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Carver Communications - Index

Carver Communications - 9.15.08 - Index

We, as a community, are now entering
into an educational opportunity that
will need to take place through a new consumer
awareness campaign throughout
Bexar County. In Bexar County, the problem
of ever-increasing property tax
appraisals with little or no consistency in
property valuations or uniformity in the
appraisal review process for appeals is
constant reminder of the need for reform.
This campaign deals with the need
for a reform to the appraisal process that is
needed throughout the State of Texas. You
have probably already heard and hopefully
followed the past efforts made by locally
elected legislators to require sales price
disclosure. Representative Michael
Villarreal and Senator Jeff Wentworth
have both introduced legislation in the last
session that would make sales price disclosure
mandatory, impacting the private
property rights of all Texas property owners.
Their revamped legislative measures
By Robyn Locke,
Director of Political and Community Affairs
Appraisal Reform Needed,
Not Sales Price Disclosure
Contribute to Your PAC Today
will probably be introduced again in the
81st Legislative Session which will commence
in January 2009. These legislators
have led the way in touting the inequity of
the current process and allege that higher
priced homes and commercial properties
are not paying their fair share into the system.
The fact is that each property found
in these two categories are unique and
their value should be determined individually
during the appraisal process. Thus,
those making these assessments need to be
educated and trained to conduct each
appraisal with an understanding of our
industry, what it means to appraise a property
and of their duty within the appraisal
process. Mandatory sales price disclosure
will not provide fairness and equitability
in the assessment of property taxes as it is
touted. Rather uniformity, consistency,
transparency and consumers being treated
fairly throughout the assessment/collec-
The Dominion - 46 Majestic Way
Hilltop on almost 1 acre, opulent home has 2 dramatic outdoor
living areas overlooking pool w/ city & hill country views.
5 bdrms, 5.5 ba, 4 liv. 6836 +/- sf. – 698-0120
Anaqua Springs - 24911 Caliza Terrace
Amazing views & loaded w/ trees on over 1 acre. 2
living areas surround spacious kitchen, 4 bdrm, 4.5 ba.
Outdoor living has over 500 sf with pool & wooded
canyon views. 5297 +/- sf. – 698-0120
Now $2,730,000
September 15, 2008 REAL ESTATE NEWSLINE 7
tion/appeal process will bring about the
needed change to this inequitable system.
Once the appraisal process is
revamped, all the dynamics and all aspects
surrounding the disclosure issue will have
changed. We will then need to look at this
issue in a new light and address it with a
new set of criteria.
In coming months, especially in the
early weeks of the 81st Legislative
Session, SABOR will undertake a campaign
where we will begin to educate the
voting public on the real issue, not the
smoke and mirror tactics previously used.
Don’t allow these legislators to fool you or
the public any longer. We hope to bring
transparency to the process. In doing so,
we need you.
Have you ever wondered and
recently thought, ‘What has TREPAC
done for me lately’? The issue above is but
one example of how your TREPAC dollars
work for you. Of course, TREPAC most
recently mounted an effective campaign
saving you thousands of dollars annually
by fighting a state proposed tax on your
personal vehicle. A massive campaign was
The Pinnacle - 1114 Marchesi
Lounge by the pool or relax w/ a fire on the outdoor
living. Courtyard w/ 4 bdrm, 4.5 ba w/ sep 4th bdrm
perfect for live-in or hm office. 3969 +/- sf. - 402-6400
launched and those who would have felt
the potential impact of this unfair tax
understood the concern and voted for clarification
of language that would have
imposed this new tax. The proposed tax
was to be placed on the value of your personal
vehicle if you used it in the course of
doing business; impacting most REAL-
TORS®. This measure required a
Constitutional Amendment change. With
the overwhelming passage of this legislation,
no new taxes were imposed upon any
independent contractor, including REAL-
TORS®. The tax savings calculator can be
found on the San Antonio Board of
REALTORS® (SABOR) and the Texas
Association of REALTORS®’ (TAR)
websites. There you can calculate your
annual savings.
TREPAC is your PAC and part of
the funds raised help with the advocacy of
the appraisal reform endeavor. Please
remember to support your PAC and your
association in the ongoing efforts to protect
the consumer on this issue. For truly
this is a private property rights issue and
the cornerstone of all endeavors.
Fabulous Homes
Fantastic Loans
Reduced to $1,195,000 Reduced to $895,000 Now $1,445,000
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Compass
Bank
Jaime Spanley, Construction & Mortgage Lending
210-370-6028
Waterford Heights - 209 Lismore
Enjoy the evening breeze while sitting high on over 1.3 acres.
Outdoor living w/ summer kitchen, fireplace and refreshing
pool. 5 bdrms, 5 ba, 3 liv. 5038 +/- sf. – 402-6400