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PrintMore Bang for Your Buck: Cemetary Plots
Reported by:
Producer:
Laura Garrigan
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Archived Reports:
Homes are not the only piece of real estate on the rise in South Florida. The shrinking supply of land is also surging the value of cemetery property. Yes, we know it sounds strange, but in tonight's more bang for the buck, we're going to show you how to save when making this precious purchase.
(WSVN) -- South Florida is in depths of a development frenzy.
And with thousands of people checking into the magic city each year, sadly, there are just as many checking out.
Nancy Miseda: "When I saw that place I fell in love. When you see it, you think my God this is heaven on earth."
For Nancy Miseda, heaven on earth was the beautifully landscaped Forest Hills Cemetery in Fort Lauderdale.
Eight years ago, she bought a mausoleum there for $3,000 dollars.
Nancy: "I bought the one at the eye level. That's expensive."
Today her prime property is worth almost double what she paid.
Nancy: "The land for the cemetery. The land for the house. It's land anyway. It's going up in one place. It's going up in another."
John Quinn of Fred Hunter Memorial Gardens says the problem is cemeteries are running out of space.
John Quinn: "There is no question these is less land available for cemeteries."
The going rate to be buried - anywhere between two and $10,000 dollars. And as land becomes more scarce, don't expect these prices to rest in peace any time soon.
John: "We have seen probably over the last ten years cost of living type increases of two to four percent each year on cemetery property."
But planning now can save you thousands of dollars in the future.
When shopping for a plot, location is key. Alan Mark of Panceria Funeral Homes says the older areas of a cemetery are usually more expensive.
Alan: "Of course, those are the areas where the inventury is critical and so you have higher prices in the areas that have heritige."
To lower your costs, many cemeteries offer discounts if you buy the property pre-construction.
Also check out the website gravesforsale.Com or try contacting a cemetery broker who will act much like a real estate agent.
Nancy has now decided she wants to be cremated. She sold her property with alan's assistance.
But she's glad she helped give peace of mind to a family in need.
Nancy: "My spirtit is to high for GOD so I figured I want to be free. I'd rather be cremented and float in some place. I feel wonderful that I decided to sell it, because I didn't want to be buried there."
Keep in mind if you are contemplating your mortality, cremation is almost always cheaper than being buried.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: lmartinez@wsvn.com
Panciera Funeral Home
4200 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, FL
954 989-9900
Fred Hunter Memorial Garderns
1 800 940-1550
6301 Taft Street
Hollywood
Cematery Brokers of America
727 345-0491