Black and Buono Blog

…by Kiley Black

Approximately 55 members of the Greater Boston Association of REALTORS® (GBAR) recently traveled to Boston to participate in the 26th annual "REALTOR® Day on Beacon Hill".

The local GBAR met with legislators to encourage them to support House Bill H.123, "An Act Clarifying Continuing Education Requirements for Real Estate Brokers." This bill would increase the number of continuing education credits real estate brokers must receive to renew their license.  It would also bring the Commonwealth's continuing education requirements to a level that is on par with the majority of the states in the United States.

GBAR are career-minded real estate brokers and agents who are constantly looking to elevate the profession and the professionalism of those who practice it," said Deborah Heffernan, president of GBAR.  "Ensuring that licensees have a strong educational foundation that is constantly being built upon is a positive step for both real estate professionals and the consumers they serve."

In addition to the calling for increased continuing education requirements, the opposition of property transfer taxes was again a top priority.  Members of GBAR urged lawmakers to oppose House Bill H.3313 that would authorize the creation of a new transfer tax on the sale of property in the community of Provincetown.

The imposition of this type of new sales tax on homes could have serious implications for the Massachusetts economy and set the wrong precedent for the Commonwealth's tax policies.  This form of taxation singles out home buyers and sellers, contributes to rising home prices, and is not a stable source of revenue.   Additionally, such a tax circumvents the voter approval process inherent in a Proposition 2-1/2 override.