DID YOUR PRELIMINARY PROPERTY TAX BILL GO UP?

While local headlines SCREAM that Florida properties were devalued even more this year (did I hear 18%?), the property taxes, inexplicably, are going UP UP AND AWAY. Appeals to the county’s Value Adjustment Board by angry taxpayers for their 2009 property tax bills are expected to climb, perhaps by over 20% up from 13,200 appeals in 2008, challenging property assessments and homestead and tax exemption classifications. Petitions can be file online or in person at 301 N. Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, until September 14^th, and there is a $15 filing fee. For more information call the Clerk and Comptroller's office at (561) 355- 6289. The Clerks office says that while the increase in appeals may be due to the economic downturn, a state law has changed requiring the property appraisers office to prove their assessments are accurate. In the past the property owner had to prove the assessment was wrong. Special magistrates must be hired to settle disputes between property owners and the county property appraisers office. Responsibility for processing petitions and scheduling hearings lies with the Clerks office. Preliminary tax notices were mailed Friday to all county property owners

FIRST FLORIDA POPULATION DROP SINCE MILITARY PERSONNEL LEFT IN 1946

Blaming the recession and steep drop in new residents of 58,000 over the past year for plunging tax revenues jobs in construction, real estate and mortgage lending have disappeared. This has resulted in empty classroom seats, down about 10,000 statewide compared to the previous year. Current popular is about 18.3 million, says the US Census Bureau.

Florida’s unemployment rate in June was 10,6%, highest rate since 1975, one of the highest rates in the US. Estimates used data from residential electric hookups, building permits and homestead exemptions.

Another factor fewer people are moving to Florida is their inability to sell their homes elsewhere to be able to move here.

However, growth is expected to resume as the economy improves.

WANT TO SEE THE US NATIONAL DEBT AND PER CITIZEN LIABILITIES?
US DEBT CLOCK

CASE-SHILLER HOME PRICE INDEX RISES

A May 2009 increase of 0.5% in the closely watched Case-Shiller home price index indicates that the US housing recovery is seen possible now. Prices tumbled more than 32% from their peak in 2Q 2006. Case said that prices may be at the bottom now.

· Preventative risk--management must be a priority going forward, according to Shiller.

· He also stated that the mortgage contract structure must be made to protect home-buyers in case of a downturn. “The new standard for mortgage should be a continuous work-out mortgage,” so that “if home prices fall then your mortgage payment will go down.”

· Shiller cautioned that recent bank bailouts were “extraordinary events that we should want to prevent as much as possible in the future.”

· In June new home sales jumped 11%, the biggest monthly gain in 8 years according the US Commerce Department.

· National association of Realtors said existing home sales rose for the 3^rd straight month in June.

But, with unemployment and foreclosures still rising, caution was advised. Shiller said that confidence in the US financial system is crucial for an economic recovery, and can be best restored by having a clear regulatory framework for investors. He mentioned that foreign investors who were thinking about putting money in this country are feeling somewhat less assured.

REPORTS SHOWING HOUSING MARKET ON THE MEND

With sales up in all four regions of the United States, and the number of previously occupied homes sold in June being the third month in a row to go up, this kind of expansion has not been seen in almost 5 years.

Sales roses 3.6% according to the National Association of Realtors. The foreclosure market is shrinking. It is meaningful that about on third of homes sold in June were foreclosure related, down from nearly half of those sold earlier this year. See the Federal Housing Finance Agency report showing home prices rose almost 1% in May.

There has never been a better time to buy a home in Florida with interest rates down and home prices so much lower than in recent years. The “best buys” are starting to be snatched up now.

