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October 19, 2015
 

V For Home Buyer Victory:  It has taken years upon years of work, but some major headway was made in lowering DC's stifling recordation & transfer taxes. Another reason we are smiling is because we met the District's defense against rats. Our Speaker Series featured Gerard Brown, a man dedicated to reigning in on the City's rat problem.

At this midpoint of October, we would like to remind you that DCAR Committee applications are now live. Apply and share it with your colleagues! Lastly, please join us for our Lead Poisoning Prevention week Speaker Series with DDOE and the EPA. You may need to brush up on lead safety, so you do not want to miss this event.

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Relief for First-Time DC Home Buyers
A Big Tax Break Could Come to First-Time DC Home Buyers.
What was accomplished?
DCAR's advocacy efforts continue to make waves in DC's government and real estate community! DC Councilmembers David Grosso, Anita Bonds and Jack Evans have re-introduced the "First-Time Homebuyer Tax Benefit Amendment Act of 2015 (Yvette Alexander and Charles Allen co-sponsored)," which would cut the recordation tax rate from 1.45% to 0.725% for first-time buyers in the District. 

How does qualification work?
To qualify, buyers must have never purchased a home in the District, and the property must be a primary owner-occupied residence. Basically, new home buyers in DC are getting a huge win. 

What's DCAR's position?
We couldn't be happier to see Councilmembers Grosso, Bonds and Evans take such a giant step to make home ownership a reality for many DC families. We thank them for their continued focus on DC families. Reducing the recordation tax rate will leave a positive impact for years to come. 

Where can I find more information?
Read the full text for the "First-time Homebuyer Tax Credit Amendment Act of 2015" and watch Councilmember Grosso discuss the legislation at the 10:25 mark of this video.

What happens next?
The Bill must still make it through the Council's (lengthy) legislative process. For now, we say CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who participated in DCAR's advocacy efforts towards lowering the barriers to homeownership. If you by chance bump into your ward's council member, give them a little nudge to support this bill!
Meet DC's First And Last 
Line of Defense Against Rats!
He is in charge of clearing your rat and rodent problems.
Find out how his team can help you. 
October 2015 Speaker Series - Gerard Brown, DC Department of Health
October 2015 Speaker Series - Gerard Brown, DC Department of Health

On Thursday, October 08, 2015 DC DOH Rodent and Vector Control Program Manager Gerard Brown visited our members about the importance of rodent control. Rodents and other pests can be a big issue for DC residents and REALTORS®, which we wanted to address with this session. The informative and entertaining discussion covered a whole range of topics, but we took away a few pointers you would appreciate. 
  1. DC DOH rodent control services can be reached through dialing 311 or accessing their website.
  2. There is a difference between rats and mice. While both can be nuisances, DOH's rodent and vector control only deals with rats and rodents outside the home.
  3. DC DOH is very customer-friendly, and DC residents who request service will receive a follow-up to make sure the job was completed.
We would like to thank Gerard for sharing his expertise while also answering the many questions our members asked. 

DCAR's monthly speaker series connects DC REALTORS® to the top officials in the City. To learn more about DCAR events and issues, follow DCAR on the web and social media!
Leadership Positions Are Filling Up!
Apply to join a DCAR committee today!  
The Deadline is Friday, October 23, 2015!
You may be wondering right now, "Who makes DCAR's policy decisions?" The answer is simple, REALTORS® like you are playing a major role in guiding the Association. Want to know how you can become a volunteer leader? There are two committees that you may choose to join. Depending on your interests, you may influence DCAR through the following:



DC Lead Poisoning Prevention Briefing
Get the details on what you can do to protect your family and clients from lead poisoning.
Now that you've seen how informative our last Speaker Series was, why not join us for the next? On Wednesday, October 28, 2015 Pierre Erville from DDOE and Cindy Wheeler from the EPA will join us to talk about lead poisoning prevention. This is a part of the EPA's ongoing Lead Free Kids initiative that aims to spread awareness about lead poisoning prevention.

National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is October 25-31. Exposure to lead can seriously harm a child's health and children under age 6 are most at risk for lead poisoning. The good news: Lead poisoning is preventable!   Get your home tested. Get your child tested. Get the facts! Learn why it's important to prevent lead exposure: http://ow.ly/BVYyU
Please register by Wednesday, October 14th to secure your seat!
Event Details:
Date: 10/28/2015
Time: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location: NAR Building | 500 New Jersey Avenue, NW | Suite 310
Stay ahead of the curve and on the pulse of the DC Real Estate community. Follow our daily updated Real Estate and Public Policy Flipboard magazines for more stories. (What's Flipboard?)
A specific focus of the plan is to increase the connectivity of pedestrian spaces and roadways between the University and the market.

Maybe now that it's out there the development team of Ruben and Related will catch up with the party and pass along some tidbits.

Washingtonian magazine takes a look at many of the promised start dates and features through the history of official statements released by the DC government.

PoPville takes a look at the raw numbers behind September 2015's condo sales.

The D.C. streetcar line is nearly two years late and cost tax payers $200 million, but the work could be wrapping up soon and passenger service might be nearing.
The information expressed herein is intended to serve as a general resource guide for the members of the District of Columbia Association of REALTORS®, is not to be considered legal advice and is subject to change. While the District of Columbia Association of REALTORS® strives to make the information in this document as timely and accurate as possible, the Association makes no claims or guarantees about the accuracy or completeness of the contents, and expressly disclaims liability for any errors and omissions. Members should always consult a licensed attorney in their jurisdiction for legal advice. 
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®    |   ©Copyright 2015, All Rights Reserved by DCAR
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