HOUSTON ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® HOSTS GOVERNOR RICK PERRY FOR APPRAISAL REFORM BILL SIGNING

Hundreds watch event live on HAR.com via streaming video feed

HOUSTON — (July 9, 2009) — With the offices of the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR) as the setting, Governor Rick Perry today signed two appraisal reform measures into law. House Bills 8 and 3613 will help slow the pace of increasing property appraisals, provide additional oversight for the appraisal process, and grant a total exemption for the homes of veterans who are disabled due to their service for our country.

“This session, I called on members of the Legislature to continue efforts to reform our appraisal system so that Texas citizens won’t continue getting stuck with higher taxes,” Gov. Perry said. “I believe these two bills move Texas forward in this area by attempting to slow the steady upward pressure on appraisals across the state, but there is still more work to be done to further protect Texas homeowners against increasing appraisals.”

Perry was joined by the bills’ authors, State Senator Tommy Williams and State Representative John Otto, as well as State Senator Dan Patrick, State Representative Kino Flores and HAR Chair Vicki Fullerton.

“It was a great honor to host Governor Perry and the distinguished lawmakers who worked so closely with Realtors to pass this legislation that promises meaningful financial relief for Texas homeowners,” said Fullerton.

The bill signing was the first event of its kind to be broadcast live on HAR.com via a streaming video feed, and drew nearly 250 viewers. Using the same leading-edge technology that has produced many new features on HAR.com, HAR plans to provide live streaming coverage of future programs in an ongoing effort to enhance communications with its Realtor members and consumers.