For Immediate Release:
February 27, 2009
NEW JERSEY REALTORS® OPPOSE OBAMA PLAN TO SLASH MORTGAGE INTEREST DEDUCTION
Set to Discuss Budget Proposal on Capitol Hill Next Week
(Edison, NJ) The New Jersey Association of REALTORS® (NJAR®) today said President Obama's budget proposal to reduce the amount of mortgage tax deductibility for families earning over $250,000 will negatively impact housing and economic recovery efforts in high cost areas like New Jersey.
"While New Jersey enjoys the second highest household median income in the nation, our taxpayers also bear the heaviest state and local tax burden in the country," said NJAR® Executive Vice President Jarrod Grasso, RCE. "In a high cost state like ours, reducing the amount of mortgage interest a family can deduct from their taxes will have a devastating impact on housing recovery efforts and limit many people's ability to achieve the dream of homeownership."
President Obama's budget proposal would limit the tax rate at which high-income taxpayers, those whose family income is $250,000 ($200,000 for singles) or more, to 28 percent for itemized deductions. Even though the proposal would apply only to households earning $250,000 or more, home prices across the board would fall as home buyers discount the value of the deduction in their purchase offers. This will lead to a drop in all home prices because a fall in home prices at the top end will eventually filter down to lower priced homes.
"At a time when both our federal and state governments are grappling with massive budget deficits and attempting to jumpstart our economy, this is exactly the wrong message to be sending," added Grasso. "Discussing President Obama's ill-advised plan will be at the top of our agenda when NJAR®'s leadership team heads to Washington, D.C. next week. We are hopeful New Jersey's congressional delegation will see how this approach will undue the work they have already done to revitalize the housing market and work to change it."
The NJAR® leadership team will visit Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. next week to discuss key issues that have an impact on property owners and the real estate industry, including the proposed cut in the mortgage interest deduction.
NJAR® President Diane Dilzell (Bedminster,
N.J.), President-Elect Judy Appleby (Seaside
Park, N.J.), First Vice President Allan
"Dutch" Dechert (Avalon, N.J.), Immediate
Past President Drew Fishman (Northfield,
N.J.), Executive Vice President Jarrod
Grasso (Edison, N.J.), and NJAR® staff will
participate in the meetings with New
Jersey's congressional and senate
delegations.
During the meetings, NJAR® leadership will
discuss a permanent ban on national banks
and financial holding company subsidiaries
engaging in real estate brokerage, leasing
and management powers. They will encourage
lawmakers to enact H.R. 111 "The Community
Choice in Real Estate Act." Additionally,
NJAR® will call on lawmakers to continue
providing flood insurance for communities in
flood zones through the National Flood
Insurance Program. NJAR® will also discuss
efforts to restructure Fannie Mae and
Freddie Mac.
The New Jersey Association of REALTORS®,
with approximately 53,000 REALTOR® and
REALTOR-ASSOCIATE® members, is one of the
largest trade organizations in the state.
NJAR®'s membership is comprised of real
estate professionals who subscribe to a
strict Code of Ethics and are members of the
national and local REALTOR® organizations.
As the leading advocate for the real estate
industry and private property rights in New
Jersey, NJAR® is committed to protecting the
dream of homeownership. For more
information, please visit
www.njar.com.
# # #
