Historic Properties Economic Gold Mines

There are hundreds of historic homes in the county ready to revive if we have the motivation and inspiration. Join the Towns County Historic Society at our annual meeting February 16 at the Senior Center in Hiawassee at 1:30 PM to learn about significant homes in our county and how to rehabilitate crumbling structures. Bringing back older homes has economic advantages as well as aesthetic and historic rewards. Historic properties have the potential to be gold mines if we open our minds to the possibilities of preserving our past with a little work.

Renovation specialists, builders, electricians, plumbers and all construction workers should be interested learning about buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Real estate agents can promote our county's heritage as well as keep working in these troubled times.

Advantages are numerous for listing property with the National Register of Historic Places. 1. The designation honors a historic place by recognizing its importance to its community, State or the Nation. 2. Owners of private property are free to maintain, manage, or dispose of their property as they choose provided there is no Federal involvement. Owners have no obligation to open their properties to the public. 3. Owners may be eligible for a 20% investment tax credit for rehabilitation of income-producing certified historic structures for commercial, industrial, or rental buildings. This credit can be combined with a straight-line depreciation period of 27 to 31 years reduced by the amount of the tax credit claimed. 4. Federal tax deductions are available for charitable contributions for conservation purposes of partial interests in historically important land areas or structures. 5. Owners can also qualify for Federal grants for historic preservation, when funds are available. For details on Federal grants and the Federal tax incentive program, visit the NPS Heritage Preservation Services page. http://www.nps.gov/nr/

For more information or to order the 2008 color calendar for $20.00 featuring 17 homes over 50 years old from the Historic Society visit the web townshistory.org or call 896- 1060.