Is America a "FREE" or "FEE" Country?

You may not be aware that new "open road tolling" has gone into effect as of July 19th. For those driving around various highways in Miami-Dade County, a Sunpass is now the most cost effective way to go through these open toll areas.  The county has installed new seemless fast drive through toll scanners with cameras on the 878,  the 874 / Don Shula, and the Gratigny Expressways.  These key highways connect areas such as Coral Gables and South Miami to Kendall and the Turnpike south towards Homestead and the Florida Keys.  There are no manned booths at these stations, so you must have a sunpass or your license tag will be charged.

And they are "selling us" on this idea...

• with the benefit of less traffic and accidents around toll booths.
• saying that there will be less carbon emissions from cars idol on the highway.
• That everyone will now "only" pay the part of the road they drive on.

How does this effect you? Depending on how many exits you pass, the charge is based on a fee scanner prior to every exit on the road. This cost will most likely add up to more than what you were paying prior to the new open road installation, especially if you go through the old tolling area as well.

For example, if you prevously entered the 878 Expressway from US1 just north of Kendall Drive and then desired to exit by Metro Zoo (SW 152 ST), you would have previously paid a .75 cent toll.  Now (with Sunpass) you will pay $1.00.  Say you want to jump on the 878 just to exit Kendall.  Now you will pay .50 cents where prior to that it was free.  That is where the tax collectors are benefitting... all the prior "free" travel.

Photo of New Sunpass Mini

It's very important to note that without the use of a Sunpass transmitter, the fees will be charged by license plate.  A .15 cent surcharge will be tacked on to the regular fee for each toll charged by plate.

As you can tell, the author is not thrilled with this new idea but I suppose that is part of living in a "pay per click" state (Florida), where we have no state income tax.  Revenues are needed to build roads (and toll plazas) so taxes are charged on a per usage basis.  Click here to read more about open road tolling in Miami Dade.  Happy Trails to you!

Real Estate Scams - Here Are 5 To Watch Out For

Are you underwater on your mortgage (i.e... you possibly owe more on the mortgage than it's worth)?  If so, you need to read this article from Realtor Magazine on-line.  Click here for the article with 5 real estate scams with red flags to watch out for.   See below first...

FBI SEAL

It is apparent that whatever market we are in, people find a way to commit fraud.  In the boom, there was house flipping combined with buyers taking large kick-backs at the closing.  Now we see another "relative" of that fraud.  The FBI is working hard to target this fraud activity, and in fact have opened an office in Miami just for this matter. 

In 2009, prevelant mortgage fraud schemes included loan origination, foreclosure rescue, builder bailout, equity skimming, short sale, illegal property flipping, reverse mortgage fraud and loan modifications. The following are new emerging fraud trends: economic stimulus plans/programs, property theft/fraudulent leasing of foreclosed properties and tax-related fraud.

Miami is a key city where mortgage fraud is committed.  Entire neighborhoods have been effected. According to the FBI website, financial institutions reporting mortgage fraud around the U.S. increased from 6,936 cases reported in 2003 to 67,190 cases in 2009.

Short Sale fraud can be when people misrepresent their hardship, or when they sell their short sale house to a relative or friend for their own monitary gain.  A typical requirement of a bank short sale approval is the assurance that there is no relation and clearly an arms length transaction between buyer and seller.

Everyone is under observation.  Here is a story from a Miami Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog talking about two Broward County police officers and one FBI agent who were all recently charged with a mortgage fraud indictment.

One rule to live by is if you get a strange feeling about what someone is asking you to do, don't go along with it. Be careful with upfront fees regarding foreclosure or short sale bailouts, or with anyone who tells you to sign away the mortgage note or to not talk to your own bank.  If I help a client with their short sale, I never tell them not to discuss matters with their own bank.  That is a red flag to watch for.