Question: The information about “Transfer on Death Deeds” (808ne.ws/1MVCa3A) was interesting, but we’re thinking about a trust. If we transfer title of our house to the trust, should we reapply for the home exemption?
Answer: Yes, according to the website for the Real Property Assessment Division of the city Department of Budget and Fiscal Services.
“For changes in ownership or use of your property, it is required that you refile your exemption. Depending on how your trust is named, there may be questions as to your qualification for exemption. To minimize any questions we might have, it is best that you send in a copy of your trust when you file your exemption,” according to the division’s FAQ, which addresses a similar question about transferring property into a trust.
Make sure that the trust is written so that it preserves your eligibility for this valuable exemption, which discounts the assessed value of an Oahu home in which an owner resides so that owner-occupants may pay less in real estate taxes.
The basic home exemption is $80,000 for homeowners under 65 and $120,000 for those 65 years and older, according to the website. The applicable amount is deducted from the assessed value of the property, and the homeowner is taxed on the balance.
You can read more on the subject at realproperty honolulu.com.
Q: There was a recent question about the bus and regulations for bikes. Is the city planning for bikes on the trains? If no racks are being provided, what’s to prevent a person from bringing his bike into the train? The last I heard, the trains will be unmanned.
A: Longtime plans call for bicycles to roll right aboard the train, not be affixed to external racks as on TheBus.
These plans also call for bike racks to be installed near the rail transit station entrances, for passengers who would rather cycle to the station, park their gear before boarding the train and then retrieve it on the return trip.
The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation has always included bicyclists in its multimodal vision for Oahu transport-ation, confirmed Jeanne Mariani-Belding, HART director of communications.
Besides bicycles, most surfboards (not longboards), wheelchairs, strollers, luggage and coolers all will be welcome inside the rail cars, “as regulated by policy,” according to HART’s website and additional information from Mariani-Belding.
You are correct that the rail cars will be fully automated, with no human drivers aboard.
Honolulu’s rail transit project has been beset by a variety of budget woes and construction delays. As of mid-September, HART projections foresee a 20-mile transit system from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center fully operational in 2021.
Auwe
With all the pedestrian accidents, why is nothing being done about safety awareness? I have never seen a more blatant act of people breaking the law than on our local streets. I am talking about pedestrians ignoring the red stop hand and/or numbers counting down, which means do not enter the crosswalk. It is against the law to enter any crosswalk once the red indicators are shown. I have seen the Honolulu Police Depart ment targeting drivers, but pedestrians need to be held accountable for their actions as well. There also needs to be more public education of this issue to keep our streets safe for everyone. Cars don’t get hurt, people do! — Concerned in Honolulu
Mahalo
A big mahalo to all of the caring baseball families that came to the aid of a senior citizen who fell Sunday in the parking lot of the Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park. Grandpa is doing fine and is on his way to recovery. Thank you again. — A very grateful family
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