Real Estate in Northeast Florida and Around the World

Two misleading e-mails continue to circle around, particularly as we approach the fall political elections. One references a "License to Sell Your House" or "Homeowners Listen Up" in the subject line while the other references a "National Real Estate Transfer Tax."

The e-mails make false claims regarding the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 and the 2010 Health Care bill. Earlier this year the National Association of Realtors requested members to please review the facts and urged members not to forward these erroneous e-mails.  As a service to my customers, I am providing factual information that clarifies the REAL provisions in the bills. 

Claim #1:  Pending legislation in the Senate would require an energy license or retrofit for home sales.  This is false!  There is no requirement in H.R. 2454, The American Clean Energy & security Act, that home sellers obtain either a license or energy audit or make energy retrofits before they can sell their home.  The legislation, earlier passed by the House, is pending in the Senate.

Claim #2:  The health care bill contains a 4.0 percent "transfer tax" on home sales.  This is false!  An opinion piece in the Spokane, Washington, Spokesman-Review last month FALSELY reported that the health care bill contained a provision for a 4.0 percent "sales tax" or "transfer tax" on the sale of a home.

You can read more detail and relevant factual resource information in the information flyer provided by the National Association of Realtors.

If there are any other buzz topics flying around that you would like to get REAL information and not conjecture, please post a comment to this blog, and I'll research the question for you.  In the meantime, look for me in the neighborhood - I've been working alot recently at the Beaches and Intracoastal area of town, so if you see me, just give me a wave!