Romantic Places for Valentine's Day Dates in New York

3 Romantic Places for Valentine's Day Dates in New York

The “loveliest” month of the year is back, which makes for the perfect excuse to plan some adventures with your significant other. Granted, New York is relatively cold during this time of year, but surprisingly, its home to unmatched Valentine's Day experiences. If you’re looking for some plans for the big day, then here are a few of our favorite picks:

Visit Time Square

One of the most iconic spots to visit in Manhattan happens to be Times Square. Besides being located in the “heart” of New York City, this spot is the perfect place to be on Valentine’s Day. From the famous sights and sounds to the picture-perfect photo ops, there’s nothing better than walking through the most legendary spot in Manhattan with your loved one!

Additionally, Times Square happens to be a rather popular location for many couples, being the place where proposals are made, vows are renewed, and sometimes (if you’re lucky to see it) an actual wedding will occur right in front of your eyes. Even if you don’t plan on participating in any of the above, yet, just seeing people share their love for one another is arguably one of the best, timeless experiences the Big Apple has to offer.

Enjoy Live Entertainment

If Times Square is not your ideal Valentine's Day spot, there are tons of concerts and comedy shows available for you on the Island. In fact, many forms of live entertainment this time of year offer two-for-one ticket deals, which is always a wonderful opportunity to take advantage of.

 If you do plan on taking your loved one to a live show, it’s best to purchase your tickets in advance. The reason being is this: you’ll typically have a better selection of seats, in addition to avoiding purchasing your tickets from third-party resellers — which are usually overpriced, and sometimes, not even authentic tickets at all.

Go to the Movies

Last but not least, seeing a popular film at your local cinema is still the epitome of a perfect date night, no matter what time of the year it may be. Whether you’re in the mood to catch a new film or a limited engagement screening of a romantic classic, you and your significant other will truly have a wonderful, relaxing evening. As an added bonus, just like live entertainment, sometimes theaters will offer a low-cost ticket special on the big day — and it’s important to redeem that offer as soon as you see it since it could be limited.

As the leader in property tax challenges, the staff at P.T.R.C., Inc. is dedicated to assuring that our clients pay the lowest possible property tax as required by law. To see how we can help you, give us a call at (516) 344-8375/(631) 397-0785 or visit our website for more information. 

Why It’s Important to Understand Your Property Tax Numbers

When a person buys a home for the first time, they may overlook a critical factor associated with home ownership: their property taxes. Property taxes have a significant impact on your life, in addition to real estate ownership. Understanding property tax numbers is an essential part of ownership, care, and your utmost attention should be devoted to learning about these figures.

Property Taxes Make Up a Major Part of Home Ownership Costs

When you look at the cost of owning a home, the major factors associated with this asset are your mortgage payments, interest, principal, and property taxes. While property taxes fluctuate widely across the United States, in many places property taxes make up a significant amount of the cost of your home and therefore require real analysis. If you don't take the time to understand both what your current property taxes are and what they can be increased to, you may end up with a home that is out of your financial means. This is why it’s extremely important to take the time to understand what your property taxes are, and what they have traditionally been increased by, in order to understand whether they are within your budget.

Understand What You Are Paying for

Take some time to understand what your property taxes entail and what benefits accrue to you (and your community) when you do so. Of course, the answer will fluctuate from community to community — but property taxes typically tend to include the cost of public school, sanitation department/services, and your local fire department. Other costs often included are library services and park maintenance. When you dive further into the details of your property tax numbers, this will allow you to understand the programs that you can benefit from, as well as the returns that you can get on your taxes.

Avoid Overpaying On Your Taxes

Luckily, there are many programs that will allow you to reduce the property taxes you are currently paying. In New York state, for example, the STAR program allows you to reduce the total you owe in property taxes. It’s important to take the time to learn about your current property tax situation and how you can possibly reduce your balance as a whole. While most communities will try to equitably divide the cost of your property taxes, some homeowners may end up being charged an inequitable share. When you thoroughly examine, and learn, every detail of your property taxes, you may be able to have your taxes grieved and ultimately reduce the total cost that you will end up paying.

