Comments on: REALTORS® voice opposition to proposed state sales tax on services

By: Janice Caputo

Janice Caputo — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:30:36 +0000

I agree, transfer tax is already unfair, especially for people buying in the city! We need to facilitate buying property in difficult to sell areas; thus increasing municipalities & school’s tax revenues because vacant properties are a blight, hazzardous, and further decrease property values in neighborhoods where you want to encourage pride in home onwership and community. Who came up with this lousy idea? We work for free half the time, educating buyers/sellers of realities in the market; our fees are increasing at a time when the market is tighter than ever, how is that fair? Pick on the fat cats for a while and let us do our jobs to help economic recovery!

By: Peggy Gist

Peggy Gist — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 17:41:59 +0000

Representatives we are begging you to vote NO to this proposed tax that affect the middle income masses. Tax the high end income makers who always find loop holes to avoid paying taxes while the middle class and hard working individuals suffer the blunt force of taxes.

Stand up and fight American…….PA can not take any additional taxes.

By: Peter Ryan

Peter Ryan — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 18:16:00 +0000

As an experienced Realtor, I have difficulty with the proposed tax on Real Estate Services. Why? Simple- 1)Buyers and sellers already pay transfer tax on each side of every transaction 2)When a newly constructed home is purchased, the associated NEW taxes for the property adds substantially to the tax base.3) Realtors are already taxed on income.4) With the sale or purchase of any home in the state of Pa., the number of individuals and businesses throughout the state benefitting from that transaction is enormous. All of these individuals or businesses pay tax on the income derived from each sale…just a small sampling of this- Realtors’ commission is taxed, transfer tax from both buyer and seller, a home inspector is paid to inspect the home, a lender is called to finance the purchase, a contractor, roofer, electrician, plumber, radon remediation co., decorator, flooring professional, painter, mover, title co., landscape co., might be called to make needed repairs to either sell the home or improve it after purchase. In short, when we begin to add up the incredible impact that the simple (or not so simple, as many people who move learn) act of the sale of a home, the ripple effect for our economy is stunning. Adding more tax to that process is simply not warranted. If any legislator wishes to debate this, I’m available…..

By: Tom Roth

Tom Roth — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 19:32:04 +0000

How would that work? You buy a house and the commission is X%, then at settlement you have a line on the HUD1 for PA Sales Tax? Or would individual brokers take it of the top of any commission paid? Your CAP, Your Royaties, and your Sales Tax?!?
It is truly amazing that the state would add another item to the already over burdened housing market. FHA tightening requirements for lending, EPA becoming more stringent about re-habbing, Banks dragging their feet on short sales and REO’s. This is a back-door tax to any consumer who uses not only a Realtor but any professional to help them through the maze of beurocracy created by legislators.

By: Darlene Byler

Darlene Byler — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:14:07 +0000

Please do not put a Sales tax on services for real estate related items. The real estate is in trouble now. People can’t afford the prices and costs now and if this added it will increase the cost of a home considerably.

By: Scott Walley

Scott Walley — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:08:44 +0000

Between this , the new building codes and rising property taxes, our industry and the home owners in Pennsylvania are going to be in trouble . Vote them out!

By: JOanne Baggott

JOanne Baggott — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:48:35 +0000

Taxing som eof these real estate realated services will increase the cost of buying and selling a house. Our housing market is already in a slump – we need help – not obstacles to promote home ownership!

By: Sean H. Fogarty

Sean H. Fogarty — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:50:37 +0000

Thank You to All that went yesterday, especially Helen M. and Wendy K.
It’s hard enough to gain the Consumers Trust and Confidence in us. Now Our Govenor Wants Us, Not Him, to tell the Consumer that the Closing Cost will be even Higher. HAS HE LOST HIS MIND! Eliminate the 2% Transfer Tax then maybe, just maybe, we can work around this Foolish Notion of adding 4% to the cost.
Sean F.

By: Harry R. McCarty

Harry R. McCarty — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:16:36 +0000

Thanks to the many REALTORS who showed up for the Hill Visit. Don Roth is right on. Taxes don’t help many of the citizens of Pennsylvania in a positive way. To tax people only be come poorer. To make home ownersship more difficult to acquire results many times in unhappy people. Further, if we are going to stay in business the only thing business can due is to pass the tax on to comsumers.
Taxing services in NOT the answer. It would be better to increase the earned income tax so everyone could contribute to the State Budget this way all the legislative member would pay the tax too!