order to give relief to Florida property owners. I was skeptical, but I must say it got done.

Per the bill, tax rates must be lowered by cities and counties in Florida based on past taxing. $15.6 billion of tax relief over five years is offered in the plan. The really good news is that the savings will begin this year and the statutory component affects all properties.

In the town meeting I attended, I recall a gentleman speaking about how much his taxes and insurance had increased on a commercial building he owned in spite of the fact that the actual value of the building had gone down. He continued talking about the taxes on a house he owned in Jupiter Farms. Even though the house had been destroyed in the hurricane, his taxes increased. If it were not so sad, it would have been hilarious......It sounded like a sitcom. Fortunately for this gentleman and all other commercial property owners, the statutory component in this plan affects commercial as well as homestead and non-homestead properties.

All cities and counties must adopt the rolled-back rate for the coming fiscal year. Excluding taxes from new construction, property taxes levied for the fiscal year of 07-08 must be equal to taxes levied for the fiscal year of 06-07.

Governor Chris spoke at the "Town Hall" meeting about rolling the taxes back to 2001. Again, I was skeptical. Like everyone else, I've heard too many promises from too many of our governmental leaders. I am pleasantly surprised!

The bill requires each city and county to further reduce taxes based on the county's recent taxing history from 2001 to 2006. This is the period in which the property values increased so fast. The cities and counties in which the taxes were raised at a faster rate than the average statewide rate will have the largest tax cuts.

The bill requires all local ad valorem taxing authorities, beginning 2008-2009 and every year thereafter, to set millage rate in accordance with the rolled-back rates. This will be adjusted by the annual growth of Florida personal income. (The exception is school districts.) The bad news is that a local governing authority may override the cap requirement.

Long-term Reform

Inequities in the property tax system are being cured by the constitutional amendment by transforming Save Our Homes through a new "super homestead" exemption. $16 billion of tax relief is offered through this component.

The new exemption covers:

75% of the first $200,000 of homestead value

15% of the next $300,000

(all homesteads will receive at least a $50,000 exemption).

The current homestead owners will be given a choice as to whether:

to keep their benefits and assessment cap under Save Our Homes or

to use the new super exemption.

The combined elements of the Immediate Tax Relief Plan and Long-term Reform offer $31.6 billion in tax relief over the next five years.

Special Election:

A special election is authorized by this bill for the Long-term reform.

Voters will have the opportunity to adopt the proposed constitutional amendment during the presidential preference primary on January 29, 2008.

If the amendment is approved by the voters, it will lower Florida property taxes in 2008; however, If the vote on the constitutional amendment is delayed until the general election in 2008, the reforms will not take effect until tax bills are calculated in 2009.

I am pleased to see Democrats and Republicans work so closely together for the good of the residents of our state. Hopefully, we will se more of this type of cooperation in the future in Tallahassee as well as Washington!

For More Information, Call: Virginia Gallopo (561) 346-8423

Evergrene Home for Rent

Virginia Gallopo (Exit Realty Oceanside) — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 17:44:41 -0700

EVERGRENE 4 BED 2.5 BATH 2 Car Garage on culdesac. Grnite Counter tops, Stainless Steel appliances, hardwood and file in living area and carpeted bedrooms. Resort Style Clubhouse with hugh swimming pool, fitness center, library, fishing pier, dining hall, and much more. Asking $2,400.00 per month annual rent.

For More Information, Call: Virginia Gallopo (561) 346-8423

Up a Tree in Evergrene

Virginia Gallopo (Exit Realty Oceanside) — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 16:18:39 -0700

As our family was enjoying lunch on the patio, my 4 year old grandson decided to climb in his favorite tree. We watched as he reached the top. Once up there, he suddenly realized that he was some distance off the ground. We were all laughing until our sides hurt at his comments. Finally, he yelled, "Call the fire department! Call 911-!!"

Grandma went to the rescue by reaching up into the tree and plucking him down. The good news is that he apparently understands what is to be done in case of an emergency and Grandma was his hero in spite of the fact that she wasn't wearing a red cape!

For Information on Evergrene, call: Virginia Gallopo (561) 346-8423

Critter Crossing at Evergrene

Virginia Gallopo (Exit Realty Oceanside) — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 09:05:04 -0700

Evergrene was built in partnership with Audobon Internation. The goal was to create a community which would be rich in environmental awareness and kind to our native Florida "critters."

A critter crossing was built to direct the animals and reptiles through a receptacle located under the Evergrene Parkway road. Fencing was placed along the vegetation area next to the road so the critters would be forced to use the crossing. Unless someone is aware of crossing, its existence is merely part of the natural surroundings. I am happy to say that I have never seen a dead animal or reptile in the road in Evergrene.

For more information about Evergrene, call: Virginia Gallopo (561) 346-8423

Evergrene, the Community

Virginia Gallopo (Exit Realty Oceanside) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 15:17:19 -0700

Evergrene is a 350-acre gated communited in Palm Beach Gardens located less than three-miles from beach.. Evergrene contains over 80-acres of Preserves and open spaces and over 55 total acres of lakes community wide. The largest lake, a 36.5 acres recreational lake with canoeing, kayaking and a fishing pier, is located behind the 12,300 clubhouse.

There is a wide variety of residences ranging in size from approximately 1,100 square feet to 3,978 square feet living area. The Single Family Homes offer an array of elevation choices. These include the Italianate, the French Country, the Tuscan, the Mission and the Spanish. There are a total of 964 residences (townhouses and single family homes) in the Evergrene community.

Centrally located, Evergrene is close to shopping, places of worship, main thoroughfares, movie theatres, restaurants, and as before mentioned, the beaches.

For More Information about Evergrene, Call: Virginia Gallopo (561) 346-8423