Comments on: A Little of This, a Little of That… http://www.queervoice.net/kmcmullen/2007/05/07/a-little-of-this-a-little-of-that/ Suburban Mom-Employed-Outside-the-Home Gone Bad Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:57:27 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Alabama Improper ™ http://www.queervoice.net/kmcmullen/2007/05/07/a-little-of-this-a-little-of-that/comment-page-1/#comment-123858 Alabama Improper ™ Mon, 14 May 2007 13:41:31 +0000 http://www.queervoice.net/kmcmullen/2007/05/07/a-little-of-this-a-little-of-that/#comment-123858 <strong>Alabama Bloggers Carnival, #6...</strong> WOW! We had a great turn out for this week’s carnival. I am so proud of being an Alabama Blogger and how this carnival is starting to flourish. There are more Alabama Bloggers out there who might be kind of shy in participating so let’s h... Alabama Bloggers Carnival, #6…

WOW! We had a great turn out for this week’s carnival. I am so proud of being an Alabama Blogger and how this carnival is starting to flourish.
There are more Alabama Bloggers out there who might be kind of shy in participating so let’s h…

]]> By: Don http://www.queervoice.net/kmcmullen/2007/05/07/a-little-of-this-a-little-of-that/comment-page-1/#comment-122487 Don Tue, 08 May 2007 18:24:07 +0000 http://www.queervoice.net/kmcmullen/2007/05/07/a-little-of-this-a-little-of-that/#comment-122487 The asking price on properties means nothing except to the seller, potential buyers, and the real estate agent, if there is one. For the first two it is a starting point for negotiations through the agent. As far as the tax assessor is concerned, the selling prices of similar properties within the same area are what they are supposed to be guided by. NOTE that I said, SUPPOSED TO BE. The asking price on properties means nothing except to the seller, potential buyers, and the real estate agent, if there is one. For the first two it is a starting point for negotiations through the agent. As far as the tax assessor is concerned, the selling prices of similar properties within the same area are what they are supposed to be guided by. NOTE that I said, SUPPOSED TO BE.

]]> By: Del http://www.queervoice.net/kmcmullen/2007/05/07/a-little-of-this-a-little-of-that/comment-page-1/#comment-122475 Del Tue, 08 May 2007 16:32:24 +0000 http://www.queervoice.net/kmcmullen/2007/05/07/a-little-of-this-a-little-of-that/#comment-122475 A hundred years or so ago, a speculator built three identical frame houses, one on a corner next door to me facing our street and two right behind it facing the cross street. All three were renovated in the 1980s and have been maintained since. Two of these three houses happen to be on the market just now. The corner house is currently listed for $349,000. The one next to it facing the "wrong" street is listed at $239,000. I'm not sure the difference is worth over $100K, but obviously these things matter. A hundred years or so ago, a speculator built three identical frame houses, one on a corner next door to me facing our street and two right behind it facing the cross street. All three were renovated in the 1980s and have been maintained since. Two of these three houses happen to be on the market just now. The corner house is currently listed for $349,000. The one next to it facing the “wrong” street is listed at $239,000. I’m not sure the difference is worth over $100K, but obviously these things matter.

]]> By: Kathy http://www.queervoice.net/kmcmullen/2007/05/07/a-little-of-this-a-little-of-that/comment-page-1/#comment-122470 Kathy Tue, 08 May 2007 16:01:32 +0000 http://www.queervoice.net/kmcmullen/2007/05/07/a-little-of-this-a-little-of-that/#comment-122470 Thanks, Don! I'm planning to call the agent who sold us our house -- she lives in the high-rent part of our neighborhood. I'm afraid we're paying for living one street away from the newer, (much) bigger houses. Thanks, Don! I’m planning to call the agent who sold us our house — she lives in the high-rent part of our neighborhood. I’m afraid we’re paying for living one street away from the newer, (much) bigger houses.

]]> By: Don http://www.queervoice.net/kmcmullen/2007/05/07/a-little-of-this-a-little-of-that/comment-page-1/#comment-122448 Don Tue, 08 May 2007 13:19:08 +0000 http://www.queervoice.net/kmcmullen/2007/05/07/a-little-of-this-a-little-of-that/#comment-122448 Kathy, I went to the Elmore County Revenue Commissioner’s office website looking for information about the ad valorem tax. On the site there’s a thing called eMapsPlus @ http://www.emapsplus.com/ and on it I was able to find the assessment information for my property, as well as the assessment for any other parcel in this area (so I could compare assessments on properties similar to mine against mine). Unfortunately for you there’s no information for Jefferson and Shelby counties on that site yet, but folks living in 19 counties can do the same thing I did. Your county revenue office may have something on its website where you could compare assessments, or perhaps you might obtain it by a visit to the office. Also, local real estate agents can tell you what homes similar to yours in your area have recently sold for, and if they have sold for less than your assessed value you can use that as an argument if you appeal. The office can also tell you the proper procedure for appealing. Kathy, I went to the Elmore County Revenue Commissioner’s office website looking for information about the ad valorem tax. On the site there’s a thing called eMapsPlus @ http://www.emapsplus.com/ and on it I was able to find the assessment information for my property, as well as the assessment for any other parcel in this area (so I could compare assessments on properties similar to mine against mine). Unfortunately for you there’s no information for Jefferson and Shelby counties on that site yet, but folks living in 19 counties can do the same thing I did.

