R1
WWW.AZCENTRAL.COM
|| S U N D AY , S E P T E M B E R 2 7 , 2 015
|| 1R
R E A C H U S || TA M E R A T H O R N T O N , TA M E R A . T H O R N T O N @ A R I Z O N A R E P U B L I C . C O M || B U S I N E S S . A Z C E N T R A L . C O M
CATHERINE REAGOR REAL ESTATE
THE
evolving HOME OFFICE
M
Maybe you dash off work emails while making dinner, or you squeeze in a half-hour of work on a spreadsheet before bedtime. The line between “at work� and “at home� has become a blurry one for many people, and for others it has disappeared entirely. That
Property taxes rise $50; who gets blame?
appealing and organized area for working. “Walk into any creative corporation and you’ll find the CEO sitting right smack in the middle of a large, open space along with almost every other key
Many metro Phoenix homeowners likely frowned, grimaced or even cursed this week after receiving their latest property-tax bills in the mail. Property taxes on an average tax bill for a Valley house rose by about $50. That might not seem like a lot, but Arizona homeowners are used to low property taxes by national standards. And this year’s tax increase and projected future increases were enough for the man responsible for sending the bills — Maricopa County Treasurer Charles “Hos� Hoskins — to launch a pre-emptive strike. With the tax bills, he included a twopage letter explaining that the increase is the result of a legislative and voterapproved proposition that has increased property taxes for homeowners. He’s talking about Proposition 117, a law passed by 61 out of 90 legislators and 55 percent of voters in 2012, according to his letter. The law is convoluted like the rest of Arizona’s property-tax system that involves thousands of entities, including counties, schools, libraries, fire, police, water and street-lighting districts levying taxes on property owners. Tax bills lag the valuations they are based on by almost two years, and tax rates don’t rise and fall with home values as many assume. Implementing Prop. 117 lagged its approval by a few years because it takes awhile to change Arizona’s tax system. I have covered property taxes in Maricopa County for the past decade. Here’s the simplest way I can explain what Prop. 117 will mean for homeowners: higher taxes, and not because schools are asking for more money. Through a complex formula, more of the property-tax burden is shifting away from commercial-property owners to homeowners. To be fair, commercial-property owners have carried a higher share of these taxes for a while and still do. Hoskins’ letter has sparked outrage from some lawmakers who voted for Prop. 117, as well as from the Arizona Tax Research Association. “ATRA membership is comprised of lobbyists for owners of high-value
See HOME OFFICE, Page 3R
See REAGOR, Page 3R
MELISSA RAYWORTH | ASSOCIATED PRESS
makes a home workspace more necessary than ever. Not every home includes a spare room available for use as an office, but design experts say that’s not a problem: Today’s streamlined technology means that just about any space can be transformed into an
Luxury Retirement Community for Active Adults Over 62 Come And Experience The Hospitality!
Call Us. NOW..
To make reservations to be our guest for complimentary lunch and tour.
For more information, see our ad inside!
LUXURY RETIREMENT COMMUNITY OF SUN CITY
623-933-1313 • www.wooddalevillage.com
$5
SCOTTSDALE | 10255 North 124th Street | Open Today 1–4PM
UNIQUE CIRCULAR ARCHITECTURE. You must see this MLS# family room in the round and curved cabinetry kitchen. A Bedrooms glorious custom estate on over an ACRE. Secure gated entry. New Bath professional stainless appliances. Five beautiful view windows, Pool an elegant chandelier and Roman columns in the living room. Multiple fireplaces with dramatic accents. King-sized master suite Sq. Ft. with fireplace, sitting area, deep custom closet and awe-inspiring Parking bath. Two en-suite bedrooms. Executive’s office. Endless lawn, Lot Size fireplace, BBQ, pool and spa out back. Temperature controlled ZIP Code garage. RV gate. So much is new - designer lighting, all doors and casings, baseboards, flooring and more. Backs NAOS land with Online Pics spectacular mountain views. – Joseph Callaway Price
Brought to you by Those Callaways Luxury Circle, (480) 596-5751
- 5280881 -5 -5 - Yes - 4,544 - 3-Car Garage - ACRE-PLUS - 85259 - ThoseCallaways.com - $925,000
see more inside
SCOTTSDALE | 9512 East Conquistadores Drive | OPEN BY APPOINTMENT
VERY ROMANTIC VIEW-RICH ESTATE. Boasting a wealth MLS# of rich stone accents, the front of this stunning home shows off Bedrooms with a petite bricked stairway graced with gorgeous fieldstone Bath walls. Hacienda courtyard w/dramatic stone-arched entryway. Pool Magnificent living room w/floor-to-ceiling sheer glass overlooking view-filled patios, pool. Super-sharp kitchen. Family room w/ Sq. Ft. bricked-inset ceiling, huge windows, up-lit art niches. Romantic ZIP Code master retreat w/lavish multi-chandelier bath. Elegant pool, lush lawn, outdoor kitchen, spa. Additional treasures: wine vault, game Online Pics Price room, plush theater w/bath could be fourth bedroom. Sunset viewdeck w/views of Pinnacle Peak, shimmering city lights. Details inside. Virtual tour: tourfactory.com/1416712.
Brought to you by Sandra Baldwin, Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty
- 5324454 -4 - 4.5 - Yes - 5,650 - 85255 - BaldwinTeam.com - $1,890,000
see more inside