Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / May 13, 1982, edition 1 / Page 17
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K.v Eugene Heuis. KEALTOK Real Estate Viewpoints — Eugene Pettis ■9 ^ Searching For A House? ..Let us assume that you have decided that you wish to buy a house, you know how much you can pay, and you are now looking for —Qjnc What factors should von consider? a home is a long-term investment, and it involves a sub stantial amount of money. You’ll probably be living there a long time. The post-war shortage of homes is now over, but still not every house represents a good investment; you may suffer a substantial loss if you make a poor choice. Modern transportation facilities and highways have given the best ...majority of Americans a wide choice of communities in which to live. It's important to check various areas that might be suit able. Outwardly the same, there may be great differences between them that are of the greatest importance to you and to your family. You’ll naturally prefer an area where taxes are low. But remem ber that taxes are not determined by tax rate alone. They’re also determined by the valuattorrprac tices of the local assessors. In some areas, homes may be valued at only 25 percent of true value; in others, it may run as high as 50 percent or even 70 percent. So you must take both the tax rate and the local valuation practice into consideration, and determine the amount of tax dollars you’ll have to pay; Don't be misled by an ap parently low tax rate. Kates and valuations can change. If the community is a growing one (many young cou ples with young children), it will soon need more schools, sewers, and other services in the near future. Then you may soon find yourself paying a great deal more in. taxes that), ypu. anticipated. In some communities, taxes have risen substantially, or even fantas tically, in recent years. The safest neighborhood for comparatively stable taxes is one that has al ready been fully developed, with good schools, adequate fire and police protection, a completed sew age system, and, most important of all, homeowners with a sense of civic responsibility and a commun ity with a reputation for good government. Also be on the lookout for those communities that raise taxes ex cessively when a home is bought by a new owner. The tax bill of the seller is not always a clear in dication of what you, a new owner, will ultimately pay. Check the local assessment practices of the community. This can only be done by speaking to new residents of the First in a series community, who presumably have —•experienced pxartly what unii happen to you if you buy in that community. Ask them if their assessment and total tax bill in creased when they first moved in. A good community has zoning laws that protect its homeowners. The zoning laws should clearly set forth the residential areas, so that homeowners won’t find a garage or an open-air theater being erected next to their property. (Here, again, is a situation where your attorney can help you ascertain the facts.) Avoid communities that permit easy variances in zoning laws - that is, permit political favorites or those who have good connections to make exceptions to the zoning laws, and thus destroy the value of your property as a home. Good zoning may also make a difference in your tax bill. Some residential communities do not make adequate provision for busi ness atkntidasmal areas. If they are permitted near your home, they will almost surely damage its value. But if the neighborhood is properly zoned, and business and industry restricted to known and specific areas, they can help cut down the tax burden on homeown ers by bringing in additional taxes to the community. They can also provide services and shopping areas for yourself and your family. filing laws may aiso prevent you from using the property in the way you had planned. For in stance, you may want to convert the second floor of the the house you are buying into a separate apartment, possibly for another member of your family or even for rental purposes!Tf tfie'property'is' in a one-family residential zone, you won’t be able to do so. _ The same prohibition may apply if you want to use part of your house for an office, or partly for a business. Even though no altera tions are required and you intend to operate your business in one of the rooms of the house, such use may be prohibited. Zoning is even more important to the buyers of land who are plan ning to erect a custom-built home (or a prefabricated home). Some communities, in their anxiety to keep out families who will demand new streets and sewers, and whose children will require more space in schools than is presently available, have created zoning rules that may make it impossible for you to build the home you plan. Big Brother Or Little Brother! After a thought-provoking dis cussion on behalf of Black self help in the community, an over whelming majority-75 percent-of a straw poll felt that grassroots community organizations can do a better job of helping poor blacks than government agencies. - Th*-»6H--wa^paFt-of~a-*pecial edition of “Tony Brown's Journal'’ “Big Brother Or Little Brother?" which utilized the QUBE two-way television system in Cincinnati, Ohio. The program examined'the effectiveness of governmental agencies that funnel millions of dollars into human service pro grams as a means of social justice. “Tony Brown's Journal" is the nation’s longest running black affairs series and has been spon sored by Pep3i-CoI«l Company lur seven consecutive years. Televised nationally on public television (PBS), the program will be seen in thisarea on Channel 42 at 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 15. Joining host and executive pro ducer Tony Brown in the discus sion were Robert Woodson, Presi dent of the National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise, and Thomas Dortch, President of the Council of National Alumni Asso ciations, an umbrella group re presenting 92 of the nation’s 111 black colleges At the beginning of the program, when asked if grassroots organ izations do a better job of helping poor blacks than the government, 36 percent of the (JUBE viewers thought that they did. but 45 per cent were not sure. Mr. Woodson, whose book, "Summons to Life," pointedly states that poor blacks rarely benefit from social programs, said that in most cases those who design these programs control the - money in such a way that only they themselves benefit or they spend large amounts on ineffective solu tions Because of this, Woodson feels that poor blacks never get chance to help themselves. His solution: concentrate on the strengths of these impoverished families and don't let over abun dant assistance replace initiative. Mr Dortch, whose organization is one of the most powerful in the black community and a prime example of black self-help group aatted that the two ~ million DiacK alumni in this coun try can make a difference in the success or failure of an institution and that Tilacks shduliMse mirdr aware of this strength Up With People” Plans Special Concert Up With People has been de lighting audiences of all ages since the mid-60s and on Saturday. May 29 they will be delighting the <_narioue audience. -—— Sponsored by WSOC-AM-FM-TV and the Southern Bell Telephone Company, this very special con cert will be held at the Charlotte Coliseum beginning at 8 pm. Tickets are $6.50. $5.50 for students and senior citizens and a dollar off if bought in advance. Cast members from around the world create a special energy-a people energy-and generate a spe cial musical celebration that ex presses a dream: UP WITH PEOPLE In Up With People's first 14 years, over 6,000 men and women from over forty nations visited 47 countries. Worldwide performanc es include Roval Albert Hall (London), the Olympic Games (Munich), Super Bowls X. XIV, XVI, the Indianapolis 500, the White House, Carnegie Hall and ' iiumeiuus festivals.--— Some 500 young men and women, between the ages of 17 and 25 participate in Up With People's five casts each year. In addition to ts entertainment aspect. Up With People has a strong and import ant educational component--which it feels is vital to each person's growth. Up With People blends original scores with pop hits, American favorites and a variety of high spirited entertainment you won t want to miss - May 29 at 8 p.m at the Charlotte Coliseum. Subscribe To The Post! Pfcfc Up Your Bwmparsti Henderson Volkswagon Jerry's Supermarket \ Lebo's Payton's Discount Beverage Store Reid's Supermarket Two Guys Discount Beverages Watco Food Mart , Wayne's Supermarkets
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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May 13, 1982, edition 1
17
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