Now that the 112th Congress is in session, hundreds of bills have already been introduced. During the course of any Congressional session, hundreds (and sometimes thousands) of bills can be introduced; however, as you may already know, most bills don’t see the light of day as they are destined to die somewhere in the legislative process. Here are a select few bills that are currently making their way through Congress, which may be of interest to home owners and buyers,.
Not much has been said about the now defunct home buyer tax credit since it expired last year. Even though some were happy that it expired and pointed to data that indicated that the credit distorted home sales, along comes H.R. 330: “Homebuyer Tax Credit Renewal Act of 2011.” The bill, introduced January 19, 2011 by Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), calls for a one year extension (from the date of enactment) of the home buyer tax credit [that expired last year]. So, if you kicked yourself for missing it, you may get another chance to take advantage of the home buyer tax credit.
If you’re unaware of the ongoing debate about the mortgage interest tax deduction (MID), your annual MID may become a thing of the past. As some real estate related issues continue to be a hot topic on the hill, this bipartisan House resolution was introduced to express the sentiment of not only numerous Representatives in the House, but also mimics the attitude of many housing industry groups and some constituents. Introduced by Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA) and cosponsored by 41 of his colleagues, H. Res. 25: “Expressing the sense of the Congress that the current Federal income tax deduction for interest paid on debt secured by a first or second home should not be further restricted;” not only expresses a need for the MID, but also enumerates the value and virtues of home ownership.
Home energy audits are an invaluable tool that provides information about a home’s energy efficiency. Obviously, home owners could use the information when upgrading or making improvements to their home. However, the controversy over who and when energy audits should be conducted continues to be sharply debated. Once part of last year’s legislation, H.R. 2454: “American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009” (colloquially known as “cap and trade”); the requirement for home energy audits reappear in H.R. 627: “Home Energy Loss Prevention Act” (introduced February 10, 2011). If this bill is enacted into law, it will require a home seller to conduct a home energy audit and provide the data to a buyer, who is purchasing the home with a “federally related housing loan;” as well as creating and maintaining a database of the reports.
Additional legislation of interest includes: S. 22: “Homeowner Tax Fairness Act of 2011,” introduced by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) would allow home owners who do not itemize to claim a standard deduction for real property tax; and H.R. 769: “Fair Access to Credit Scores Act of 2011,” introduced by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) would require all free credit reports to also provide credit scores.
Legislation can be proper and necessary, while sometimes it can be “well intentioned” but with unintended consequences. Of course, the transformation and alteration of bills as they go through the legislative process; as well as voicing your opinion is all part of a bill’s life.
By Dan Krell
Copyright © 2011
This article is not intended to provide nor should it be relied upon for legal and financial advice.