• My Account
• Access MLXchange
• MLS Resources
• Education
• News & Media
• Media Room
• Public Awareness
• Additional Resources
• Industry Updates
• Area Market Statistics
• Events
• Government Affairs
• REALTOR® Ethics
• About ABoR
• Contact Us
• Home

Quick Links

Join Us/Member Forms

Find a Member

Property Forms

Market Statistics

Legal Topics

Learning Communities

Mobile

Press Releases: 2005

CALLING ALL REALTORS®: STATE CAPITOL HILL VISIT TO BE HELD APRIL 12

March 9, 2005 - The 79th Texas Legislature Session's debate on public policy is fast approaching and the Austin Board of REALTORS® (ABoR) is asking members to support important realty-related issues at the annual State Capitol Hill Visit on April 12. The top five legislative issues ABoR will focus on in 2005 are service taxation, transfer tax expansion, appraisal district reform, tax appraisal caps and sales price disclosure.

The Texas Association of REALTORS® (TAR) and ABoR oppose an expansion of tax on services. ABoR and TAR oppose increases on real estate transfer taxes due to the negative effect on housing costs. TAR and ABoR support appraisal district reforms to cut costly legal fees for property owners disputing appraisal values. ABoR and TAR oppose a cap on property tax appraisals, which would deter homebuyers and slow the property market. TAR and ABoR also support the mandatory disclosure of sales price data to aid in protest hearings and the State Comptroller's annual property value study.

ABoR urges at least one REALTOR® from each office to attend this year. Members will meet at the ABoR office at 8 a.m. and take a chartered bus to the Capitol to visit each member of the Travis County Delegation between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. A barbecue lunch will be held on the Capitol lawn for $10. . Participants are encouraged to attend a free Hill Visit orientation and training session on April 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; lunch will be provided. Please register for the State Capitol Hill Visit by April 1 by e-mailing the ABoR Government Affairs department at goverment@abor.com.

The Austin Board of REALTORS® is a non-profit, voluntary organization representing more than 6,000 licensed REALTORS® in Central Texas. For further information, contact Isabel Zermeno at 512/454-7636 ext. 1501.