• Home
  • Search Homes
    • Advanced Search
    • Map Search
  • Buyers
    • Active Listings
    • Buyers FAQ
    • Featured Listings
    • Home Buying Process
    • How We Help Buyers
    • Mortgage Info
    • Relocation & Newcomer
    • Rental Listings
  • Sellers
    • Market Reports
    • How We Help Sellers
    • Home Selling Process
    • Marketing Listing
    • Sellers FAQ
    • What’s My Property Worth
    • Sold Properties
  • Investors
    • How We Help Investors
    • Real Estate Investing Process
    • Investment Strategy
    • Investors FAQ
  • Categories
    • Affordable Housing
    • Education and Schools
    • Foreclosure and Short Sale
    • General
    • Home Buying
    • Home Improvements & Repairs
    • Home Selling
    • Housing Market
    • Houston Living
    • Investments
    • Luxury Neighborhoods
    • Mortgage & Finance
    • Neighborhoods & Communities
    • Relocation & Newcomer
    • Safety & Security
  • Cities:
    • Bellaire
    • Bunker Hill
    • Cypress
    • Houston
    • Jersey Village
    • Katy
    • Pearland
    • Sugar Land
    • West University
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Our Friends
    • Bill Edge
    • Service Providers
  • Contact
    • Bill Edge
    • Kathryn Peters

Man-Edge Properties

Inner Loop Houston Real Estate Professionals

713-240-2949

Search Homes

Search the MLS for
ALL Properties

Learn about the Home
Buying Process

Learn about the Home
Selling Process

/ REALTOR® Lobby Day at the Capital 2011

REALTOR® Lobby Day at the Capital 2011

April 17, 2011 billedge


On Tuesday April 12, 2011 the Texas House and the Senate recognized Realtors in their Chambers. I don’t know the exact number of us who attended, but I can tell you we will be remembered. Since most of us endured bus trips of 3 hours are more, our number one priority was in getting to the bathrooms. From the minute we arrived at 9:30am till we left at 3:00pm the lines to the bathrooms stretched halfway across the building.

The Houston Association of Realtors had 5 full buses

With our blue circle patches identifying us as Realtors we were a force to be recognized with. Each REALTOR® had an appointment with their state representative and state senator. Those of us who were lucky got to met with the legislator. The unlucky ones met with the chief aide who may or not have known the issues.

I cheated a little and added another state senator to my list. After all Houston is a large metropolitan area and we need to be heard. My talent from taking a body language course was put to the test in Austin. I quickly noticed the shuffling of feet and the downward look when the tough questions were asked. I saw a star or two who rose to the occasion and smiled when answering the questions. This legislator actually gave out additional information on Real Estate issues that we were not aware of.

Lunch was served in a parking lot adjacent to the Capital. The line to get your lunch looked a lot like the bathroom lines, the line stretched two city blocks. I have avoided lines this long since registering in college and had no desire to start now. I and my partner on the trip Christine waited till the last minute to get in the line for food. The only thing we missed out on was soft drinks.

Christine and I spent our time at the capital observing Democracy in action. It reminded me of a turtle race or perhaps a slow motion movie. The Texas Senate spends 30 minutes waiting to pass a bill where everyone congratulates the other. Does this sound a little like our county commissioners? Truthfully this may be the only day at the Capital where the lobbyists were outnumbered.

Proposed Texas Real Estate Transfer Tax

Given the state of our economy, legislators are looking for additional sources of revenue. There are three bills out there which would enact new taxes on Real Estate transactions. The Texas Real Estate Association strongly oppose any bill which would add a fee onto the purchase of Real Estate. The Association feels these fees would be harmful to the Texas consumers and our overall economy.

I left Austin confident that our main concern transaction fees on Real Estate deals will not be allowed. The legislators seemed to agree that paying a fee to a builder every time a house changes hands over 99 years is almost criminal. If we did nothing else we at least let our legislators know we will be watching out for the public’s interest. Our other issues were mostly REALTOR® related, one that will affect the public is in making the Real Estate Agent and Brokers license tests more comprehensive. Our goal is to raise the bar on our standards and ethics in insuring the homebuyer and seller receives first class representation.

Email Bill Edge at bill@billedge.com or call 713-240-2949 to see Houston Homes in 24 hours or less.

Tweet

Related Posts

  • The Spirit of Houston
  • Anita MonCrief ACORN whistle-blower spoke in Houston
  • Renewals are the Energy Past
  • 2019 Real Estate Trends
  • Children need to be taught a Fire safety plan

Filed Under: General

What Is Your Home Worth?

Get a FREE expert analysis of any home with Comparable Sales & Market Trend

FIND OUT

Categories

  • Affordable Housing
  • Area Links
  • Consumer Tools
  • Education and Schools
  • Foreclosure and Short Sale
  • General
  • Highrise & Condo
  • Home Buying
  • Home Improvements & Repairs
  • Home Selling
  • Housing Market
  • Houston Living
  • Houston Photos
  • Investments
  • Luxury Neighborhoods
  • Mortgage & Finance
  • Neighborhoods & Communities
  • Relocation & Newcomer
  • Rental Listing
  • Safety & Security
  • Uncategorized
  • Video Library

Search The Site

LUXURY HOMES

View luxury neighborhoods and homes for sale

SEARCH

HOUSTON MARKET UPDATES

1 Minute Housing Market Report
Home Sales & Prices
Neighborhood Information

FIND OUT NOW

Contact Us

Bill Edge, Managing Broker

2900 Suffolk Dr.
Houston, TX 77027-5122
Direct: 713-240-2949
Fax: 713-758-0358
bill@billedge.com

Terms of use

Follow us:

Real Estate Quick Links:

City Guides Foreclosure Search High Rise Living Open House Finder Public Schools Statistics & Ratings

Local Real Estate News & Tips:

The Real Estate business can be crazy

If you have been a Realtor for many … [Read More...]

2019 Real Estate Trends

The trend in 2019 will be for Real … [Read More...]

Realtors say chapter 19 changes need study

Bill Edge, A. David Schwarz, and Ed … [Read More...]

© 2025 Man-Edge Properties | WordPress for Real Estate

Sitemap | Log in