NEW PLAN BEING DISCUSSED FOR HOUSES IN FORECLOSURE

According to the Florida Association of Realtors, a plan being developed by both Obama and Congress will allow homeowners to rent their foreclosed home for at least 5 years, maybe as long as 10 years. Motivated by the thought that Florida doesn’t need any more vacant homes, and that the modification plans have not been as successful as Congress hoped, the overall economy as well as the real estate situation in Florida could change for the better with this plan. Florida’s foreclosure rate remains third highest in the nation. One in every 33 households received a default notice, auction notice or bank repossession. One plan is for lenders selling foreclosed homes to approved professional landlords. Another idea is for lenders to sell to private investors, or keep the home and hire a management firm to handle the rental. However, some warn of banks wanting to shed properties rather than become landlords and selling to low-balling investors, which would knock prices farther down.

YOUR ART COULD BE EXHIBITED… AND SOLD… IN PUBLIC PLACES

Your work can be exhibited and sold at the 4-month long Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach. Those waiting for flights could keep busy with looking at the art exhibit that will be held from September 17, 2009 to December 17, 2009. The theme is “Solar Abstrations” and will feature works that explore the power and brilliance of the sun’s splendor here in Palm Beach County. Sponsored by “Art in Public Places.” Go to http://pbcgov.com/fdo/art/calls.htm or email esinger@pbcgov.org for more details. Entry deadline is August 20^th. Entry fee is $10. Pick up your paint brush NOW… and GO FOR IT!

If you cannot attend the open house
and want a private showing, call
MARILYN FARBER JACOBS, Realtor
at 561-988-0070 to set an
appointment that is convenient for you.

Palm Beach Farms is in an A-Rated

Boca Raton

School district, wonderful
neighborhood with NO ZERO LOT LINES,
and has a playground for the kids.

NO EQUITY, NO HOA.

Price just lowered on this approximately
1/2 acre property on private, gated road.
Boat dock for 30' boat.

VISUAL TOUR LINK

Please scroll down a bit to see the
information, and click where it says
CLICK TO VIEW FULL PAGE.

Directions: I95-Palmetto West
Take first right, SW 12th to Circle
Go left (SW 18th St) and take
next right, Isabel Rd Oeste,
to end through white gates.

CLICK TO VIEW FULL PAGE
Description and Features
Beautiful Curb Appeal. Circular decorative driveway, 12' x 10' portico, double arched pecky cypress oversize front doors, arched windows. PRETTIEST home in the area. Very Private. One gated private road - side road is one lane, one way - LIMITED TRAFFIC. Great flow for entertaining. Lots of room for the whole family. Master Bedroom upstairs for privacy. 4 Bedrooms on First Floor. UPGRADES EVERYWHERE - like NEW - MOVE RIGHT IN! Near I-95, shopping, downtown, beach and ocean. Watch fabulous sunsets from upstairs south facing Balcony off Master Bedroom. QUIET, SERENE NEIGHBORHOOD where Tropical Trees and plantings abound! THIS is FLORIDA LIVING at it's best! Be sure to click bottom link for Virtual Tour, many more photos.	Bedrooms: 5 Bathrooms: 5 Parking Spaces: 3 Square Feet: 4614 Lot Size: 19602 Year Built: 2006 Floors: 3 MLS #: R2954219
Location
Click to view map: 2198 Isabel Road Oeste Boca Raton FL 33486
Links
Boca Raton, Delray Beach ALL Palm Beach County Homes for Sale, Marilyn Jacobs SPARKLING Boca Raton Palm Beach Farms Custom-Built Waterfront Estate Listing Website