Your county revenue office may have something on its website where you could compare assessments, or perhaps you might obtain it by a visit to the office. Also, local real estate agents can tell you what homes similar to yours in your area have recently sold for, and if they have sold for less than your assessed value you can use that as an argument if you appeal. The office can also tell you the proper procedure for appealing.

]]> By: Del http://www.queervoice.net/kmcmullen/2007/05/07/a-little-of-this-a-little-of-that/comment-page-1/#comment-122442 Del Tue, 08 May 2007 13:04:12 +0000 http://www.queervoice.net/kmcmullen/2007/05/07/a-little-of-this-a-little-of-that/#comment-122442 Just in case this comes as the same rude surprise to you - the deductible on that rather expensive cell phone insurance is 50 bucks. By which time of course they pretend that the phone they just gave you for "free" is now worth $250 to replace. Found this out when DS16 lost his phone, which turned up the next day in the band room (thankfully before we'd filed a claim). Finally I cancelled it and told both kids that they were on their own. So far so good, although every time DS gets a new pair of cargo pants he has to figure out which pocket won't belch out the phone every time he sits down. Which reminds me, I have to call Cingular today. The three of us have finally, in two years, managed to burn through the 2000 or so rollover minutes I'd managed to accumulate before adding them to a shared plan. Guess it's time for an upgrade. But I'm not complaining. I love the freedom the cellphones give the kids, and the peace of mind it gives me. Just in case this comes as the same rude surprise to you – the deductible on that rather expensive cell phone insurance is 50 bucks. By which time of course they pretend that the phone they just gave you for “free” is now worth $250 to replace. Found this out when DS16 lost his phone, which turned up the next day in the band room (thankfully before we’d filed a claim). Finally I cancelled it and told both kids that they were on their own. So far so good, although every time DS gets a new pair of cargo pants he has to figure out which pocket won’t belch out the phone every time he sits down.

Which reminds me, I have to call Cingular today. The three of us have finally, in two years, managed to burn through the 2000 or so rollover minutes I’d managed to accumulate before adding them to a shared plan. Guess it’s time for an upgrade. But I’m not complaining. I love the freedom the cellphones give the kids, and the peace of mind it gives me.

]]> By: Kathy http://www.queervoice.net/kmcmullen/2007/05/07/a-little-of-this-a-little-of-that/comment-page-1/#comment-122349 Kathy Tue, 08 May 2007 01:32:59 +0000 http://www.queervoice.net/kmcmullen/2007/05/07/a-little-of-this-a-little-of-that/#comment-122349 Margaritas? You are singing my song! Margaritas? You are singing my song!

]]> By: Joe http://www.queervoice.net/kmcmullen/2007/05/07/a-little-of-this-a-little-of-that/comment-page-1/#comment-122326 Joe Mon, 07 May 2007 23:22:57 +0000 http://www.queervoice.net/kmcmullen/2007/05/07/a-little-of-this-a-little-of-that/#comment-122326 Kathy, funny you should ask. The Besseme Historical Homeowners Association has a yearly tour, we were on it in 2005. But this year I don;t think we are, opting instead for a combination home and garden tour next year. However, there are always parties here and there. Like margaritas? Kathy, funny you should ask. The Besseme Historical Homeowners Association has a yearly tour, we were on it in 2005. But this year I don;t think we are, opting instead for a combination home and garden tour next year. However, there are always parties here and there. Like margaritas?

]]> By: bill http://www.queervoice.net/kmcmullen/2007/05/07/a-little-of-this-a-little-of-that/comment-page-1/#comment-122317 bill Mon, 07 May 2007 22:43:08 +0000 http://www.queervoice.net/kmcmullen/2007/05/07/a-little-of-this-a-little-of-that/#comment-122317 9YOD graduates from high school in nine years. It's not too early to think about less expensive housing in time to start paying off the college bills. 9YOD graduates from high school in nine years. It’s not too early to think about less expensive housing in time to start paying off the college bills.

]]> By: Kathy http://www.queervoice.net/kmcmullen/2007/05/07/a-little-of-this-a-little-of-that/comment-page-1/#comment-122302 Kathy Mon, 07 May 2007 20:43:37 +0000 http://www.queervoice.net/kmcmullen/2007/05/07/a-little-of-this-a-little-of-that/#comment-122302 Joe, I've thought about it, to the point of looking at the real estate ads. My girls love their schools, though, and it would be hard to leave. Do y'all have a home tour? I'd love to see the old houses. Joe, I’ve thought about it, to the point of looking at the real estate ads. My girls love their schools, though, and it would be hard to leave. Do y’all have a home tour? I’d love to see the old houses.

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