By Walt Harvey (R), ABR, CRS, GRI, SRES, ePRO
The 2005 Hawaii Legislature is back in session and one of the state’s trade organizations, the Hawaii Association of Realtors© (HAR), will be lobbying the legislators on issues concerning private property rights. HAR’s membership of over 8,000 Realtors© is very politically active and many consumers are unaware of how HAR’s Legislative Committee works to protect property owners and those who would like to become home owners.
Their pro-active agenda this session involves four main issues: Economic Development, County Zoning of Agricultural Land, Statutory Agency, and Residential Landlord-Tenant Code. Here are key points of HAR’s positions:
Economic Development: “Support legislative initiatives that provide significant potential for job creation, real estate investment, and the development of residential and commercial real estate, including affordable residential rentals… Promote … products and resources that expand housing availability and ensure an adequate supply of housing opportunities in both the rental and homeownership sectors of the market.
Oppose legislation that increases fees and taxes, in particular the general excise tax which adversely impacts residential landlords and tenants, as well as the viability of small businesses and consumers. … Promote government efficiency and reduce the burden of government regulation.”
County Zoning of Agricultural Land: “Support county home rule as it relates to the zoning of agricultural land. Reduce duplication of zoning designations by the state and counties. Preserve important agricultural lands, while reclassifying small, subdivided agricultural lots to the state’s rural district. Support the abolition of the Land Use Commission… and …reclassification of marginal or non-productive agricultural land to residential use.”
Statutory Agency and Non-Agency Brokerage Relationships: “Introduce and support legislation to establish statutory agency and non-agency brokerage relationships for the real estate industry in Hawaii. Clarify the duties and obligations of the parties…”
Residential Landlord-Tenant Code: “Introduce and support legislation to amend… Residential Landlord-Tenant Code to strengthen the landlord’s and/or property owner’s ability to evict tenants who engage in illegal drug activity.”
Please contact your Realtor© for additional information.
Walt Harvey is a real estate broker with East Oahu Realty and works with his wife Arla. They specialize in residential, commercial and investment real estate and can be reached on their website: www.coastalhawaii.com. Have a real estate question? E-mail us at walt@coastalhawaii.com or call 375-8959.
Published in Small Business News, February 2005.