RECAP: 2018 Legislative Session (Week 1)
LOUISIANA REALTORS • March 16, 2018
The first week of the 2018 Legislative Regular Session is over and very few substantive bills have been moved to the House or Senate floor. It is expected that many bills will be heard in committee next week and things will start moving at a faster pace. Louisiana REALTORS® will provide regular updates on items throughout session.
HOUSE BILL NO. 383 - LOUISIANA FIRST HOME
REALTOR® MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO RESPOND TO THE ACTIVE
CALL FOR ACTION AND CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT THIS BILL.
House Bill No. 383 by Representative Paula Davis (creating a rebate for first time home buyers) will be heard by the House Ways and Means Committee Tuesday, March 20th. Louisiana REALTORS® legislative team was at the Capitol this week promoting the bill and received mostly good feedback. However, there are legislators who are concerned about passing any type of rebate this year as the state continues to face a fiscal deficit.
CALL FOR ACTION - HB #383
LEGISLATIVE BILL REVIEW
Louisiana REALTORS® will conduct the annual bill review session on Wednesday, March 21st at LR offices. At this meeting, REALTORS® and staff go over close to one hundred bills that have been identified as potentially affecting the real estate industry. LR will provide a grid to track these bills throughout the session. If you have specific comments or questions regarding any legislation proposed, contact Kim Callaway - Director of Legal & Governmental Affairs.
REGISTER TO ATTEND REALTOR DAY® ON APRIL 24
Preparations are underway in Baton Rouge for the annual Spring Into Action Conference.
The event will provide great information on what's happening in the industry and your local boards are working with LR to have a strong member presence for REALTOR® Day. Register by Wednesday, March 28 and guarantee the REALTOR® Day shirt before the event!
As previewed last week, NAR is pleased to share the latest consumer guide focused on buying land and building a new home. This guide covers how to find land for sale, explains construction loans, and weighs the pros and cons of building a custom home. As a reminder, all guides in this series are available for download—in both English and Spanish—on facts.realtor . Please allow a few days 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: Buying Land and Building a New Home Deeds and Titles Alternative Listing Options Navigating Multiple Offers Homeowners Associations Thank you for continuing to engage 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 homebuying or selling journey. Remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. Be on the lookout for next week’s guide on Wednesday, which will cover property title theft.
Negotiating a real estate deal can be overwhelming, especially for buyers who don’t have experience with the process. Here are five key negotiation strategies smart buyers use—and how working with a REALTOR® provides a competitive edge.
As previewed last week, NAR is pleased to share the latest consumer guide focused on deeds and titles. This guide covers the difference between a deed and a title, common types of deeds, and title searches and insurance. As a reminder, all guides in this series are available for download—in both English and Spanish—on facts.realtor . Please allow a few days 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: Deeds and Titles Alternative Listing Options Navigating Multiple Offers Homeowners Associations Marketing Your Home Thank you for continuing to engage 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 homebuying or selling journey. Remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. Be on the lookout for next week’s guide on Wednesday, which will cover buying land / constructing a new home.
