There has been much discussion and general confusion about a tax on real estate from the new Obama health care law that is scheduled to go into effect this coming year. The following is a list of ten things you need to know about the health care tax on real estate as recently researched and published from NAR - National Association of Realtors®. NAR has prepared a guide "Top Ten Things About the 3,8% Tax".  Be advised to check with your tax professional about how this tax effects you.

Health Care Tax on Real Estate1) When you add up all of your income from every possible source, and that total is less than $200,000 ($250,000 on a joint tax return), you will NOT be subject to this tax.

2) The 3.8% tax will NEVER be collected as a transfer tax on real estate of any type, so you’ll…

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Sarasota Real Estate Market Remains Hot in August

The Following was reported from the Sarasota Association of Realtors dated September 17, 2012

Members of the Sarasota Association of Realtors® sold 819 properties in August 2012, up 36 percent from last August as the hot summer sales market in local real estate showed no signs of cooling off.

SALES
The breakdown was 587 single family homes and 232 condos sold, compared to last August, when only 445 single family and 156 condos sold (for a total of 601 closed sales). The August sales reversed the July 2012 trend, when sales dropped to 699. July has been a slower sales month for the past few years, but the strong rebound in August was unexpected and welcomed by local Realtors®.

“The old adage says…

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Beggar the Dolphin near Casey KeyThis past Friday September 21 the beloved "Beggar" the dolphin was found floating in the Intracoastal Waterway near the Albee Road Bridge to Casey Key.  Beggar, named for his constant begging for food and attention from boaters for the past 20 years has been a Sarasota icon and a natural tourist attraction for boaters  near the Albee Road Bridge.  This bottled nose dolphin could be seen daily in the no-wake zone swimming up along side every boat looking for a free hand out.  Feeding and petting dolphins is punishable with up to a $100,000 fine and possible up to a year in jail under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

"Beggar was a local icon and tourist attraction for over two decades, and the results of this necropsy are a reminder of how people's…

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