Power of the REALTOR® Party

REALTOR® spirit will be evident in Washington, D.C. this week during the NAR Midyear Legislative Meetings.  The energy of over ten thousand caffeinated REALTORS® will coalesce for the Rally to Protect the American Dream at the Washington Monument.  RAMP is proud to be part of this "monumental" gathering in body and spirit, and here's how you can take part . . . .

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The "3.8% tax on real estate"

"Psst, what's up with this 3.8 tax on real estate?"  It's a concern that generates numerous inquiries by our members, having seen it referenced in e-mail chains and forwards.  Once again, RAMP Government Affairs delivers the straight skinny on this topic to REALTORS®, separating what is truth and what is rumor . . 

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RAMP Rallies for You on Capitol Hill

Next week RAMP will be in Washington, D.C. alongside thousands of other REALTOR® family members to participate in NAR’s Mid-Year meetings.  As the REALTOR® Rally occurs at the Washington Monument, RAMP Government Affairs will be on Capitol Hill for in-person meetings with Congressman Jason Altmire (D-4^th), Congressman Mike Doyle (D-14^th), andCongressman Tim Murphy (R-18^th). During our meetings on Capitol Hill, we will educate Legislators and advocate for action on . . .

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Countdown to the Capitol

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Mid-Year Legislative Meetings and Trade Expo are a few short weeks away, and once again RAMP will take to the Hill to Raise Our REALTOR® Voice.  Complimenting the thousands of REALTORS® gathering for the Rally to Protect the American Dream will be representatives from RAMP's Board of Directors and Government Affairs Committee to meet with our Members of Congress and Senators on the issues affecting REALTORS®.  The five key messages we will be delivering are . . .

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New Short Sale Directive from FHFA

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) recently announced a new short sale directive that directs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to align their guidelines for servicing delinquent mortgages they own or guarantee.  Attached is the press release from NAR.  The new directive requires that servicers of Fannie and Freddie loans . . .

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Raise Your REALTOR® Voice

Tuesday, April 24^th is Election Day in Pennsylvania!  Have you set aside time to go vote, and reminded others that voting is a privilege in America? Click here to look up your polling location. The new voter photo i.d. law passed in Pennsylvania does not take effect until the General Election in November, however first-time voters should be prepared to present a photo i.d. Need a bit of persuasion on why all elections are important, including this primary?  Chew on this . . .

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Reassessment Roulette: Number of Formal Appeals Drops Further (04/18/12 update)

As duplicate appeals are pulled, the updated number of formal appeals filed continues to drop.  According to a blurb I spotted on a press release from the County Executive's office earlier this week, a total of 44,266 formal appeals have been filed.  This is less than half of the 92,920 formal appeals filed back in 2001.  The current total does not include those who may still file for a formal appeal based on the outcome of the informal review of a property. RAMP Government Affairs makes it easy for you to follow the status of a property's appeal process. . .

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Reassessment Roulette: Eye on Appeals (04/16/12 update)

Formal appeals filed by both the property owners and the taxing authorities (school district, municipalities, county) were due on April 2^nd.  For those who filed Informal Reviews, there exists a 30-day window from receipt of written notice to file for a Formal Appeal. Are you following along to see the status of an appeal you have filed? Wish to keep an eye on whether one of the taxing authorities is appealing your new assessment? RAMP Government Affairs has put together a quick primer to help you keep a watchful eye on a particular property . . . . 

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Reassessment Roulette: Off the Pace? (04/09/12 update)

If you guessed that around 60,000 formal property appeals would be filed by the April 2nd deadline, you're a winner.  But most people probably guessed a far greater number, based on media fervor, anecdotes being passed around, and the domination of the reassessment process in local news.  Whether you are sitting contently, waiting for a hearing date, or gathering materials to fight your assessment, chew on these new numbers for a "then vs. now" comparison:

• THEN (2001): 92,920 formal appeals brought before Board of Property Assessment Appeals and Review
• NOW (2012): 59,648 formal appeals have been requested by property owners.  

Reassessment Roulette: Waivers for School Districts (04/05/12 update)

Confusion continues to percolate over how property taxes are calculated in a given year, and whether reassessment affects this process.  Here's a quick way to decipher the puzzle, with language pulled directly from RAMP's Reassessment Fiction vs. Fact download, and a look at which school districts have received state permission to raise their budgets absent voter approval . . .

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