More than 6,350 e-mails were sent to North Carolina lawmakers during the first 10 days of a statewide "Stop the NC Home Tax" campaign launched by the NC Association of REALTORS®, the group announced on Wednesday.
"Voters are getting engaged on this issue," said Tim Kent, executive vice president of the statewide association. "They realize that taxing the equity in their homes is a bad idea, and they are letting their lawmakers know how they feel. We're thrilled with the response we've received from voters, and we are heartened that they want to be involved in this campaign."
Sandi, a Craven County voter, said the proposed home tax would be unfair:
"I am very much opposed to further taxes on the backs of homeowners, especially in light of all of the tax breaks that are being offered to big corporations to locate to N.C. The idea that the General Assembly would give the companies a break and make it up by taxing all of their employees as they buy and sell their homes is absurd and disgraceful.
Please take a minute to consider the impact that additional taxes on homeowners will have on the citizens of North Carolina. Vote no on the proposed NC Home Tax!"
Margaret, a Cleveland County voter, said the new home tax would hurt her children's education fund:
"The public is sick and tired of new taxes. It is not fair to put more of a burden on property owners by charging them a tax that would strip them of their hard-earned equity. Home equity is our nest egg that we use for our next home, to send our children to college or for retirement.
Don't burden homeowners any more. Transfer taxes are a bad idea for individuals and for the state. Please stop the NC Home Tax! Thank you for your consideration of this matter.
Jennifer, a Forsyth County voter, wrote that the home tax would hurt young families:
"It is not fair to put more of a burden on property owners by charging them a tax that would strip them of their hard-earned equity. ... This tax would prevent us from selling our current home to buy a bigger home. With three children in our little house, we are bursting at the seams. But if you insist upon taking more money out of our very tight budget, we will have to look for that bigger home in another state."
Kent said the association plans a "full-court press" on the home tax debate. "Our campaign to Stop the NC Home Tax is just beginning," he said. "We are going to have an ongoing dialogue with lawmakers and with the voters of North Carolina to let the public know that taxing the equity in your home is like taxing the American Dream. It's a bad idea."
According to Kent, the campaign will continue utilizing television, radio and direct mail advertising. Additional information about Stop the NC Home Tax can be found at the campaign's dedicated Web site: www.itsabadidea.org.
The NC Association of REALTORS®, headquartered in Greensboro, was founded in 1921 and today has more than 42,000 members statewide. Assistance in this campaign is being provided by the NC Homeowners Alliance, an organization founded in 2006 by NC REALTORS® to protect housing affordability and private property rights.