Advocacy and
Representation
The California and National Association of
REALTORS® fight at all levels of government to preserve your ability to protect
you private property rights.
Federal
At
the national level, California REALTORS® work closely with the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
REALTORS® to promote homeownership opportunities. Legislative victories during
the first session of the 110th Congress include passing legislation through the
U.S. House of Representatives to:
-
increase the conforming loan limits;
-
reform the
FHA;
-
reform GSEs;
-
forgive mortgage debt cancellation for federal tax purposes;
-
extend the terrorism risk insurance program;
-
reform the National Flood
Insurance Program and
-
create a natural disaster insurance program.
In 2008, REALTORS® will work with
California Senators Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer to pass these bills
through the Senate so Californians will have access to better homeownership
opportunities.
State
In
2007, REALTORS® sponsored AB 980 and SB 343.
AB 980 requires the recording of a
stand-alone document to disclose the presence of a private transfer tax (PTT),
as well as a separate seller disclosure that identifies the percentage of the
PTT, duration of the obligation, and the purpose for which the funds will be
used.
SB 343 requires any public document provided to a local legislative body
for a noticed open public meeting to also be made available to the public at the
same time.
In addition, REALTORS® defeated
AB 239, a bill that would have imposed a $25 recording fee on real estate
documents in Contra Costa and San Mateo County to fund affordable housing; and
SB 464, which would have permitted local governments to force rental property
owners to stay in the rental business a minimum of three years. The bill also
required landlords to give a one-year notice to all tenants if any tenant was
over 62 years of age or disabled.
This year, REALTORS® will sponsor
additional legislation to apply Megan’s Law rules for a “just cause eviction” to
rent-controlled communities, to protect property ownership rights in a common
interest development, and to require a prominent disclosure when a licensee acts
as an agent and mortgage loan broker in the same transaction.
Local
California REALTORS®
are tracking, monitoring, and analyzing local governmental issues pertaining to
housing and real estate in California on an ongoing basis. We work with our
association executives and governmental affairs directors at local associations
to develop effective strategies for advocating the REALTOR® position on local
issues.
For information on local issues, contact Cynthia Fisher (805) 434-4170 or
cfisher@westernheritagerealty.com .
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