Voters will get to decide in January whether to phase out Save Our Homes in favor of a massive new homestead exemption, after the Republican-controlled Florida House muscled the sweeping ballot measure through on a party-line vote.

The 74-43 vote in the House follows similarly partisan approval in the Senate earlier this afternoon, and it marks the finale of a three-day special session on property taxes.

"This is the biggest tax cut in the history of the state, and it's aimed squarely at the middle class," said Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park.

Republicans billed the amendment as the centerpiece of an historic, $32 billion tax cut and a way to make Florida's property-tax structure fairer to all property owners. Democrats warned it could devastate…

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On the first day of the special session to lower property taxes, here is what lawmakers started cutting: expectations for a huge tax cut this year and a January vote for even bigger savings.

The Republican-led Legislature didn't appear to have the votes Tuesday to push deeper cuts more quickly because Democrats oppose $7.2 billion in school cuts over five years in the $31.6 billion plan.

But the schools dispute belies the real trouble: It's almost impossible to fix the complicated tax system, protect local services and fulfill simple promises made by Gov. Charlie Crist and House Speaker Marco Rubio, who have raised public expectations of deep tax cuts.

The two Republicans have barnstormed the state separately for months. Rubio held out for bigger…

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. June 11, 2007

We have a deal. Senate President Ken Pruitt (R-Port St. Lucie) and House Speaker Marco Rubio (R-Miami) announced that they've reached an agreement to cut property taxes in Florida.

It's a complicated, two-step formula that would offer moderate relief this year and greater relief next year. Homesteaded owners win most, but commercial interests also benefit. Details will be discussed starting tomorrow, the first day of the Florida Legislature's special session, with a vote possible before the scheduled end on June 22.

Step 1

The two steps operate independently and cut taxes in different ways. Step one can be accomplished immediately if approved by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Charlie Crist. Under this step,…

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After weeks of negotiating between Florida House and Senate leaders the lawmakers agreed this Friday to one of the largest tax cuts in state history. The plan will slash property taxes 31.6 billion dollars over the next five years. The plan could save the the average homeowner $174 in 2007 and a huge savings of $1306 in 2008.

The Florida legislature will be meeting for an 11 day special session starting this week and will review the plan.Gov. Charlie Crist has been on the frontline for property tax reform asking lawmakers to drop property taxes "like a rock."

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There are many ways to spruce up the inside of your home some cost money and some are very cheap to do. In today's buyers market buyers are looking for a turnkey property. Unless they are getting a great deal on the property most are not looking to buy and remodel. Here are some interior tips on preparing your home to sell in the Orlando real estate market.

Clean your home - This is the cheapest way and one of the most important things you can do for your house. Buyers want to know that a home has been cared for. Your home should be immaculate and inviting when a potential buyer views your home. Make your home shine as if it were a model home, clean like you have never cleaned before. Most buyers want to move right in not spend a week getting the home…

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Yesterday we discussed how to price your home in a buyers market. Today we will focus on giving your home great curb appeal in order to attract buyers.

The first thing that buyers see when looking at homes is the outside. You can never get another chance at a first impression. Make sure your home has curb appeal. Your house may be beautiful on the inside but if the outside is not kept up buyers may decide that they do not like your house before even stepping a foot inside. If you are planning on placing your house on the market then make sure that the outside of your house is in tip top shape. Take a walk across the street and take a look at your house from a buyer prospective.

Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Does the house need paint?
    • …

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With home inventories at high levels we are currently experiencing a buyers market. Buyers have many more homes to choose from than in recent years and will use this to their advantage. Over the next few days we will discuss tips on how to prepare and present your home in a buyers market. You may have more competition in a buyers market but that does not mean that you cannot sell your home. Follow these tips to give yourself the competitive advantage you need to sell your house in today's real estate market.

Price your Orlando Home for Sale Realistically

Gone are the days where you can set the highest price possible on your home and find buyers. With so many houses on the market, today's buyers are looking find the houses that are priced correctly.…

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The local real estate market here in Orlando has been under a lot of scrutiny lately along with the majority of the US housing market. The headlines read "Orlando-area home sales drop 35% in April". While we cannot dispute this fact that the numbers are down but is the press giving this market a bad wrap?

In 1999 I was just getting into real estate sales. While taking my real estate classes I remember my instructor ranting about how great the Orlando real estate market was at the time. I do not recall negative press for the real estate market during that time. I went on to get my real estate license and never heard a whimper from anyone during my first few years about a bad market. Well as we all know from 2002 - 2006 the housing market in Orlando and…

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One of the newest and hottest concepts in the Orlando real estate market is the condo hotel. A condo hotel concept incorporates traditional condominium ownership with all the luxuries of a world class hotel resort. Condo hotel or CONDOTELS appeal to many people interested in a vacation home due to their luxury accommodations, first class amenities and great locations. Combine all of these factors with the ease of ownership, and it is easy to understand why people are now opting to purchase a condo hotel over a traditional vacation home.

The Orlando condo hotel market has recently taken the area by storm. There are many new developments underway that will offer buyers some of the most exclusive vacation home ownership in the area. These four and five…

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In recent years there have been many cases where people are buying homes and later realizing that the square footage does not measure up to what they had been told. How can this be so? Most real estate professionals are going off of the tax records which should be accurate but many are finding discrepancies.

Part of the problem lies in the fact that there are no universally adopted standards in measuring the square footage of a home. Architects measure square footage from the interior of the wall and others measure from the exterior, some include stairways and others do not. In many cases the difference in square footage can be approximately 5%.  In a 2500 square foot house 5% is another 125 Square feet in many homes that's another bedroom.  What would…

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