CALL FOR ACTION: HELP IMPROVE TAX REFORM FOR HOMEOWNERS
Amy Fennell • December 4, 2017
REALTORS® are once again being asked to continue their efforts as advocates for homeowners and respond to the latest Call for Action on Tax Reform by the National Association of REALTORS®. The REALTOR® voice has positively influenced tax reform in some key areas this past month. For example, both the House and Senate have agreed to maintain deductibility of state and local property taxes up to $10,000 and to maintain Section 1031 tax-deferred exchanges in their present form for real estate investments.
BUT OUR WORK IS NOT DONE.
REALTORS® still have an opportunity to influence Congress to help make the tax reform bill more favorable to homeowners and consumers. Now that both the House and Senate have passed The Tax Cut and Jobs Act, a Conference Committee will begin to address the differences between the two bills. (See graphic below)
Important improvements in the legislation are possible by encouraging Congress to maintain the current law for the mortgage interest deduction and capital gains exclusion. Retaining current law makes the bill more favorable to homeownership. Be on the lookout for an email or text message alert or click the button below. You can also text "REALTORS" to 30644 to receive alerts via text message.
For more information on the issue: https://www.nar.realtor/tax-reform
From the Louisiana Department of Insurance: Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple joined Governor Jeff Landry and Senate Insurance Committee Chairman Kirk Talbot today to announce that Louisiana is investing an additional $20 million in Fortified homes, bringing the total amount invested in state Fortified projects this year to $100 million. Governor Landry announced that $20 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will be transferred to the Louisiana Office of Community Development Restore Resilient Opportunities for Overhead Fortification (Restore ROOF) program to strengthen residential structures and reduce long-term disaster risk. Earlier this year, the Legislature passed a bill that allows $50 million in additional Katrina and Rita bond money from Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation to be added to the Department of Insurance’s Louisiana Fortify Homes Program (LFHP). Also beginning this year, LFHP is projected to receive approximately $30 million annually from taxes and fees the Louisiana Department of Insurance collects from the insurance industry. “Building stronger homes is a vital part of making homeowners insurance affordable in Louisiana,” said Commissioner Temple. “I appreciate Governor Landry’s leadership and support as we work with legislators like Chairman Talbot to make Louisiana a national leader in the adoption of Fortified roofs.” The Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) has finalized its promulgation of Regulation 136—Fortify Homes Premium Discounts. The purpose of Regulation 136 is to implement the statutory provisions set forth in La. R.S. 22:1483, et seq. , which require that all Louisiana property and casualty insurers provide premium discounts or insurance rate reductions for homes constructed or upgraded in accordance with the fortified standards created by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. View Regulation 136 here .
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