| 118th Year, 25th Issue | Thursday, February 1, 2007 | Sparta, North Carolina |
The value of property transferred in Alleghany County increased in 2006, according to information provided by the Alleghany Register of Deeds Office. Last year's increase marked the fifth straight year in which the value of property transferred between buyers and sellers has increased.
During the 2006 calendar year, property was sold in the county for a total of $116,896,750.
That figure represents a $24,682,750 increase in property sales over the 2005 calendar year's property transfers of $92,214,000. The cost of property sold during the calendar year in 2004 was $78,812,000, said Register of Deeds Lizabeth Reeves Roupe.
As for the value of land sold in the past three years, Roupe noted, "We've seen a sharp increase between 2004 and 2006."
Roupe stated the office received $233,795.50 in total excise tax (deed stamp) revenue during the 2006 calendar year, an increase of $49,367.50 over 2005's total of $184,428. Total excise tax collections for calendar year 2004 were $153,625.
Roupe explained that excise tax is a state tax charged on land transfers in which the money or an interest in property is exchanged.
The amount of excise tax charged represents $2 per $1,000 of the actual sales price or value of the interest in property exchanged.
Total revenue received by the register of deeds office during the 2006 calendar year was $345,936.55, an increase of $54,834.55 over 2005 collections totalling $291,102.
In addition to recording property transfers, the register of deeds office also keep other public records. Those records include, but are not limited to, births, deaths, deeds of trust, assumed names, fixture filings, foreclosures, land plats, corporate papers, notary oaths, military discharges and satisfaction of deeds of trust.
In breaking down the transfers, the Alleghany County E911/Mapping Office provided information regarding the number of transfers that took place in each of the county's seven townships in 2006. All figures on transactions by township are to be considered approximate.
According to reports generated by that office, Gap Civil reported about 369 property transactions, the most of any township in the county. In 2005, Gap Civil had 363 recorded transactions.
The Cherry Lane township ran a close second in the number of transactions, with 311 pieces of property changing hands. In 2005, Cherry Lane had 294.
Coming in with the third most transactions is Piney Creek with 277 recorded transactions. That number was significantly lower than the 464 recorded in the Piney Creek township 2005.
Glade Creek reported 190 transactions in 2006, up from 175 in 2006. Prathers Creek reported 98 transfers, down from 101 the year before and Whitehead reported 76 transfers, down from 87 in 2005.
The Cranberry township had 48 transfers, the fewest in the county. By comparison, Cranberry had 56 transfers in 2005.
Foreclosure Papers
A total of eight foreclosures were filed in 2006, part of a trend of decreasing numbers in that category.
In 2005, 12 foreclosures were filed, in comparison to 32 in 2004 and 44 in 2003.
Marriage Licenses
A total of 95 marriages were issued during 2006, which is fewer than recorded in the prior two years.
The county recorded 111 marriages in 2005 and 109 in 2004.
Regarding the decline in marriage license numbers, Roupe commented, "Some years are up and some years are down for marriages. It just seems to be one of those years when people didn't get married—at least in this county—at the rate they have been."
Building Permits
The number of building permits issued during the 2006 calendar year residential purposes was 266, according to figures provided by Toni Williams, administrative assistant for the Alleghany County Building Inspection Department.
Of the 220 permits that were issued for new home building, additions or remodeling, 144 were new homes and the remaining 76 permits involved remodeling or an addition.
The number of permits issued for a mobile home increased to 46 over last year's 34 permits.
Construction cost attributed to new homes, remodeled homes and
additions made was estimated at $28,061,664. Williams noted cost of
construction is the estimated value of the building at its completion.
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