Amendment Might Bring The Start Of Local Stimulus

Perhaps some of the economic stimulus local folks are looking for will come from Amendment One, which passed in January. Everyone knew it would double the homestead exemption, but it's the portability factor that might give our area an economic boost.

Portability gives homeowners with the Save Our Homes property tax cap the opportunity to take that protection with them to the next home they buy. That wasn't possible before Amendment One. All of a sudden, homeowners on either Florida coast can sell their $750,000 home, move here and buy the same house for $250,000, and with portability, pay little property tax.

We won't claim that hundreds of people are lining up to do this, but the numbers are growing.

Residents already living here also are moving within the county due to portability. We hope all of this bodes well for the real estate market. Getting some movement - any movement - will make a big difference.

A lot of people living here would love the opportunity to sell their house and buy something else while prices are good. The problem, of course, is selling their house. Too many houses are sitting on the market for too long. With an energy boost, perhaps we can get things moving.

If Amendment One jars the economy a bit, we're all for it. Of course, that same portability means our local government will get less, so it's not a completely rosy picture. But at this point, we'll take anything that's positive and helps people.