Florida Realtors descend on Tallahassee for Great American Realtor Days

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – March 26, 2008 – Nearly 1,000 Realtors converged on Tallahassee yesterday for the two-day “Great American Realtor Days.” FAR members are meeting with their personal representatives as advocates for Realtors’ top initiatives this year – property tax relief, property insurance, affordable housing and health insurance.

Gov. Charlie Crist and U.S. Senator Mel Martinez addressed the group today. Gov. Crist thanked Realtors for their efforts in supporting Amendment 1 to its successful passage by Florida voters in January.

This year, Great American Realtor Days attendees are focusing on positive signs in today’s housing market, and looking forward to the market stimulus following approval of Amendment 1, which includes property tax portability and an additional homestead exemption of $25,000. An informal poll of local Florida Realtors found a spike in the number of homes under contract in some Florida markets. Property tax portability allows Florida homeowners to transfer their Save Our Homes tax benefits from their old homestead to a newly purchased home. Portability applies to homes purchased in 2007 and later, and the benefit is capped at $500,000.

“We’re looking forward to more positive activity in the coming months as current Florida property owners and those looking to become Florida property owners gain a better understanding of what the new law means and start to take advantage of portability and its other benefits,” says 2008 FAR President Chuck Bonfiglio.

© 2008 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

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