Quit-claims are generally for no or very little money. Unfortunately, quiet titles and quit-claims have closed a number of accesses to the beach and made public land "private." Headland Avenue in Old Seagrove and Stallworth are two that come to mind.
However, Homeowner is wrong about paying taxes. Their property is appraised based on linear feet or width on their property, which is the same on the bluff and the beach, and waterfront is appraised at a higher rate, with some market value thrown in. However, the sandy beach is NOT included as acreage on their property tax bill - as it is unusable for building. They pay taxes on their home and the parcel of property it sits on, but not past the CCL. No matter what their legal description says.
Homeowner sounds like the lady who puckered her lips up at me while I was notarizing CU affadavits at Seagrove Village Market last weekend.
That's just not true on the property taxes. Whatever premium was paid on that entire property by the purchaser at the time of purchase is factored into the property tax bill through the fair market value calculation and it forever stays at that rate. This is the way Florida works. The purchase price paid for the entire parcel is factored into the property tax bill. And it's a very poor argument to make to suggest no one paid a premium to own to the MHWL --- so yes, taxes are paid on the entire parcel year over year including the dry sand.
What does not occur is any assessment of any part of un-buildable land for property tax increases, that's true across the entire state, wetlands, common areas, any unbuildable land is never assessed --- until the property is sold again. Then whatever the purchase price is paid at the time for the entire piece of land is worked into the property tax on the property.
You heard a number of BFO's say in the public hearing yesterday they purchased to the MHWL.
So this is using a half truth to come to an incorrect conclusion.
There are people paying $50,000 even $100,000 a year in property taxes on their parcel to the MHWL that is not disputable. So to say people aren't paying property taxes for the beach rings hollow and the sales data doesn't support that idea.
Shannon