LET IT SNOW… LET IT SNOW… and BRING YOUR MITTENS to a “COOL” EVENT

The last time your editor saw snow in Palm Beach County was when visiting during the winter of 1976, when snow briefly fell in Palm Beach near the water. Palm Beach County will have it’s own winter wonderland this weekend at the Palm Beach Zoo in Dreher Park, Southern Boulevard just east of I-95, for “little kids” and “big kids”. “Winter in July” will be held from 10 am to 4 pm both days. Forty… yes FORTY TONS of snow will fall. Many ice-age fossils will be on display. You can go on a fossil dig, make a fossil shark-tooth necklace, enjoy children’s entertainment, have animal encounters, visit the “sand box” to create your own cool treat, relax in the Florida Pioneer House and hear Arctic-themed stories, meet the “Snow Queen” and learn about sun safety. Go “ice-fishing” and see what prize you can reel in. Admission for adults is $12.95, Seniors 60 and up $9.95, Children 3-12 $8.95, children under 3 and zoo embers are free. The purpose is to educate children about the importance of sun safety and let them experience the wonders of winter without leaving Palm Beach County. The event is co-sponsored by South Florida Parenting Magazine and Panera Bread Company. Sun Safety materials are provided by the Skin Cancer Foundation and Armchem. Daily events at The Zoo include an interactive “Wings Over Water” show with 20 trained birds, 11-3 weekdays and 11-2 weekends This is sponsored by AirTran. The “Wild Things Show’ includes New Guinea Singing Dogs Mic and Sidney, Scooter the South Asian binturong, Xena the African pygmy hedgehog and Boris the Scarlet Macaw and a Brazilian rainbow boa. Come visit and enjoy seeing all the animals!

THE USUALLY GLOOMY CASE-SHILLER INDEX STARTING TO REPORT REAL ESTATE GAINS

With the overall report slightly negative for last month, if Dallas, Denver, DC, Seattle, San Francisco, Atlanta, Boston and Cleveland are showing small increase in home sales, will FLORIDA BE NEXT? According to Realty Times, “even the most bearish of researchers agree: prices are bottoming out, even in some of the hardest hit areas.” They report that detached houses resales were up 56% over a year ago, and condo sales up 30%. Sale prices, however, were down, e.g., down 38% in Phoenix. Consumer confidence is up, especially in willingness to consider “big ticket” items, such as a home. With mortgage rates still very low, this may be THE LAST BEST TIME to buy, RIGHT NOW. Keep in mind that with so many job losses every month and unemployment rates very high, touch credit and underwriting, it is not yet “happy days are here again” by any means. But how nice it is to see a start to home sales trending UP.

INSURANCE PURCHASE TRENDS

According to an article in the July issue of Insurance News Net Magazine, “After Americans lost their shirts in the federally regulated equities market, they were able to find refuge with the guarantees afforded by indexed annuities… Americans who placed over $150 billion in these secure products since 1995 have been sleeping easier at night because of the guarantees.”

Seeking a flight to safety for their reduced holdings, and this includes families who now have one income instead of two, many are placing funds in affordable term insurance, applications for which have climbed steadily over the years.

Marilyn can tell you about term policies that can be converted to cash value universal or whole life policies when you are ready to increase premiums as the economy improves. Meanwhile, your family will be protected. For example Marilyn just wrote an application for a 47 year old male, non-smoker, preferred status, for $750,000. Term is 15 years; convertible. Premium: under $72/month. Premiums will vary with age, tobacco usage and health status. It is predicted that in the future longer term policies will not be available or will be disproportionally more expensive.

Fixed annuities were up 74% for 1Q09 vs. 1Q08. Life insurance applications for the age 60+ group climbed 11.3% in May-09 compared to May-08.

Marilyn Farber Jacobs (561-988-0070) is a Licensed Advisor / Insurance Agent with American Life & Health Group, Inc.

WHAT TO LOVE ABOUT PALM BEACH COUNTY

• Beautiful white, sandy beaches
• Miles of scenic parks and nature preserves
• Oceans, rivers and lakes offering boating, fishing, swimming and other water recreation
• A rich and varied history, which includes the city of St. Augustine, the oldest permanent European settlement in the mainland United States
• Unique family-friendly attractions
• World Class Entertainment Facilities, Museums, Theatres
• Cultural activities offer residents and visitors music, dance and arts events
• Florida’s climate featuring an average annual high of 81 degrees Fahrenheit and an average annual low of 60 degrees
• The state’s homeownership rate currently stands at about 70 percent, well above the national average
• In many ways, Florida’s cost of living is below that of other states with similar economic growth and in-migration rates

Calling Florida “The Sunshine State” is very fitting for Palm Beach County

PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT RECIEVES “A” FOR 5^th CONSECUTIVE YEAR

The Florida School Recognition Program rewards schools that sustained high student performance or demonstrated substantial improvement in student performance. If schools receive an “A” or improve one or more performance grades from the previous year, they are eligible to receive an additional $75 per student.

