Inspection tax

[Barry Adair]

any thoughts on this mail i received

The following is a letter we request you send to the Congressional and Senate Members below. If passed and put in the stimulus package, it will create business, jobs and work throughout the country and in New York State. This includes NYSAN Members, North American Association Members, and our Yellowpages members throughout the Country.


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Februruary xx 2009

Enter the Congress/Senators Name and address here

Dear [Speaker, --- Leader, Chairman, etc.] Last Name:


I, ________________________ commends you and the (Senate or House) Leadership for proposing bold and achievable funding levels for key economic stabilization and stimulation legislation – and by extension for America’s beleaguered mortgage industry, home owners, and taxpayers in the “Troubled Asset Relief Act of 2008” and the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009”.



To ensure that these taxpayer loans and investments are protected and do not lose their value due to either latent defects and/or undiscovered or undisclosed damage that goes unrepaired I fervently hope that you will include a provision for private sector led annual inspections as identified and determined essential (but not implemented) by HUD in the early 1980’s.



“Establish a building inspection protocol based on the protocols of the Housing and Urban Development Healthy Home’s program. The inspection protocol should be such that a single certified inspector can conduct, at a minimum, a comprehensive building inspection for allergens, radon, lead and volatile organic compounds as well as inspections for moisture, mold, energy efficiency, pests and pesticides.



Require an annual building inspection for all federally-insured mortgages (covering HUD, FHA and Ginnie Mae), mortgages securitized by government sponsored enterprises (Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae), mortgages by lending institutions or properties insured by institutions receiving funds through the “Troubled Asset Relief Act of 2008”, and all properties leased and/or owned by the U.S. Government. ”



We truly believe that your attention and support right now can and will ensure an economic recovery in the United States of America and security for U.S. taxpayers. We have asked our colleagues in industry and our partners in local and state governments to similarly support these important initiatives and we will do our best to demonstrate our support in future actions.





Sincerely,



List your name and address here

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This is truly designed to stimulate the economy and create business for appraisers and home inspectors.

We will keep you up-to-date as we learn more. The House and Senate will be meeting to decide on the final language and the more letters shipped immediately will have a positive effect on the process! The time to send a real snail mail letter is now!
We have listed the Elected Officials who need to receive this letter as soon as possible!
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The Important Elected Officials To Receive This Letter:



The Honorable Harry Reid

Majority Leader of the Senate

U.S. Senate

S-221 U.S. Capitol Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

(202) 224-5556

(202) 224-7327 Fax



The Honorable Mitch McConnell

Minority Leader of the Senate

U.S. Senate

S-230 U.S. Capitol Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

(202) 224-3135

(202) 224-2499 Fax



The Honorable Robert Byrd

Chairman of the Appropriations Committee

U.S. Senate

S-131 U.S. Capitol Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

(202) 224-7363

(202) 224-2100 fax



The Honorable Thad Cochran

Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee

U.S. Senate

S-131 U.S. Capitol Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

(202) 224-7257

(202) 228-0904 fax



The Honorable Nancy Pelosi

Speaker of the House of Representatives

U.S. House of Representatives

H-232 U.S. Capitol Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

(202) 225-0100

(202) 225-4188 Fax



The Honorable Steny Hoyer

Majority Leader of the House of Representatives

U.S. House of Representatives

H-107 U.S. Capitol Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

(202) 225-3130

(202) 226-0663 Fax



The Honorable John A. Boehner

Minority Leader of the House of Representatives

U.S. House of Representatives

H-204 U.S. Capitol Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

(202) 225-4000

(202) 225-5117 Fax



The Honorable David R. Obey

Chairman of the Appropriations Committee

U.S. House of Representatives

H-218 U.S. Capitol Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

(202) 225-2771



The Honorable Jerry Lewis

Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee

U.S. House of Representatives

1016 Longworth House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

(202) 225-3481

(202) 225-9476 Fax

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Thank you for your help in this matter, and thank you for your participation in sending this letter. We are working to benefit the industry and increase business for inspectors and appraisers throughout the Country.

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[Gerry Pallotta]

Barry
Not an American but sounds good to me if especially it creates inspections for you guys.
I will assume that inspector's would have to met HUD criteria though.

[Steve Taylor]

Be careful what you wish for. Standardization of forms and processes will ultimately drive down fees. Correct me if I am wrong but didn't standardization of reports in Texas drive down fees and reduce inspections/inspectors to a commodity?

[Greg Bell]

I had to go puke after just the first sentence. I wouldn't commend those jack*****s for anything that they are doing now.

[Johnny Boysz]

It would certainly be nice to see a forced inspection, much like the banks force appraisals. However, if it is accomplished it will be in typical government fashion. As Steve has pointed out though it will force the inspection process, and the Inspectors, into a "Commodity" syndrome. The government would eventually, if not initially, set the inspection fee rate and exactly what is to be inspected. Neither of those factors will be properly considered and the inspection process will turn into a joke!

The concept is good, but the intended target of the mail campaign and the message is flawed. It is the mortgage institutions that should be targeted with the message. They are the ones that should be driving a forced inspection concept. after all, they are the ones that are financing some of the junk out there now. It can help protect their investment.

[Ralph M. Smith]

Your kidding right? This is not what we want. This is just more government intrusion into the private sector. Just like the stimulus bill itself, sounds good on the surface but the more you see what it really is the more it stinks. The more the public is educated, the more inspections are performed. That is what is good for our busness.

[Ralph M. Smith]

The concept is good, but the intended target of the mail campaign and the message is flawed. It is the mortgage institutions that should be targeted with the message. They are the ones that should be driving a forced inspection concept. after all, they are the ones that are financing some of the junk out there now. It can help protect their investment.

Well put Johnny. By the way I have seen nothing in the last few years that makes me want to label my repsentatines, either Senate or House, "Honerable"

[Dennis Hodkinson]

I think that there is already something in the bill that is going to require the mortgage lenders to have all foreclosed homes "inspected" on a weekly basis to preserve the governments "investment". So, the mortgage companies will contact the Realtors and they will basically do the inspections or have a friend or family member do it to make money.
As far as the letter to the hill, I think it should read something in the terms that the inspections should be done in accordance with each States home inspection requirements/guidelines were applicable.

[Nick Gromicko]

The day they mandate home inspection will be the day we should all get out and find another profession.

[Blaine Wiley]

Originally Posted by gromicko

The day they mandate home inspection will be the day we should all get out and find another profession.

Amen, absolutely, positively, no question about it.

Government in, common sense out!

[Steve Taylor]

True

[mmurphy4]

Ditto on there being nothing "honorable" about our government leaders. I cant support anything that will make the government larger and more involved in the economy!

[Russell J. Hensel]

they have forced weekly inspections here in Florida..........they pay a WHOPPING......hold on to your hats....$5 per visit. Its great of they are all within the same area, but Lee county is big...Some are close to each other and others are not...I would image all out day is about 25 homes. WOW.....$125 and you get wear and tear on car...........I passed....