Historical Places to Visit This Winter

In the wintertime, most people want to cozy up and stay indoors to enjoy their families. While there is nothing wrong with that, you might start to get a bit restless, and that’s where a winter trip comes in! With most people inclined to stay indoors, this is a great time to see some beautiful and historical elements that you may have never seen before. If you are looking for some inspiration, and to beat the crowds these three locations offer a rich history, and very much worth a trip to this winter:

Washington D. C.

From museums to the White House, Washington D. C. is one of the most culture-rich cities in the U.S.  While many may think it could be an expensive trip, here are some of the top enjoyable sights to see that are conveniently free:

·        Lincoln, Jefferson, and Martin Luther King Jr. Memorials

·        National Gallery of Art where you’ll find the Declaration of Independence

·        Rock Creek Park which is also home to the National Zoo

·        U.S. National Arboretum

·        Gravelly Point & Hains Point

·        Take a tour of the Whitehouse East Wing

Washington, D.C is also home to The National Museum of African American History and Culture and offers an abundance of exhibitions. The displayed artifacts depict the contributions that Black Americans have made through our history and give you a glimpse into history through the African American lens.

Honolulu Hawaii

If you are itching for a warm getaway, with a little history on the side, save up and make the trip of a lifetime to Honolulu, Hawaii. When you begin to plan your sightseeing adventures, add The USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor to the top of your list. The memorial commemorates the day, December 7, 1941, that Pearl Harbor received a surprise Japanese attack on The USS Arizona. Today, Arizona rest right where she fell, and it marks the resting place of 1,102 of the 1,177 sailors and marines that lost their lives.

Navajo Nation

Tuba City, in Arizona, offers a self-guided tour that will let you experience and learn the Navajo culture, explore the scenery, and buy directly from their vendors. Plan ahead though, because this is a three-day tour. If you are looking for more of an art experience, you can find a schedule demonstration in Navajoland. From woven rugs to handmade pottery and jewelry — these works of art are truly a sight to see.

So your winter travels will not be boring. There are some interesting things that we can explore if we can leave this house to do so. Book your trip now, and enjoy a nice winter vacation.

Property Tax Reductions and Exemptions

There are several ways to save money on your property taxes. Age, disability, and location are just a few factors that can help qualify you for a number of exemptions or deductions. Here are some of the top ways to save a little on your taxes.

Homestead

In some states, you can avoid paying property taxes upon the death of your spouse under the Homestead Exemption.

Seniors and the Disabled

If you collect social security due to being elderly or disabled, you may be able to defer paying property taxes as long as you can provide proof of income and your age.

Military Veterans

If you actively serve in the military during wartime, primarily live in a military-provided home, or were dishonorably discharged, you may be exempt from paying property tax or at least receive a reduction. You just have to meet certain requirements like the length of residence and income.

Renovations

With every renovation you perform on your home, your property taxes will change. Certain kinds of renovations can result in a lower tax amount.

Energy Incentives

Adding green upgrades, such as solar panels, geothermal pumps, or other sources of renewable energy, can help lower your property taxes or be considered exempt from taxes entirely.

Tricks for Lowering Your Property Taxes

• Ask for Your Tax Card. You can request a copy of your property tax card so you know the amounts you’re working with.
• Avoid Building Bigger. Any major changes generally increase your property taxes, unless they are more green-friendly and sustainable.
• Limit Curb Appeal. The more attractive your yard (pools, large lighting, etc.) the higher the assessment on your home’s value and the higher your property tax.
• Research the Neighborhoods. All home records are available as public record, so do your homework and compare your property taxes to other homes in the neighborhood. If yours are very different, look into having your home reassessed.
• Stay Close to Your Home Assessor. You know your home best and can help prevent the assessor from overlooking minor details such as small cracks and outdated appliances that equate to lower property value.