· All Boca Raton elementary and middle schools received As with one, Coral Sunset Elementary School moving up from B to A this year.

· While Olympic Heights High School dropped to a B this year from an A, all other Boca high schools got As including West Boca High School.

· Five schools in the district jumped from Cs to As and a school in the Glades went from a D to an A.

FCAT standards will be increased next year, and Palm Beach County will increase teacher training and provide coaches. Moving to departmentalization for 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th grades, all elementary school teachers will teach two or three subjects instead of all six. E.g., math teachers will teach math and science and a language arts teacher may teach social studies, not needing to shift from one content to another. Classrooms will be located next to each other and students will only change classrooms two to three times a day. The Palm Beach County School District is the only urban school district to have received an A for 5 consecutive years. Statewide, more than ¾ of all public schools were named as high performing (A or B). The number of schools earning an F decreased to the smallest number in the last 3 years.

PALM BEACH DINING OPPORTUNITIES DURING JUNE 2009

Lunch for $20.09 or have dinner for $35 per person for a 3-course meal – appetizer, main course, dessert. Beverages, tax and gratuity are additional. Here are the restaurants, addresses and phone number for reservations in alphabetical order:

· Bice, 313 ½ Worth Avenue, 561-835-1600

· Café Boulud at Brazllian Court, 301 Australian Ave, 561-655-6060

· Café L’Europe, 331 So County Rd, 561-655-4020

· Charley’s Crab, 456 So Ocean Blvd, 561-659-1500

· Leopard Lounge and Restaurant at Chesterfield Hotel, 363 Cocoanut Row, 561-659-5800

· Coco Palm Beach, Bradley Park Hotel, 290 Sunset Ave, 561-832-3734

· Flagler Steakhouse at Breakers, One South County Road, 561-659-8488

· Italian Restaurant at Breakers, One South County Road, 561-659-8488

· Seafood Bar at Breakers, One South County Road (reservations not accepted)

· Ocean Bistro at Four Seasons, 2800 So Ocean Blvd, 561-582-2800

· Renato’s, 87 Via Mizner off Worth Avenue, 561-655-9752

· Temple Orange at Ritz-Carlton, 100 So Ocean Blvd, 561-533-6000

· Ta-Boo, 221 Worth Avenue, 561-835-3500

• Trevini, 150 Worth Ave, 561-833-3883

Enjoy these “gifts of summer.” Great way to try out new restaurants, or go back to old favorites!

BOCA RATON FACTS UPDATE

Sperlings Best Places to Live likes Boca Raton, with beautiful weather year round, and great shopping. Population in 2009 is 85,407, a 15.56% growth since 2000. Housing prices are down 23.10%. Median home cost is $383,650.

SUPERBOWL CHAMP ALAN VEINGRAD SPEAKS AT DOWNTOWN CHABAD TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 11:55-1:30

Alan Veingrad is a professional motivational speaker, a member of the national speakers association, and ”just happens to wear a Superbowl ring”. The event is sponsored by the Downtown Boca Jewish Business Network, Chabad of East Boca, and J.A.C.O.B. ( Jewish American Chamber of Business) Investment of $20. at the door is all inclusive for food, beverages, tax, tip, etc...

· Business Introductions

· Card Networking

· Kosher Meal

· Door Prizes

· Celebrity Speaker

Former offensive lineman with the Dallas Cowboys & Green Bay Packers, and a member of the Super Bowl XXVII World Champion Dallas Cowboy Team in 1992, Alan Veingrad uses sports metaphors to characterize his journey, and vividly relates the discipline of being a professional football player to success in life. For information on the even go to http://bocaratonbusinessnetworking-rss.eventbrite.com. For details about Alan, go to http://www.alanveingrad.com. Don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime business luncheon! Address: 120 NE 1^st Avenue, just south of Mizner Park.

