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An "Essay contest" to win a mansion? This is slick.

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  • #1

    An "Essay contest" to win a mansion? This is slick.

    Ocala Mansion Essay Contest

    I saw a short article in the paper about this today. The gist of it is the following. A woman is putting up her mansion valued at 1.25 million dollars as the prize for a winner in a "pet lover" essay contest.

    The catch? There's a $200 entry fee, and if there aren't at least 6,250 entries, the woman is going to cancel the contest.

    When I saw those numbers, I quickly reached for my calculator. $200 x 6,250 = 1.25 million dollars. How is that for slick?

    I wonder what the tax implications are. Does she get to avoid paying some hideous real estate related taxes because she's giving the mansion away as a prize, as opposed to selling it? Also, if she gets more than 6,250 entries, she'll rake in far more than the mansion is "worth" (with the current real estate market, she might not stand a chance at actually selling the mansion for what it is supposedly valued at).
    Lyonheart
    lvl 75 WAR, 75 BST, 75 BLM, 75 NIN, 47 SCH
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    Fishing 60

    Lakiskline
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    Leather 60+2, Woodworking 60, Alchemy 60
    Smithing 60, Clothcraft 55, Goldsmithing 54.1, Cooking 11
    Boneworker's Signboard, Bone Purification, Bone Ensorcellment, Filing, Lumberjack, Chainwork
    Tags: essay contest, mansion, slick, win
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  • #2
    Re: An "Essay contest" to win a mansion? This is slick.

    It's definately not in the interest of the people.
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    • #3
      Re: An "Essay contest" to win a mansion? This is slick.

      Ding.

      You just uncovered an ages old secret.

      How to give things away and getting money for it somehow. Its been done a bazillion times already too.
      signatures are for pussies mew mew mew, here's mine

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      • #4
        Re: An "Essay contest" to win a mansion? This is slick.

        Very smart move. In this particular area, trying to sell a home can take years. Property values are down and house sales have slowed so badly that even real estate people our looking for jobs. LOL She's found a way to sell her home so kudos to her!

        EDIT: Omg just had a good laugh. I went to the site and looked at the pictures of the home and freaked out for a second because it looks so much like my in laws house! That would mean my mother-in-law would be selling her house.....and moving.....possibly closer...... {RUN AWAY!}

        EDIT#2: OK now that I've looked at all the pictures I have a bone to pick. The woman wants a "Pet Lover" story right? Yet in her backyard she has a pen with a doghouse......lady......LET YOUR DOG LIVE INSIDE!! Pet lover indeed! LOL (Just thought it was funny. LOL)
        Last edited by TheGrandMom; 05-05-2008, 10:21 AM.
        Originally posted by Feba
        But I mean I do not mind a good looking man so long as I do not have to view his penis.
        Originally posted by Taskmage
        God I hate my periods. You think passing a clot through a vagina is bad? Try it with a penis.
        Originally posted by DakAttack
        ...I'm shitting dicks out of my eyeballs in excitement for the next bestgreating game of all time ever.
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        • #5
          Re: An "Essay contest" to win a mansion? This is slick.

          Originally posted by TheGrandMom View Post
          Very smart move. In this particular area, trying to sell a home can take years. Property values are down and house sales have slowed so badly that even real estate people our looking for jobs. LOL She's found a way to sell her home so kudos to her!
          I found one blogger who said, "I think this is awesome that someone can win this house, but I don't really understand how she can afford to just give her home away. I hope someday I'm in a financial situation like this, where I can give away my million-dollar home. " So apparently some people see this and don't realize she is walking away from this without having to lose or give away a single dollar.

          The website for the give away even says, "The current owner, Miss Clementina Marie Giovannetti, a national best-selling author, spared no expense, approximately $200,000.00 to have the entire mansion completely restored, updated and freshly painted inside and out just for you!" It doesn't mention that she bought the place for $900k (found that out from public records) back in 2006. Even with that $200k cost in renovations, she stands to turn a decent profit on her real estate venture.

          I hope anyone who enters the contest is ready to pay a lot of money in taxes. The contest's FAQ mentions that property taxes are "approximately $5,000 a year". Marion county public records lists taxes and assessments at nearly $10,800. I'm not sure how much Florida's homestead exemption impacts the annual property tax on million dollar home. But I know this is one contest that I definitely could not afford to win.

