Jupiter Florida Real Estate Broker

The Palm Beach County Property appraiser has a terrific web site with all kinds of tools available in it that are very useful when looking at property. After years in the business I know what all the descriptors are but they can be confusing for folks visiting the site for the first time. Well, here they all are:

Acreage – Any parcel of land measured in terms of acres.

Actual Year Built – The year an improvement is completed.

Ad Valorem – “According to Value.” A method of taxation using the value of the property taxed to determine the tax amount.

Assessed Value – Value placed on a homesteaded property before any exemptions are deducted but after the property tax cap is factored. For non-Homestead properties, the assessed value is the value placed on a property after a 10 %  cap is factored. Assessed Value minus exemptions equals Taxable Value.

Assessment Caps – Florida provides tax savings benefits on assessed values of certain real properties.

• A 3% cap applies to the assessed value of residential properties with a qualified Homestead Exemption.
• A 10% cap on non-homesteaded properties applies to the assessed value of second homes or Commercial properties.

Building Number – For parcels containing multiple buildings, the number assigned to each building.

Depth – Refers to the depth of a lot, a measurement from the front property line to the rear property line.

Exemption Amount – The dollar amount of an approved exemption.

Extra Features Description – A description of an improvement on a property, such as a pool, patio or additional room.

Improvement Value – The value placed on a building.

Instrument Owner – The person(s) listed on a deed, mortgage or other legal document.

Land Line Number – A designated line for each of several land classifications which may be found on a parcel.

Land Value – The estimated market value of the land.

Legal Description – The portion of the property record that defines a parcel’s boundaries and its location in Palm Beach County.

Location Address – the situs or street address of a property.

Mailing Address – The address used by the property owner to receive mail regarding their property.

Market Value – The estimated price a willing buyer would pay and a willing seller accept, both being fully informed and the property exposed to the market for a reasonable period of time.

Municipality – An incorporated area of the county such as a City, Town or Village.

Name – The name of the property owner(s).

Non-Ad Valorem – A method of taxation that uses the size of a unit or the number of units to assess a fee for services, such as the Solid Waste Authority.

Official Record Book – The designated book where a document is recorded in the Official Records of the County.

Official Record Page – The designated page within an Official Records Book where is document is recorded.

Parcel or Property Control Number – A unique 17-digit number assigned to each parcel of land and each living unit within a condominium or cooperative. The PCN is used to locate and identify the parcel or unit.

Price – Refers to the actual price paid for a property.

Property Control Number – See Parcel Control Number

Quit Claim Deed – A deed operating as a release that is intended to give up any title, interest or claim the grantor may have in the property, but not containing any warranty of a valid interest or title in the grantor.

Sales Date – The date a sale occurs as recorded on a deed.

Save Our Homes – Save Our Homes, also known as the 3% cap, is not a cap on taxes paid and applies only to residential properties with a qualified Homestead Exemption. The 3% cap limits the increase in the annual assessment of properties in Florida to 3% or to the percentage change in the National Consumer Price Index, whichever is less.

Subdivision – A division of a single parcel of land into smaller parcels.

Tax Year – The year taxes are being levied.

Taxable Value – The Assessed Value, less any exemptions.

Total Square Footage – The gross square footage of a parcel or improvement to a parcel.

Total Tax – The sum of all ad valorem taxes and non-ad valorem fees.

Unit Rate – The estimated market value contribution for each unit of an improvement.

Units – The number of units of an improvement, such as square foot or linear foot.

Year of Exemption – The year the exemption applies.

Zoning – The division of a city by legislative regulations into areas, specifying the uses allowed for the real property in these areas.

Here’s one I got recently. The customer knew they should be aware of the various flood zones in Jupiter but what about beyond that Chris. Where is the high ground?

Well, sometimes it’s obvious. Places like Ridge Rd in the Bluffs and the ridge in June Beach or Jupiter Hills. Anyone can see that this is high ground. Beyond that though remember one of the primary rules in development: The best land gets used first. Why fill in low lands to build something when there’s nice high ground available. The older communities are often BUT NOT ALWAYS built on high ground. Paces like the waterfront streets along the river, Dolphin etc., are NOT.

Beyond that are the ‘other options’. To find these look at the old flood maps. The new flood maps show the new 100 and 500 year flood plan but beyond that show little detail. In Tequesta look at the area around the golf course on Golfview East and the land between US-1 and the RR tracks. Henry Flagler followed the historic coastal ridge though Florida with his railroad. Again, why build a railroad through a swamp when you can use the high ground.

Look up a property on the FEMA site then click on the “Show ALL Products” button, then brows the old maps. For example, most of the original Village of North Palm Beach, the houses between the canal and US-1 are shown in Zone C. As good as it gets.

One can also look for new construction, post 1978 and post 2002 being 2 classes because these houses were built with a minimum slab elevation as the city or county was in compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program. Beware on this one though as the slab may be high but the ground may not. AND THE NUMBERS JUST CHANGED. For instance my house was built with a slab at 9.1′ (8′ was the minimum at that time but I live in the builders house) according to the 1929 datum but the new datum is 1988 and thus my slab is now at 7.52′ where the base flood elevation is currently 6′. Still higher than the base flood but not by much.

Just got hold of this one and thought I’d share the lay out for the new Palm Beach Gardens Predators soccer fields in Palm Beach Gardens behind Shady Lakes and down the street from Bent Tree.

BTW, the GPS address is The Gardens North County District Park, 5101 117th Ct N, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418

And, “Field 10” is set up in the green space between fields 2 and 3.