NOT SITTING ON THEIR HANDS, THE HOUSING WORKING GROUP OF BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE HAS PROPOSALS TO STIMULATE THE HOUSING MARKET

The Housing Working Group of Business Roundtable is an association of leading US corporation CEOs and, applauded by the National Association of Realtors, they are concerned about returning stability and growth to the US housing market. Their recommendations include

· Keeping 30-year mortgage rates at historically low levels for the nest 12 months

· Expand current first-time homebuyer tax credit to 10% of the purchase price of the home or $15,000 for all homebuyers and remove current income restrictions and includle all primary residence purchases for the next 12 months

· Thoroughly review current foreclosure mitigation and loan-modification programs which are currently showing rising loan-modification re-default rates

· Make current temporary conforming loan limits permanent

· Review and strengthen government efforts to review and refine mortgage lending practices.

For information about the Housing Working Group and Business Roundtable, go to http://www.businessroundtable.org.

BUDGET CUTS AFFECT FAU… BUT THEY MAY HAVE A SOLUTION

Florida Atlantic University In Boca Raton is hoping to get by with a 13% tuition raise, but will ask for 15% when the board of trustees meets June 10^th. The additional 2% will be dedicated to need-based financial aid and will increased this funding by nearly a half-million dollars.. This increase will generate about $900,000. The state increased base tuition by 8%, and each state university is now allowed to levy an additional 7% differential tuition on top of that. This equates to about $500 more per year for instate students. Thirty employees will be laid off and 45 courses will be discontinued to meet legislative-mandated funding cuts. Many of the deleted positions are in the administration and staff categories. One solution FAU has come up with: additional courses may be added to online and distance learning making it very easy for you to learn-at-home.

NO NEED TO LOSE YOUR SERVERS AND DATA IN A HURRICANE

As hurricane season fast approaches, you may be worried about your office continuing to operate when problems arise as a result of a hurricane. No need to worry; now there is a solution that others are using. Talked with Senior Global Account Manager, Don Sabol recently. His 1Vault Networks (www.1Vault.net) true CAT 5 Rated & SAS 70 type II Data Center in Ft. Lauderdale has created a full suite of Business Continuity Planning. The company offers a Co-location center where data communications and media converge and interconnected, servicing multiple high end IT solutions customers. Each client can locate network, server and storage equipment there and interconnect to a variety of telecommunications and other True Tier 1 network service providers. Co-location is provided on a massive scale for needs ranging from modest-sized racks to custom cages with 22,000 sq ft of raised floor. Hardware and software installation, maintenance, managed and unmanaged servers and IT consulting are offered. If you are a Co-location client at 1 Vault, DR Seats and DR Suites are available, so your entire businesses can temporarily relocate to ensure continuity to customers in spite of outside conditions. They also provide and full range of Managed Security, Managed Backup and Disaster Recovery solutions. Check this out! Contact Don Sabol, Office # 954-736-2725 or dsabol@1vault.net. CALM YOUR WORRIES NOW, folks! Remember that old saying, "AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE."

BEST RESTORED BEACH: BOCA’S NORTH BEACH

Boca Raton acquired three large beachfront properties in the 1970’s which they converted into public parks, now valued at $330MM and Boca’s biggest asset. Residents and visitors did not always have beach, e.g. fronting Spanish River Park, during the winter months but now they do, and the beach is a major attraction that our residents and visitors head to when they want relaxation. Sand is periodically pumped to restore what is blown away or washed into the sea. Most residents and visitors are not aware that the beach is periodically restored. The beach was restored in 1988 and in 1998, and will be restored again later this year. For each dollar spent on beach restoration, studies have shown that $4-5 accrues back to taxpayers in benefits. The American Shore and Beach Preservation Association named Boca Raton’s northern shoreline as winner of the 2008 Best Restored Beach Award. Only 7 beaches received the award, four of them in Florida, but only Boca Raton’s is on the southeast coast

