They’re at it again… the California State Legislature wants more of your money. This time, via a proposed additional $75.00 tax on any county real estate filing including refinancing, transferring into or out of a trust, liens, quit claim deeds, etc.

It’s cleverly called “SB-391: California Homes and Jobs Act of 2013.” However, the same is detrimental to homes and has nothing, whatsoever, to do with jobs!

Needless to say, this author is opposed, along with the California Association of REALTORS®, to this new tax which unfairly burdens homeowners to balance Sacramento’s problems. Moreover, the bill’s authors have attempted to tie this new tax to the ongoing debate about short sale debt forgiveness. Essentially, they want to add this $75 per filing tax onto the existing struggles of underwater homeowners and those seeking to purchase a home (a difficult enough proposition in the current market).

What can you do? Call you elected representatives today and let them know where you stand. This link will allow you to determine, and contact, your representative:
www.legislature.ca.gov/legislators_and_districts/legislators/your_legislator.html

Read the full text of the proposed bill here:
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140SB391

Read the California Association of REALTORS® press release here:
www.car.org/newsstand/newsreleases/2013releases/sb30sb391

-Devin Lucas