Monthly Guide to Active Adult Community Living

February 2007

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Welcome Message

Welcome to another great issue of the Monthly Guide to Active Adult Community Living! The winter weather had finally decided to show up but things are really heating up at our website! We are helping people like you buy and sell their homes every day.

This month's issue features a hidden gem of an active adult community, the Sonata Bay Club. The new year also makes us think of the dreaded "T" word...Taxes. Our second article "Property Tax Revaluation" is a concern for every homeowner and worth reading. Don't forget to visit our 55Plus-Housing.com website regularly as new communities and listings are updated daily.

Congratulations to Gloria B. for winning a copy of the 2007 Entertainment Book just for subscribing to this monthly newsletter. Be sure to signup for our email newsletter (if you haven't already) so you never miss an issue.

We hope you enjoy this issue and welcome all comments to help improve it. 

Featured Community

Sonata Bay Club - Bayville, NJ

The Sonata Bay Club active adult community is quietly nestled in Bayville (a section of Berkeley Township) within Ocean County, NJ. Many residents like the fact that this community is not gated which allows it to blend into the surrounding residential neighborhoods while still having an identity of its own.

Sonata Bay features 312 households made up of mostly single family homes. Some of the earlier homes were built attached, similar to duplexes that are essentially two models joined together. These duplex models have the same layouts as their single family counterparts.

Community Map:

Home Choices:
They are all essentially two bedroom models. During construction in the early 90's the builder provided many upgrades and modifications to help accommodate a slowing market and meet the needs of buyers. Many of the homes have additional features like enclosed sunrooms, extended rooms, large lofts with a 3rd bedroom and bath making some homes over 2,700 square feet! Click Here to find available homes for sale.

Community Amenities:
Sonata Bay Club features many amenities to keep its residents happy, healthy and busy. The community includes a large clubhouse used for meetings and social events. It also features billiard tables, an exercise room, library, card room and kitchen. Additional outside activities include swimming, tennis, shuffleboard and bocce.

About the Builder:
Sonata Bay of Bayville is just one of many adult communities built by Robert H. Karen (Odin Development Group). This award winning builder has developed large-scale active adult communities for over 30 years.

Municipal Information:
Berkeley Township is a shore community in Ocean County covering approximately 42 sq. miles with a population close to 40,000 (according to 2000 U.S. Census Data). A large section of the township is within the Federal & State Pinelands Area. Sonata Bay is just one of several active adult communities in the Township. [top]

Property Taxes & Revaluations (Revals)

If you are a homeowner in New Jersey, then you know that we pay some of the highest property taxes in the Country. There are many factors that go into determining how much property tax homeowners must pay. Things like school budgets, municipal budgets and State aid play big part in determining this. For most municipalities, property taxes are their main source of revenue which pays for schools, police, sanitation and much more.

Many municipalities in New Jersey have recently gone through or are in the process of townwide property tax revaluations. This is sometimes mandated by the State or County governments to help alleviate large disparities in property taxes. Keep in mind that revaluations do not increase tax revenue but helps to redistribute the tax load more fairly across the township. Some homeowners property taxes may go up or down depending on the last assessment value & property improvements among other things. Residents of adult communities also bear the taxation costs of the association's amenities including  common areas, clubhouses, swimming pools and tennis courts to name a few.

Homeowners do have some recourse if they feel their reassessment is unfair. During a revaluation, the municipal tax assessor usually works with an outside appraisal company who specializes in revals. Homeowners will then receive a review letter stating the revised assessment and property tax adjustments. There is a set period of time (usually a few weeks) afterwards for hearings where homeowners can make an appointment to dispute/review the reassessment with the municipal tax assessor and reval company. Homeowners should bring any supporting materials (i.e. recent appraisal) that contradicts the revised assessment.

Additionally, each year homeowners have the right to file a tax appeal if they feel their property taxes are unfair. This appeal must be filed no later than April 1st. There are some fees associated with filing an appeal and you may want to solicit the advice/services of a professional to guide you through this process. The State of NJ has created a Guide to Tax Appeal Hearings (Adobe PDF Viewer required) that is worth reading if you plan on filing an appeal.

One last thing to note: If you are over the age of 65 you may be eligible for Property Tax Reimbursement. There are additional conditions that must met in order to receive the tax relief. Click Here to get the full details. [top]