Government Affairs MythBusters: 2 False eMails in Circulation!!

Two e-mail chains have circulated among members and are generating a lot of confusion
in the REALTOR® ranks. Both are wrong!!



1. “ Homeowners Listen Up”
E-mail


Claim: Pending legislation in the Senate would require an energy license or retrofit for home sales.

This email 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.

For more information on the energy bill, contact:
Austin Perez, 202-383-1046, aperez@realtors.org

2. “ National Real Estate Transfer Tax” E-mail

Claim: The health care bill contains a 4.0 percent “transfer tax” on homes sales.

An opinion piece in the Spokane, Wash., 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. This e-mail was circulated far and wide, and is inaccurate.

• The new Medicare tax will take effect January 1, 2013.


• The legislation makes no changes to the mortgage
  interest deduction.

For more information on the tax provisions in the health
care legislation, contact: Linda Goold, 202-383-1083, lgoold@REALTORS.org

LEARN MORE ABOUT GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS:
VISIT WWW.REALTOR.ORG/GOVERNMENT_AFFAIRS
TO ACCESS INFORMATION ON CURRENT ACHIEVEMENTS