THE HISTORY OF ANNUITIES

• Over 2000 years ago, during Roman times, buyers, in return for a lump sum, received a fixed annual payment for life or a period certain. The first Life Expectancy Table was created by The Roman Domitius Ulpianus
• The wars during the Middle Ages were funded by tontines, annuity pools in which participants purchased a share and received a life annuity. Their survivors received a larger payment with the last survivor receiving the remaining principal, a veritable jackpot.
• European Governments, during the 18^th C., sold annuities that were state-guaranteed for lifetime income. Hundreds of laws were passed by the English Parliament to fund wars and provide a stipend to the Royal Family., the first issued was the State Tontine of 1963 costing 100£ per share with the buyer receiving income during the lifetime of their designated person, often a child. They could be assigned by will or deed or passed on to next of kin at death.
• In the United States annuities were not heavily purchased at first, mostly bought by attorneys or executors of estates to provide income to a beneficiary as describe in a last will and testament. A Pennsylvania company was formed in 1759 to benefit Presbyterian ministers and their families, and in 1912, the Pennsylvania Company for Insurance on Lives and Granting Annuities was the first American company to offer annuities to the general public.
• In the United States as multi-generational households began to fade, and especially during the Depression, investors turned to annuities as reliable investments.
• During the “New Deal” period, when FDR encouraged saving for retirement, group annuities for corporate pension plans developed. Tax deferred status was attractive.
• In 1952, the variable annuity was introduced, with a choice of vehicles to invest in, such as mutual funds.
• During the current difficult economic times annuities have become extremely popular and right now some companies have put a temporary hold on issuing annuities until they catch up with what they have in-house.
• Estimated annual annuity sales amount to over $200BB. Even though annuity contracts may have higher fees and commissions than some other investments, many have found the annuity structure to be beneficial in growing their retirement portfolios.

Blog Manager Marilyn Farber Jacobs is a License Advisor/Independent Insurance Agent and offers FREE Community Service appointments to let you know what others in your position are doing to protect, preserve and grow their retirement portfolios using annuities and/or life insurance.

HOW TO FIND FUNDS YOU DID NOT KNOW YOU COULD CLAIM
Search www.unclaimed.org and missingmoney.com. Look for savings bonds in your name at publicdebt.treas.gov . For IRAs and pensions search search.pbgc.gov.

ED W. “TOO TALL FREEMAN”, CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT

When Ed applied to become a pilot after receiving a battlefield commission, he was hoping to fulfill a childhood dream. However, he was told that at 6’4” he was “too tall” for pilot duty, and “Too Tall” became his nickname. In 1955 the height limit was raised, and he was accepted into flying school. Following is an email I received, source is http://www.herobracelets.org/?p=553, and it tells the story: You're a 19-year old kid. You're critically wounded, and dying in the jungle in the Ia Drang Valley , 11-14-1965, LZ X-ray, Vietnam . Your infantry unit is outnumbered 8 - 1, and the enemy fire is so intense, from 100 or 200 yards away, that your own Infantry Commander has ordered the MediVac helicopters to stop coming in. You're lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns, and you know you're not getting out.. Your family is 1/2 way around the world, 12,000 miles away, and you'll never see them again. As the world starts to fade in and out, you know this is the day. Then, over the machine gun noise, you faintly hear that sound of a helicopter, and you look up to see an un-armed Huey, but it doesn't seem real, because no Medi-Vac markings are on it. Ed Freeman is coming for you. He's not Medi-Vac, so it's not his job, but he's flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire, after the Medi-Vacs were ordered not to come. He's coming anyway. And he drops it in, and sits there in the machine gun fire, as they load 2 or 3 of you on board. Then he flies you up and out through the gunfire, to the Doctors and Nurses. And, he kept coming back.... 13 more times... and took about 30 of you and your buddies out, who would never have gotten out. Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient, Ed Freeman, cited for numerous acts of conspicuous gallantry and extraordinary intrepidity, died last in August 2008 at the age of 80, in Boise , ID... May God rest his soul. Thanks to John Davis, Real Estate Broker in Nebraska and a long-time friend, for sending me this information.