Aiken Realtors Meet With Leaders, Question Tax Increases

Aiken, SC—This group of realtors sat down today to figure out how to stand up to some legislators, and get laws they say are scaring off potential buyers, taken off the books.

Nick Kremydas, CEO, South Carolina Association of Realtors: “You could easily be talking about 300-400% increase in taxes.“

The audience included city and state leaders, who listened to some of the hot topics like “point of sale,“ a tax that’s recently been catching buyers off guard. It’s a tax increase on property sales, and it can be up to a 400% increase from the previous year’s property taxes.

Kremydas: “If you area planning to sell your home, if you are planning to buy your home, if you’re planning to give some of your property to your children, there all going to be hit with potential increases in their property taxes.“

Local realtor Lawana Furtick says additional taxes only fuel a weak housing market.

Lawana Furtick, President Aiken Board of Realtors: “When they get that bill, some people can’t resell because the tax bill is so high.

She’s asking representatives like Tom Young to change the law, maybe even repeal it.

Furtick: “This is what we want them to know, that we are standing as one. We are the largest group with the largest trade association in South Carolina and we have a voice, and we are really representing the public.“

Leaders say they’ll take the information all the way to the bank.

Rep. Tom Young: “The real estate market got us into the mess that we’re in now with the banks, and I think that it’s going to be part of the solution to get us out of this fiscal mess.“

Home sales in South Carolina are down about 34%, and that number is the same in Aiken County price values, however, are stable.