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RED ALERT

C.A.R. Opposing Bill that Would Eliminate Mortgage Interest Deduction on Second Homes

CALL NOW! - VOTE COULD BE TOMORROW!

C.A.R. is OPPOSING UNLESS AMENDED AB 71 (Chiu) a bill that would eliminate the mortgage interest deduction for second homes to fund an increase in low-income housing tax credits. While C.A.R. supports increasing the amount of tax credits available for low-income housing, the association is opposed to doing so at the expense of the mortgage interest deduction for second homes. AB 71 will be voted on by the entire Assembly as soon as TOMORROW – Wednesday, May 31^st.

Action Item

Urge your Assembly Member to Vote NO on AB 71

Call 1-800-798-6593

Enter your NRDS ID (or the Red Alert PIN number in the chart below)

followed by the # sign to be connected to your legislator's office.

When staff answers the phone, you can use the following script:  

"Hi, this is (insert your name). I'm a constituent and a REALTOR®.
Please ask the Assembly Member to Vote No on AB 71.”

Also, if you use Twitter™, please Tweet the following: 

Govt shouldn’t change the rules. , please protect the MID.  #NoAB71

Background and Talking Points

While C.A.R. supports increasing the amount of tax credits available for low-income housing, we are opposed to doing so at the expense of the mortgage interest deduction for second homes.

AB 71 (Chiu) would eliminate the mortgage interest deduction (MID) for second homes to fund an increase in low-income housing tax credits. If the MID were eliminated for second homes, 2,152 home sales would be lost in the first year after implementation. The potential impact of the MID elimination is an economic loss of $180.2 million to the state of California in the year following the implementation.

C.A.R. opposes changing the mortgage interest deduction because:

The state shouldn’t change the rules after the fact. People made significant financial decisions, trusting that the mortgage interest deduction would be there to make the property affordable.

The MID is already capped. The amount of the mortgage interest deduction is already capped regardless of whether the taxpayer has one home or two homes.  It's not right for government to dictate to homeowners how they can allocate their housing dollars!

Second homes are not necessarily “vacation homes.”  Someone faced with a one-way commute of an hour or more may choose to purchase a small condo near where they work in which to live during the workweek.

Local economies and communities will suffer. The economic health of the recreational areas of the state will be harmed by elimination of the mortgage interest deduction on second homes. Homeowners in those areas of the state are going to be hard pressed to find a buyer if the mortgage interest deduction on second homes is eliminated.

Using the MID as a piggybank sets a dangerous precedent.  

Housing Our Workers (H.O.W.^TM)

SRAR recently hosted forum called "Housing Our Workers".    

The event was part of an overall plan to educate REALTORS^® and the public, and to motivate them toward a plan of action. The Housing Our Workers Forum, was co-sponsored by the Valley Economic Alliance and BizFed Institute (The Los Angeles Business Federation).  

Two break-out sessions focused on Labor Partners, Social Benefits, Government Partners, Neighborhood Advocates, Public-Private Partnerships, and Traditional & Creative Financing. 

These sessions discussed three questions:  How did we get here?  How can my agency contribute to an increase in housing options?  and How can I be personally responsible for helping the cause? 

Below are the results:

Findings from Session 1

Finding from Session 2

Click here to view all 10 Videos from teh H.O.W.tm Fourm on our YouTube page.

H.O.W.^TM Video Overview

Mel Wilson, Government Affairs Director the Southland Regional Association of REALTORS^®, melwilson2424@gmail.com or (818) 534-2400 ext. 2424.

Links:

NAR

C.A.R.
REALTOR Action Fund

Want to get Involved?

REALTORS® are a special interest group working to promote and protect private property rights and to protect and promote the brokerage and management of real estate. Join the Governmental Affairs Committee if you wish to know what is happening politically or wish to volunteer. We learn about and debate the issues, take positions and hold events with legislators. Speak to Elizabeth de Carteret via email at elizabethd@srar.com