not fair not fair not fair~

So, before I was a stay @ home mom I did new home sales for 10 yrs and I did resale when we first moved to AZ back in 02. I keep my real estate lic up to date b/c it is just a part of who I am but I haven't done much with it since having the babies, mainly just for friends and family who are buying or selling and I will just cut my commission to help them out. Every so often I take a few classes to stay up to date on what is going on in the market and at the beginning of April while taking a class I learned a little about something called New Homes Tax Initiative that Arizona keeps proposing. It's a veeerrrrrryyy scary thing. I know I don't want to have to pay extra when selling my home. That cuts in to what I would already have to pay out at the closing table. If that was the case I wouldn't be making anything. It's pretty scary and we can all help ourselves by voting NO this year. It's a very important issue because this initiative directly effects our pocket books. I cut and pasted a few things about it below... From what I understand and what I was told in class if we don't put a stop to this on a state level then after it goes into effect on a state level then each county can charge a home sales tax and then each municipality can do the same,. Can you even imagine being taxed that much at the closing table??? It's not fair! What about the "barely there" equity we have in our homes now? This would really hurt Arizona home owners and it's so scary because it could really happen...

NO NEW HOME TAX INITIATIVE GETS GOING
Signatures are being collected to end the possibility of a real estate transfer tax. What is a transfer tax you ask? In some states across our fair nation legislation passed authorizing the state to change a special tax whenever a home is sold. The State of Washington charges 1.28%, Maryland .5%, Illinois up to .75% and so on.

Our Arizona legislature keeps proposing legislation that would authorize a sales tax on homes and, so far, it has been voted down. The "No New Home Tax" people would to end this possibility by putting it to a vote of the people. If the registered voters of Arizona vote to end this debate, the State would not be able to tax home sales in the future.

Everyone should be strongly in favor of ending the possibility of a home tax in Arizona for many reasons. We already pay property taxes and a sales tax would be double taxation. It would raise the costs of buying a home. It further reduces equity when we sell our home. (The average homeowner in New York can pay over $20,000 in transfer taxes.) It would hurt our economy by increasing housing costs and make it even more difficult for the first time home buyer to live the dream of ownership.

If this is an important issue to you, your family, your friends or your dog Fred, please take time to sign the petitions being offered around town.

Elizabeth is a discussion leader for arizonamoms she writes about everything from her needing mommy advice to crazy and silly stuff that happens. She lives in the West Valley with her husband and 3 children.