http://www.sanantoniofairtaxes.org/theIssues/transfertax.cfm
http://www.sanantoniofairtaxes.org/theIssues/transfertax.cfm
http://www.sanantoniofairtaxes.org/
http://www.championsschool.com/
Carver Communications - Index
Carver Communications - 3.15.09 - Index
A media campaign is currently underway
to educate the consumer on what sales
price disclosure really means and why we
need appraisal reform in San Antonio (and
throughout the state). Please go to:
http://www.sanantoniofairtaxes.org/theIssues/
transfertax.cfm to read more about these
issues. This link will be used throughout the
campaign and it is where the public has been
directed to receive more information.
City Council/Mayoral Candidate
Interviews were recently conducted by the
2009 Governmental Affairs Committee.
Recommendations and endorsements have
been made and can be found on the main page
of www.sabor.com. Sales price disclosure,
appraisal reform, county rule-making authority,
City South, infrastructure issues and even a
bit of education to our local politicians/candidates
that ‘real estate is local’ were all issues
touched upon during the interview process.
For more information on these topics, please
read on.
By Robyn Locke,
Director of Political and Community Affairs
Media Campaign, City Council
Endorsements & March 31 Hill Visits
Sales Price Disclosure ~
Appraisal Reform
The San Antonio Board of REAL-
TORS® (SABOR) has just launched a media
campaign clarifying misperceptions regarding
sales price disclosure and the immediate need
for appraisal reform throughout Texas. What
most San Antonians do not know is that once
the sales price of a home is disclosed, legislators
often use this information to impose a new
sales tax based on this disclosure. This new
sales tax is known as a transfer tax.
In late February, Senate Bill 942 was
filed by Senator Jeff Wentworth which allows
counties to enact new taxes to increase revenue
for local transportation projects. One of
the new-tax options that would be made available
to counties is a real estate transfer tax to
be paid to the county within 30 days of the
transfer of property. The bill allows the county
to set the rate of the transfer tax and mandates
sales price disclosure to ensure that the
proper tax was paid.
Further in the 41 states that have sales
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March 15, 2009 REAL ESTATE NEWSLINE 7
price disclosure, 37 of them have a transfer
tax. Of those 37 states, 31 of them use sales
price disclosure information solely for calculating
a transfer tax. As local officials look for
new ways to fund city and county services and
transportation needs, proposals have been
made to enact new local taxes, including a proposal
that places a flat fee or percentage sales
tax on all real estate transactions (a.k.a., “real
estate transfer tax”). For more information,
please go to
http://www.sanantoniofairtaxes.org/.
Expanding County Rule-Making
Authority
Counties in Texas have various powers
and duties related to regulating land use, regulating
structures, platting and subdividing of
land. Other border counties also are allowed
to require water, sewer and other utility service
to residential property. Several bills that have
been filed in the Texas Legislature deal with
expanding county rule-making authority.
Shouldn’t you know how your legislator feels
about this all-important issue.
City South
City South covers approximately 80
square miles encompassing most of the land
south of Loop 410, between Interstates 35 &
37 and extending just south of the Medina
River. In 2003, a Defense Adjustment
Management Authority (DAMA) was created.
It was under this authority that City South
Management Authority (CSMA) was then
created. The CSMA was created to help control
zoning and development. Currently, state
legislation has been introduced to give even
more control to the DAMA. If bills filed are
enacted, the DAMA’s oversight would be
greater than that of City of San Antonio!
March 31st Hill Visits, Registration
Closes March 17th
The 81st Texas Legislature began
January 13 and during each session approximately
6,000 bills are filed. Typically about
1,800 bills involve real estate and are tracked
by the Texas Association of REALTORS®
(TAR).
Make plans now to attend
SABOR/TAR’s legislative day in Austin. To
give you an idea of what is in store on the 31st;
three bus locations have been secured around
San Antonio to facilitate your early morning
arrival. Buses will promptly depart at 6:45
a.m. that morning for Austin. Once onboard,
we will start our day with an informational
update while enjoying a continental breakfast
during the drive into Austin.
Upon our arrival at the Capitol, we will
meet with the San Antonio delegation in the
Capitol’s Cafeteria for a coffee reception
where legislators will hear our most pressing
issues to include sales price disclosure and
appraisal reform initiatives. We are hopeful the
new Speaker will be able to join us as well.
Then it’s off to individual legislative
offices and if you have time, you can go listen
in when House and later Senate members
gavel in and declare March 31st ~ REAL-
TOR® Day at the Capitol. Then you can head
over to TAR for a barbecue lunch at their headquarters
location on San Jacinto Blvd.
Your presence is needed for the March
31 Hill Visits in Austin. Please log onto IMS
today and register! Don’t put off registration
as the deadline is March 17th.
CHAMPIONS SCHOOL OF REAL ESTATE
NATIONAL PINNACLE AWARD WINNERS 2005-2006 and now 2007!
*$20 late registration fee on day of class
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