Here in MD we have been fighting to save the MID for years and the REALTORS voices have been heard loud & clear!

I'm afraid of the MID deduction which keeps getting put on the chopping block. I have voiced opposition.

Wonderful suggestion, Dorie Dillard! We need to be our buyers' advocates not only during the transaction but, in perpetuity.

Absolutely! We need to make our voices heard loud and clear!

I have not been asking them for anything. 

Hopefully they leave the mortgage interest deduction alone. This would really be a blow if they elminated this deduction.

I have not.... and my fear would be doing harm to homeowners and that would not be to our advantage!!

In my typical style I do voice my options on matters 

The people have needs & wants. Let them all be addressed and NOW too

Dorie Dillard I think the biggest issue is the home mortgage deduction that always seems to be on the table for elimination. This would really hurt both homeowners and our industry. In my area the County controls property taxes and they always seem to go up to meet our County leaders inflated budget.

I have not made any requests, or have attempted contact, with any of my representatives as of yet!

Great idea.

I do the state "call to action" with our elected officials everytime a notice gets sent. Absolutely!!

The less I'm on their radar the better!

    America made it all the way to the year 1913 without a Federal Income Tax.   The nation had a military, roads, a functional government.   

     Abolish the IRS and the Federal Income Tax entirely.

This is why I have always supported & contributed to RPAC requests on state & federal level. Fortunately our lobbyists know how to put pressure on our reps, at least we hope they continue to do so.

Yes, I have made my feelings known.

Dorie,

Not directly

Depends on the tax reform of course. The 1031 seems to be in the most danger nationally right now.

This topic does come up every year, and sure hope our lobbyists retain it for our homeowners!  

Thanks for the advice.

He does not answer his phone anymore.

I dont think that will be going away anytime soon.  With homeownership rates at a low no one is going to want to have that one their record.

Maybe for 2nd homes worth over $1 million, or homes 5+ it may come up, but for owner -occupied homes, there is no way that will gain any support.

I dont see it.

I see the 1031 excahnge going away well before that... 

Not nearly enough. Why is it that when our elected official enter the 'Beltway' they lose all common sense?

I haven't yet.

I'm not asking worthless politicians for anything - all they can focus on is Russia collusion that never happened and now a witch hunt for the president

I am FUMING over these idiot politicans!!!!

Kathleen Daniels nailed this one!

True tax reform will eliminate most deductions

great topic for discussion

It is clear that they are only listening to big dollar donors right now

Dorie Dillard - definitely we should ask.

C.A.R. (California Association of REALTORS® ) and N.A.R. have call-to-actions where I participate --not much beyond that.   

We address these on a local level through both C.A.R and The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Yes we need tax reform and we need to protect the American Dream of Homeownership. It is still some people's dream.

My elected officals know be by heart by now.

CA is getting there. There are a few new laws coming soon to help homeowners with property taxes. 

Dorie, based on your question, you have provided no suggestion but instead identified a sacred cow.  What is a representative to do with your tax reform suggestion?

Did you acknowledge you are participating in a monopolistic industry that IS subsidized by the tax payer. Can you see that is the red flag for tax reform.

And, as the 2.7 million real estate agents becomes desensitized to this parasitic situation, they become parasites upon each other with referral fees, team fees, mls fees and the ever favorite transaction fee. And we do it all under the banner of 'A code of ethics.'

A local Representative wanting to cut taxes should consider liquidation ALL public transportation assets and simply pay Uber to cart people about. There will be a gazillion saved.

Or abolish the IRS and all taxes converted to consumption or sales tax.

The answers are there but everyone has their sacred cow. My sacred cow is 'Don't touch the tax benefits that fueled the growth of all these microbrewies.