Archives
All posts for the month February, 2014
HB 874 was introduced to make Georgia a more friendly solar-state and allow for solar-financing to come to Georgia. The original version of the bill stated that any solar technology used for private consumption may be installed on property owned or occupied by an electric customer. The language undermined private property rights by allowing “occupants” to install solar panels, regardless of ownership rights. The bill also undermined the rights of Condo and Homeowner Associations to restrict the use of solar panels in their communities, allowing the state to override private contracts. GAR worked with the sponsor of HB 874 to amend language in the Solar Panel Bill that intentionally undermined private property owner’s rights.
The bill’s sponsor indicated it was not his intent to undermine private property rights and he worked with Georgia REALTORS® to address the REALTOR® concerns. We were able to remove the language we were concerned about and negotiate new language that has been included in the bill to specifically ensure that this bill will not impose on existing private property rights. This legislation was included in Georgia REALTOR® Talking Points for Legislative Day at the Capitol. This is a great example of the impact we have when REALTORS® attend Legislative Day and build relationships with our legislators. In working with the Representative who introduced the bill, we were able to clear up any unintended consequences to private property rights.
Since his parents names were never recorded, the person pictured here took the last name of his master, Sam Houston. Born into slavery on a Perry County, Alabama, plantation in 1822, Joshua Houston outlived his owner – who just so happened to be the first President of the Republic of Texas, and a U.S. Senator – by nearly 40 years. And it’s what he did in those 40 years that’s truly inspiring. Once freed, Joshua Houston became a successful businessman, homeowner, church leader, and officeholder. He was twice appointed a city alderman Huntsville (TX), and was elected a county commissioner there twice. And in 1888 he was selected as a member of the Texas delegation to the Republican National Convention! Lean more about Joshua Houston on BlackPast.org (link: http://bit.ly/1czWALw)- please Like & Share.
You can pay off your student loans by doing good for the world http://t.co/0abVw5HdIj
What is “Whatsapp”-It’s fundamentally a text-messaging replacement app that lets you send messages to any of your contacts, as long as you know their phone number. Similar to BlackBerry Messenger and iMessage, the service lets users bypass their carrier’s SMS (short message service, generally known as text messaging) and avoid any texting fees. You can send videos, group chat, and pics too- all without the connection of a cellular carrier – YOU ONLY NEED THE INTERNET. it’s free for now- will cost .99 per year after the 1st year. NO MORE PAYING YOUR CELL PHONE CARRIER FOR TEXT MESSAGES. Oh-ohhhhhh
In order to have a fully recovered housing market and economic recovery, economists point to the need for four positive indicators:
1. A healthy job market with low stable unemployment;
2. Mortgage delinquencies that have returned to historical averages;
3. Home prices consistent with an affordable mortgage payment–to–income ratio; and
4. Home sales that are in the range of historical norms.
The economic ramifications surrounding unaffordable flood insurance is devastating home values, small businesses, and entire communities across the country. Since the U.S. House of Representatives took initial action on June 5, 2013 to delay certain flood insurance rate hikes, FEMA has released its Specific Rate Guidelines; confirming fears of sudden and steep rate increases for many Americans. The House will again act to protect the solvency of the flood insurance program and will protect homeowners from unreasonable and unrealistic premium increases.
The House proposal truly balances fiscal solvency with consumer affordability.
Provides Greater Consumer Affordability & Predictability:
Permanently removes the home sale/new policy rate increase trigger for primary residences. So the person buying the home is treated the same as the person selling it. Removal of these provisions would restore real estate markets in communities across the country.
– Reinstates grandfathered rates by decoupling rate increases with FEMA remapping. Removal of this provision ensures that policyholders are not penalized who built to code and built to standards of existing Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
– Provides a refund for the people who purchased a Pre-FIRM subsidized home without the full transparency from FEMA on the new BW-12 rate structure, which wasn’t made public for a year after BW-12 was signed into law.
– Provides home improvement protection by increasing the threshold that triggers a loss of Pre-FIRM status for homes substantially damaged/rebuilt from exceeding 30% of the fair market value to 50% (which was the threshold prior to BW-12). Would include generally accepted affordability measures such as: high deductible options, flood-proofed basement exemptions, map certification, flood protection funding recognition, optional monthly installment plans, removing the funding cap on the affordability study, etc.
– Ensuring Greater Fiscal Solvency of NFIP: Authorizes a small assessment around $25 per year on primary residence polices in the NFIP and around $250 per year on business/non-primary residence policies in the NFIP. All revenue from the assessments would be placed in the NFIP reserve fund (created by BW-12) and used to transfer catastrophic flood risk to the private market. The assessment benefits all policyholders by building up the NFIP reserve fund, which is currently inadequate to handle future storms like Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. The assessment would phase-out as premium revenue matches projected loss.
Note: The House bill is still being written, there may be small changes to this framework as the proposal is vetted with FEMA and with the Congressional Budget Office. The provisions described above are the general guiding principles for the House proposal. Information provided by the office of U.S. Congressman Bill Cassidy, M.D. (LA-06)
danetteoneal1
Danette O'Neal, PhD 