Elvis Slept Here...

 

On this date in 1977 Elvis Presley left this world that he had impacted so much. All around the world fans will be celebrating his life today. As a tribute to the King of Rock and Roll, I would like to share this blog about Elvis Presley in Killeen, Texas.

For nearly six months in 1958, Elvis Presley was stationed at Fort Hood while completing basic and advanced military training. He left an entertainment career, where he was at the top of his game, to serve his country as a tanker. What a great American.

While Elvis was at Fort Hood, he lived with his parents on Oak Hill Drive in Killeen, a small town right outside the base. I grew up in Killeen and the fact that Elvis once lived here was a part of our small town lore. An older lady who lived on Oak Hill when Elvis lived there loved to share a story of how he used to have to get out of the car a couple blocks up the street, sneak down to the creek that runs behind the houses (including her house) and work his way down to the back of his parent's house to avoid all the girls on the street out front.

The house at 805 Oakhill in Killeen was listed for sale in 2003 and I had the pleasure of showing it. At that time it was in very good, mostly original condition. The kitchen and bathrooms were 1950's classics with all the modern ammenities of that time. The house sold agian in 2006 and that buyer "updated" the entire house (kitchen, bathrooms, etc.) to modernize it, and in essence destroyed what it is that made it a piece of Elvis history. In 2009 the house was listed and sold again, this time as a foreclosure.

While Elvis' time here may have been short, the effect on what was then a very small military and farming community was long reaching. Today, Killeen is still a military community, though no longer tiny, supporting one of the largest military bases in the free world. As such, the majority of our clients and customers are new arrivals to the area. One of the things I enjoy most is driving my new buyers by the "house where Elvis lived" and watching their shock that someone as large as Elvis once lived in a town as small as Killeen.

Richard W. Overall, Jr REALTOR
http://www.overallrealtor.com/

Property Tax Exemptions for Disabled Vets

Here in Killeen (and the surrounding Ft Hood area) we are very accustomed to seeing men and women who serve their country every day. Before I go any further, let me ask you to take a minute this week and just say thank you to one of these brave individuals.

Did you know that the state of Texas says thank you to those veterans with service-connected disabilities who own property in Texas by offering a property tax exemption up to 100%.  Following is information from the Texas Veterans Commission website:

Who qualifies?
Veterans with the following service-connected disability rating:

• 10%-30% First $ 5,000 of appraised value
• 30%-50% First $ 7,500 of appraised value
• 50%-70% First $ 10,000 of appraised value
• 70% & over First $ 12,000 of appraised value          
• 100% Rating or Individual Unemployability = 100% of appraised value     

Additional eligibility:

• Surviving spouses and minor children who are unmarried and under 21 years of age of a person who dies on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible for an exemption of the first $5000 on the appraised value of their property.
• A veteran who has a disabilityrating of 10% or higher and who is 65 years or older is entitled to the maximum property tax exemption.
• A veteran whose disability consists of the loss of use of one or more limbs or total blindness in one or both eyes is entitled to the maximum exemption of $12,000.
• The surviving spouse of a deceased veteran, who at the time of death had a compensable disability and was entitled to an exemption, is also entitled to that exemption if the surviving spouse is unmarried but cannot receive 100% exemption.
• The exemption applies to the property until it changes ownership or the person’s qualification for the exemption changes. 

How to get it?

Fill out Form 50-135 and send to County Appraisal District. Proof of eligibility must accompany application. Applications for the exemption must be completed between January 1 and April 30. 

If you would like more information about what the Texas Veterans Commission does, just click the link http://texas-veterans.com/