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The House and Senate what's to come for First Time Home Buyers

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with LemonTree Realty

The House and Senate just completed their 60th day in legislative session and have some exciting things on the horizons for buyers. However,  the 2009 regular session of the Florida Legislature has been extended for a full week to finalize the budget.  So while there is still some finalizing to do, all non-budget legislation had to be considered for final passage today if it was going to have a chance of becoming law. 
 
More details are coming but one of the final bills considered tonight was SJR 532. This constitutional amendment will ask voters to limit increases in property tax assessments on all non-homestead properties to 5 percent annually.

First-time homebuyers could benefit, too, with an additional homestead exemption up to $100,000.

HB 521, the bill that puts the burden of proving that a property tax assessment is correct on the appraiser, not the property owner, I think this bill is great but how biased would the tax assessor be when showing the true value.

And last but not least when the budget is finalized next week, there will be $30 million for downpayment assistance to help "front load" the federal first-time homebuyer tax credit. Sounds like great news to come.

 

 

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Heather Unger, GRI, NRBA, CLHMS, CDPE, WinDs

RE/MAX Central Realty

www.HeatherTheRealtor.com     (407) 810-6304

Our Team Specializes in Luxury Real Estate, First Time Home Buyers, Short Sales, Bank Owned Real Estate, REO & Foreclosure Properties

Servicing Real Estate Needs in: Lake Mary, Longwood, Winter Springs, Sanford, Altamonte Springs, Oviedo, Orlando, Downtown Orlando, Thornton Park, College Park, Winter Park, Maitland, Windermere, UCF, Lake Nona, Baldwin Park, Apopka, Ocoee & Winter Garden

 

Comments(3)

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Mike Saunders
Retired - Athens, GA

Heather - state legislators can do so much for home buyers with a few well thought out and written pieces of legislation. Looks like yours are really doing some thinking.

May 02, 2009 12:50 AM
Rob Arnold
Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. - Altamonte Springs, FL
Metro Orlando Full Service - Investor Friendly & F

What a disappointment.  They didn't pass Sunrail.  They didn't do anything about Wekiva septic.  They didn't pass the budget.  You almost have to wonder what they DID do for the last 60 days.

May 02, 2009 01:10 AM
Marilyn Harrell
Better Homes and Acres - Beaverton, MI
Wixom Lake - Beaverton MI

The tax credit and down payment assistant program should be a help to buyers! If they can just keep their job so they can be financed!

May 02, 2009 04:55 AM