          Edit:
          TGM, if you want to see some really weird stuff, check out the link for "Testimonies". This woman appears to be some sort of "faith healer". I would be shocked if she hasn't legally changed her name in the past. Her name looks like she's trying too hard to look the part of a religious figure.
          Lyonheart
          lvl 75 WAR, 75 BST, 75 BLM, 75 NIN, 47 SCH
          Cooking 100.0+3+3, Culinarian's Signboard, Raw Fish Handling, Noodle Kneading, Patissier
          Fishing 60

          Lakiskline
          Bonecrafting 100.0+3+3,
          Leather 60+2, Woodworking 60, Alchemy 60
          Smithing 60, Clothcraft 55, Goldsmithing 54.1, Cooking 11
          Boneworker's Signboard, Bone Purification, Bone Ensorcellment, Filing, Lumberjack, Chainwork
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          • #6
            Re: An "Essay contest" to win a mansion? This is slick.

            Originally posted by LyonheartLakshmi View Post
            I hope anyone who enters the contest is ready to pay a lot of money in taxes. The contest's FAQ mentions that property taxes are "approximately $5,000 a year". Marion county public records lists taxes and assessments at nearly $10,800.
            In my little burb, property taxes are $3500 a year so $5000 for a mansion in Florida....?? The $10,800 figure seems to be a bit more realistic! LOL Yes, people think OMG I NEED A HOUSE but they don't realize what happens when they get it. The market there is saturated so selling would not net as much as you would expect in the end either.
            Originally posted by Feba
            But I mean I do not mind a good looking man so long as I do not have to view his penis.
            Originally posted by Taskmage
            God I hate my periods. You think passing a clot through a vagina is bad? Try it with a penis.
            Originally posted by DakAttack
            ...I'm shitting dicks out of my eyeballs in excitement for the next bestgreating game of all time ever.
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            • #7
              Re: An "Essay contest" to win a mansion? This is slick.

              My wife told me about this like a month ago when she saw it on the news. Wasn't it also said that she would publish the essays as well? And if she didn't get enough entries, she'd still keep the entry fee? Either way, she set it up so she can still make out like a bandit.
              To be the best in this game...you must help each other become the best.




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              • #8
                Re: An "Essay contest" to win a mansion? This is slick.

                Originally posted by Satimasu View Post
                My wife told me about this like a month ago when she saw it on the news. Wasn't it also said that she would publish the essays as well? And if she didn't get enough entries, she'd still keep the entry fee? Either way, she set it up so she can still make out like a bandit.
                If she doesn't get enough entries, the contest rules state that the $200 entry fee will be returned minus a $20 processing fee. I believe the contest rules required sending the entry fee to a lawyer, presumably the one who has helped the owner set this all up. So the $20 processing fee is probably going to help pay for the lawyer's work, should the contest get canceled.
                Lyonheart
                lvl 75 WAR, 75 BST, 75 BLM, 75 NIN, 47 SCH
                Cooking 100.0+3+3, Culinarian's Signboard, Raw Fish Handling, Noodle Kneading, Patissier
                Fishing 60

                Lakiskline
                Bonecrafting 100.0+3+3,
                Leather 60+2, Woodworking 60, Alchemy 60
                Smithing 60, Clothcraft 55, Goldsmithing 54.1, Cooking 11
                Boneworker's Signboard, Bone Purification, Bone Ensorcellment, Filing, Lumberjack, Chainwork
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                • #9
                  Re: An "Essay contest" to win a mansion? This is slick.

                  If I'm good at literature I might give this a shot.
                  There are painters who transform the sun into a yellow spot,
                  but there are others who with the help of their art and their intelligence
                  transform a yellow spot into the sun.
                  - Pablo Picasso
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                  • #10
                    Re: An "Essay contest" to win a mansion? This is slick.

                    A lot of property and real estate laws are different for each state so I'm not sure if she would somehow get a tax break doing someting like this, though I doubt it.

                    And yes, definately gonna be hell to pay in taxes if you win the house.
                    I RNG 75 I WAR 37 I NIN 38 I SAM 50 I Woodworking 92+2

                    PSN: Caspian
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                    • #11
                      Re: An "Essay contest" to win a mansion? This is slick.

                      TGM, it's perfectly possible that the pen is there to give the pet a place to be outside, and isn't a full time thing. Could also be used when they have guests.
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                      • #12
                        Re: An "Essay contest" to win a mansion? This is slick.

                        Originally posted by Feba View Post
                        Could also be used when they have guests.
                        OMG I never thought of that......or.......could it be......

                        The dog lives in the house and that is her home!?
                        Originally posted by Feba
                        But I mean I do not mind a good looking man so long as I do not have to view his penis.
                        Originally posted by Taskmage
                        God I hate my periods. You think passing a clot through a vagina is bad? Try it with a penis.
                        Originally posted by DakAttack
                        ...I'm shitting dicks out of my eyeballs in excitement for the next bestgreating game of all time ever.
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