I have been pondering writing about this subject for several months when I read an article printed in the St. Pete Times via the Boston Globe. It seems that the ever creative politicians of New Hampshire have found another way to tax homeowners. A VIEW TAX! That is correct, a view tax. That means that if you are looking out the window of your mountain home to the valley below it will cost you more in real estate taxes.
One homeowner bought a small 2 bedroom, 2 bath home with a barn at a reasonable price. The town assessed his home at $300,000 and an additional $200,000 for the mountain views.
That story made me think of our situation here in Pinellas County. With the escalating sales prices come dramatic increases in real estate taxes. It would not surprise me to see homeowners selling because they can't afford the taxes. Although the values have gone up, the local municipalities have not reduced their millage taxes. The bottom line is, if homeowners do not get some substantial real estate tax relief in the very near future, escalating real estate taxes are going to doom this county and others similarly situated.
That begs the questions, where the hell is all this money going? If you know, please enlighten me.
Rick Cornelius is the Broker/Manager of Sand Key Realty Sales and Rentals, Inc. Sand Key Realty has three offices with 40 agents. One office is at 740 S. Gulfview Blvd., Clearwater Beach, 727-443-0032, the second office is at 2701 Gulf Blvd., Indian Rocks Beach, 727-595-5441, and the third office is at 309 Belleview Blvd., Belleair, 727-461-4200.