Introducing Louisiana First Home
LOUISIANA REALTORS • March 12, 2018
Invest in the Future. Invest in Louisiana.
As a REALTOR®, you know that many aspiring first-time homebuyers in Louisiana find it hard to save for a down payment, especially young families that are heavily burdened by student debt. Inline with our mission as the Voice of Real Estate, Louisiana REALTORS® is working with REALTOR® & Representative Paula Davis (District 69) to pass House Bill No. 383
- First Time Home Buyer Rebate
as part of the 2018 Legislative Session.
This bill would allow first-time home buyers up to $7,500 in closing costs and down payment in the form of a rebate filed for after the completion of the purchase.
But this program helps more than just first-time homebuyers. These rebate dollars will be spent by these homeowners on improvements and products for their new home. This, in turn, would give additional business to people employed in the home improvement industry and stores where home products are purchased. Other states like Mississippi and Iowa have had success in getting similar programs passed.
While we recognize our state is in a budget crisis and there is an uphill battle in getting this legislation passed, we want to be proactive for consumers. Should our state's budget be a barrier to passing this new program, our goal is to introduce this concept and educate legislators and the public about the important role REALTORS® and home ownership plays in our communities.

It’s not unusual for people to enter the homebuying process with a priority list that needs to be whittled down once they see what’s on the market. NAR’s latest consumer guide, “Defining Home Buying Needs vs. Wants,” is a decision-making tool that can help. It’s a simple checklist to help home buyers identify their needs, wants and deal-breakers. Using the form, or something like it, will help buyers remember what’s most important to them as they view and compare homes. There’s even a fillable PDF available for download. As a reminder, all guides in this series are available for download—in both English and Spanish—on facts.realtor . Please allow up to two weeks for the Spanish version of the latest resource to be translated and uploaded. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: NEW: Defining Home Buying Needs vs. Wants NEW: 10 Tips For Unpacking Smartly After A Move UPDATED: Multiple Listing Services Overcoming Roadblocks to a Sale or Purchase How Solar Impacts a Real Estate Transaction Thank you for your continued engagement with the “Consumer Guide” series and for sharing the resources with prospective clients to ensure they have the information they need to find success in their home buying or selling journey. Remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. Check out the next consumer guide for sellers on how to ease the transition for the new owners.

NAR’s latest consumer guide, “10 Tips for Unpacking Smartly After a Move,” was developed to help ease the burden buyers may feel when surrounded by boxes. For your clients on the cusp of a move, the guide suggests establishing a priority unpacking order, wiping down each room before unpacking, discarding boxes quickly, having garbage and donation bags at the ready, and more. Share the new guide along with the companion guide “10 Tips for Packing Smartly for a Move.” As a reminder, all guides in this series are available for download—in both English and Spanish—on facts.realtor . Please allow up to two weeks for the Spanish version of the latest resource to be translated and uploaded. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: NEW: 10 Tips For Unpacking Smartly After A Move UPDATED : Multiple Listing Services Overcoming Roadblocks to a Sale or Purchase How Solar Impacts a Real Estate Transaction Navigating Interest Rate Shifts Thank you for your continued engagement with the “Consumer Guide” series and for sharing the resources with prospective clients to ensure they have the information they need to find success in their home buying or selling journey. Remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. Check out the next consumer guide on identifying homebuying wants vs. needs.




