Keeping history alive in the form of historic homes or business structures is huge and many talk about the need to restore old homes as opposed to tearing them down.

Some homes in Rutherford County may be eligible for homeowners to participate in the Historic Properties Tax Abatement/Exemption program. The tax abatement is for preserving historic structures both for residential and commercial properties.

The program, which was introduced this year, is part of a way to provide incentives for those who purchase, maintain and restore historic properties. The incentive equals property tax breaks.

In some cases, a partial home restoration could turn into a ten-year property tax abatement. A complete home restoration can sometimes be a fifteen-year abatement on improvements made to the property.

The tax abatement can be passed down to future owners as well.