Dear Mr. Harper, Re: Discrimination Against Canadians in Florida We need your help to explore possible Canadian government action to counter the outrageous two-tier discriminatory property tax system in Florida. At the end of this note I have a list of actions the Government of Canada can take to secure equitable treatment for Canadian snowbirds […]

Florida plans to continue plucking its snowbirds! After months of studies and negotiations the agreement tabled last weekend may actually aggravate condition of snowbirds: 1. Out-of-control spending continues! The much discussed expenditures “rollback” to 2001 or 2003 was abandoned to a “hold the line” at 2006-2007 level and perhaps cut 3, 5, 7 or 9% […]

The Property Tax Crisis in Paradise – Florida Welcomes(?) Snowbirds When I purchased a condo in Florida in 2000, one of my neighbors told me that I just bought a piece of paradise. And sure enough, since becoming a Snowbird after my retirement I’ve been enjoying the escape from the Canadian winters. What I did […]

Treatment of Canadians Violates NAFTA? In my Ups and Downs since Black Tuesday an interesting article by Peter Brieger in the Financial Post “The Other Chapter 11” where reference is made to NAFTA Chapter 11 suggested that Canadians’ personal part-time use property (investment) may be entitled to compensation from the U.S. government to recover the […]

Florida real estate- Opposite perspectives…and some Facts There were a couple diametrically opposite views on Florida real estate in the past couple of weeks. But first let’s look at the facts via data from the latest S&P Case-Schiller numbers on Miami real estate prices. The following graph, covering the period of February 1987 to March […]

Florida: April 2009- Property values, property taxes, constitutional challenge, should I buy now?, “Ponzi state”? 1.  Case-Shiller January 2009 Index US property values continue to on their downward path. The January report shows Miami values fell 3.6%, 29.5% and 43.4% since previous month, over past 12 months and since the December 2006 peak, respectively. The […]

Florida Update- February 2009 In Herald Tribune’s “Crist plan counts on stimulus“ Joe Follick reports that Florida’s governor Crist is proposing four constitutional amendments that lawmakers would have to approve for the 2010 ballot. The four measures would cap annual assessment increases on non-homestead property at 5 percent (reduction from 10%), provide a five-year super-exemption […]

Site (and Sight) Unseen: Florida Real Estate Update (October 23, 2008) Is it a time to buy for Canadians in the U.S.? Last week I received, with my local newspaper, an advertising brochure  with articles advocating that you run out to buy now because Florida property is on sale. The brochure included stories on short […]

August 2008 Update: Florida Property Values and Legal Challenge of Discriminatory Property Taxes Property Values The May 2008 S%P Case-Schiller’s real estate index just released does not indicate that that Florida’s property values have bottomed if Miami is any indication of what is going on. The prices still pear about 30% above the long-term trend […]

Florida Property Tax: State rejects proposed compromise on SOHA Constitutional Challenge – Is Florida missing an opportunity for renewal? There are currently several lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of Florida’s discriminatory real estate taxation laws.  At the heart of the cases is the fact that owners of properties with similar market value are charged vastly different […]