The City of Tempe, in it’s ongoing crusade to diversify and bring additional uniqueness to it’s city, has a program that rebates the entire cost of the construction permit for renovations or additions completed on homes 20 years or older. At first, you may not think of this as a big deal because to many people it seems like a permit wouldn’t cost that much - $50 or $75, right?
The cost of a permit to improve a property can sometimes exceed $1,000!
For many people, that can make or break a renovation or improvement project. The average permit is between $500 and $1,000.
So far, the City of Tempe has refunded over $8,000 in permits but still believes there are $80,000 more in refunds that residents are eligible to receive. To be eligible, the property must have been improved since July 1, 2007 (or at least the permit pulled then) and the home 20 years or older.
I think this is a fantastic program for homeowners in Tempe. Although neighboring cities like Chandler and Gilbert offer a smorgasbord of new home options they cannot compete with Tempe’s ever-increasingly vibrant Mill Avenue District. And to my knowledge no city offers a great solution like the Orbit Bus Service to offer residents an easy, green and save way of getting from their suburban home to Tempe’s downtown restaurants, bars and events. And with light-rail debuting in December - the city has a lot to offer residents including some good to great school systems.
This program is great for buyers and sellers alike. Buyers should be aware of this program as they look for homes that may be a bargain but need repairs as this will bring down the total renovation costs. Sellers can use this to spruce up their home, if needed, and save on costs as well.
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