Carver Communications - Index

Carver Communications - 2.15.09 - Index

The 81st Legislative Session
gaveled in on Tuesday, January 13th. It
will be an exciting session with Joe
Straus a native San Antonian and newly
elected Speaker of the Texas House leading
House members’ initiatives.
The Texas Association of REAL-
TORS® (TAR) has identified four issues
as the top priorities for this legislative
session. They are:
Appraisal Reform. The Texas
Association of REALTORS® will work
to reform the current appraisal system to
ensure that property owners are treated
fairly and equitably and to make sure that
the process is transparent and uniform
across the state. The association supports
the passage of a constitutional amendment
to give the comptroller's office or
other state entity authority to enforce uniform
standards among all appraisal districts
in Texas.
Aside: The San Antonio Board of
By Robyn Locke,
Director of Political and Community Affairs
Top Issues &
March 31 Hill Visits
REALTORS® is in the final stages of
preparation for an Issues Mobilization
campaign on Appraisal Reform. Stay
tuned. In coming weeks, this media campaign
will be underway locally to educate
the consumer on the need for consistency
and transparency in the appraisal process.
Appraisal Reform is sought in every
county throughout the State of Texas.
Transfer Fee Prohibition. Two
years ago, the Texas Association of
REALTORS® helped close a loophole
that allowed private companies to create
a 1% real estate transfer fee by placing a
deed restriction on a property to be paid
for 99 years. The new law prohibited
these arrangements in situations where
the proceeds go to private entities; however,
an exception exists where the proceeds
go to charities and government
entities. Transfer fees and taxes of any
kind negatively affect home prices and
the economy. The association will work
February 15, 2009 REAL ESTATE NEWSLINE 7
to close this loophole.
Business Vehicle Exemption
Form. Two years ago, the Texas
Association of REALTORS® led the
charge to exempt from ad valorem taxation
personally owned vehicles used for
both personal and business purposes.
This led to the passage of Proposition 6 in
November 2007. While the new law clarified
that these vehicles were exempt
from taxation, the bill required an exemption
form to be filed on an annual basis
with appraisal districts, a cumbersome
and inefficient process. The Texas
Association of REALTORS® will push
for legislation that will allow an exemption
form to be filed only once that will
remain valid until that vehicle changes
ownership, as is done with residential
homestead exemptions.
Energy-Efficiency Incentives.
Improving energy efficiency is crucial to
protecting the state's housing market and
the environment. Municipalities like the
City of Austin have considered mandating
energy-efficiency upgrades in existing
housing stocks to lower energy consumption.
Such mandates can have devastating
consequences to the economy
and real estate market. With proper incentives
and education for Texas homeowners,
the energy efficiency of homes and
commercial buildings can be improved
without the detrimental effects of mandates.
The Texas Association of REAL-
TORS® supports state-level efforts to
encourage compliance with voluntary
green standards for homes and commercial
buildings.
Mark your calendar for
Legislative Hill Visits
On March 31, Texas REALTORS®
will again converge on the Capitol steps
for the Legislative Hill Visits. Each session,
Texas REALTORS® meet with
their legislators regarding the association's
top-priority issues. SABOR has
secured three buses to take members to
Austin. Log onto IMS and sign-up today!
Travel to Austin is free; $12 will secure
lunch that day.
Your participation in this event
helps SABOR & TAR lobby teams make
an impact on the legislative process. Join
your colleagues in Austin on March 31.
Source: The Texas Association of
REALTORS®
The GRI Society of San Antonio will
be hosting a Class called "Ninja selling"
at the Alzafar Shrine Tuesday
May 19th. Please visit www.grisociety.com
for more details and registration.
Dan Lopez
210-387-3133
Keller Williams Legacy Group
Broker Associate