DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES LOFTS AND CONDOS FOR SALE AND RENTALS

Downtown L.A. Lofts, Condos and Apartments For Rent and For Sale
Find or list a property:

RENTALS  |  FOR SALE  |  TOUR  |  CONSULTATION  | LIST YOUR LOFT

NEIGHBORHOODS  |  BUILDINGS  |  TYPE  |  SIZE  |  BEDROOMS

Posted in Lofts in Downtown Los Angeles| Tagged , , |

Coming Soon — Expensive Lofts Only. Lofts Under $250,000 must be purchased by March 31, 2012.

Due to the changing market, prospective buyers must be prepared to start paying higher prices.  Prices are rising.   Inventory is low in Downtown, while the number of serious buyers is increasing.  Beginning April 15, 2012, the Loft Living L.A. team may no longer be able to help buyers who need to purchase properties under $250,000 because there will few if any quality properties in that price range.

If you plan to purchase a loft or condo in or around Downtown for less than $250,000, you must make your purchase now.  By 2013, we expect the minimum price for quality Downtown lofts to be $300,000.

To see low cost properties while they are still available, contact:

Corey Chambers, REALTOR®
(213) 478-0499
Business Hours: 9 AM to 8 PM every day

http://www.LAloftBlog.com

Corey Chambers is a Realtor® Downtown loft specialist with Loft Living L.A., Keller Williams Pasadena
Double Platinum award-winning Downtown living team with volume over $15 million in 2010
Keller Williams Pasadena – 445 S. Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, California  91105
DRE#01889449

Posted in Lofts in Downtown Los Angeles| Tagged , , | Leave a comment

MILLS ACT PROPERTY TAX SAVINGS ON HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

Some Mills Act buildings in Downtown L.A. offer a great rooftop along with potential tax savings
Some Mills Act buildings in Downtown L.A. offer a great rooftop along with potential tax savings

 

 

Higgins Mills Act historic building Downtown L.A
Higgins Mills Act historic building Downtown L.A

The Mills Act offers potential savings on county property tax to owners of condominium units in qualified historic buildings in Downtown Los Angeles.  We have not been able to obtain much hard data on the program, just rumors and 2nd hand information.  We recently have learned that the savings could be much less than the 30% savings that we heard earlier.  In fact, some could even end up owing more tax than without the Mills Act.  Overall, however, the Mills Act seems to be performing, and we have heard that the savings will be higher when the property values go back up again.  The savings is apparently based complex formula (which we have never seen) on the commercial rental value of the properties.  The Mills Act is only on certain old buildings that have not made  significant changes to the external appearance, such as windows.

Here is the only article that I have seen on the Mills Act recently.  We are making no representations on this info, simply passing it on.  Do your own research to confirm everything:

Do you own a great historic building in Los Angeles? Is your property an existing City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument or a contributing structure in a designated Historic Preservation Overlay Zone? Are you interested in a financial incentive that can help you rehabilitate, restore and maintain your building? The City of Los Angeles can help.
The Mills Act Historical Property Contract Program allows qualifying owners to receive a potential property tax reduction and use the savings to help rehabilitate, restore and maintain their buildings. The Mills Act is the single most important economic incentive program in California for the restoration and preservation of historic buildings by private property owners. Enacted in 1972, the Mills Act legislation grants participating local governments (cities and counties) authority to enter into contracts with owners of qualified historic properties who actively participate in the restoration and maintenance of their properties to receive property tax relief. The City of Los Angeles adopted local Mills Act legislation in 1996. Since then, over 600 properties have benefited from the program.
Downtown Los Angeles historic buildings qualified for Mills Act
Downtown Los Angeles historic buildings qualified for Mills Act

Benefits of the Program

A formal agreement, generally known as a Mills Act or Historical Property Contract, is executed between the City of Los Angeles and the property owner for a revolving ten-year term. Contracts are automatically renewed each year so that the term of the contract always extends for ten years. Property owners agree to restore, maintain, and protect the property in accordance with specific historic preservation standards and conditions identified in the contract. Periodic inspections by City and County officials ensure proper maintenance of the property. The City may impose penalties for breach of contract or failure to protect the historic property. The contract is transferred to new owners if the property is sold, and is binding to all successive owners.

Benefits to Owners
Owners of qualified historic properties may apply for the program if they pledge to rehabilitate and maintain the historical and architectural character of their properties for the life of the Contract. The Mills Act program is especially beneficial for recent buyers of historic properties and for current owners of historic buildings who have made major improvements to their properties.
Mills Act participants may realize substantial property tax savings each year for recently improved or purchased older properties because valuations of Mills Act properties are determined by an Income Approach to Value rather than by the standard Market approach to determining appraised value. The Income Approach, divided by a capitalization rate, determines the assessed value of the property. In general, the income potential for an owner-occupied residential property is calculated by examining comparable rents for similar properties in the area, while the income amount on a commercial property is based on actual rent received. Because rental values vary from area to area, actual property savings may vary. In addition, as County Assessors are required to assess all property annually, Mills Act properties may realize slight increases in property taxes each year.

Qualified Historic Property
A qualified historic property in the City of Los Angeles is a property listed as a locally-designated Historic-Cultural Monument or Contributing Property to an approved Historic Preservation Overlay Zone. Additionally, single-family residences (with a property tax value assessment of not more than $1,500,000) and income producing multi-family/commercial/industrial properties (with a property tax value assessment of not more than $3,000,000) are eligible to apply. Property values in excess of these limits may apply for an exemption if they meet certain criteria.
Because the City’s Mills Act program is now nearing the City Council imposed $1 million cap on annual lost revenues, the City will only be accepting applications for properties that need significant rehabilitation or restoration work. The work needed to rehabilitate or restore the property shall be pending or not completed. Applications will be prioritized based on how the Mills Act will be used to assist the viability of the project.
Properties seeking an Exemption from the Valuation Limits of $1.5 million for Single-Family Residences and $3 million for Multi-family/Commercial Properties are required to prepare a Historic Structure Report (HSR). The report shall follow the methodology outlined in Preservation Brief 43 – The Preparation and Use of Historic Structures Reports published by the National Park Service (seehttp://www.nps.gov/history/hps/TPS/briefs/brief43.htm). The HSR is used to substantiate the exceptional circumstances that warrant granting the exemption.
To see Mills Act and other historic buildings with lofts for sale in Downtown Los Angeles, contact:
Corey Chambers, REALTOR®
(213) 478-0499
Business Hours: 9 AM to 8 PM every daycorey@loftlivingla.comhttp://www.LAloftBlog.comLoft Living L.A., 1308 Factory Place, #112, Los Angeles, CA 90013Corey Chambers is a Realtor® Downtown loft specialist with Loft Living L.A., Keller Williams Pasadena
Double Platinum award-winning Downtown living team with volume over $15 million in 2010
Keller Williams Pasadena – 445 S. Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, California  91105
DRE#01889449
Posted in Lofts in Downtown Los Angeles| Tagged | Leave a comment