Oh my gosh… they must be kidding!  The new budget is calling for a reduction of the mortgage interest deduction. This reduction in deductible expenses will be for high income earners making more than $250,000 a year.  This group will see the deduction fall to 28 cents per dollar down from the current 35 cents for every dollar of their deductible expense.  In our area, this will effect a vast majority of home-buyers, which will further erode sales.   Please, please call your congressperson, your Senators and tell them no way, no how.  Here is today’s news release we received from the National Association of Realtors, who plan on fighting this all the way, and why they are doing so:

	Dear Fellow REALTOR®,You may have seen news reports about President Obama€™s budget proposal that was released today at 11:30 AM Eastern Time. A small section of the sweeping budget plan has the potential to become a major impediment to a recovery in real estate markets across the nation. NAR is 100% opposed to the provision that modifies the Mortgage Interest Deduction and is prepared to use its formidable array of resources against its enactment.As currently drafted, the plan changes the Mortgage Interest Deduction by reducing the amount of mortgage deductibility on families earning over $250,000. This proposed change in the Mortgage Interest Deduction will result in further erosion of home prices and home values. If this proposal is enacted it will lead to a new round of price depreciation, will cause greater distress on the balance sheets of banks as the collateral value of mortgage backed securities declines. A second credit crisis could emerge before the first one is resolved.As you read this NAR is launching a multiphase plan of action to eliminate this provision from the budget plan. In the next 24 hours, NAR will be expressing our concerns directly to President Obama, to all members of the United States House of Representatives and the Senate, placing advertisements in the publications read by Washington, DC decision makers. Additionally, NAR will be forming a coalition with other groups affected by this proposal. This communication is the first part of our response, we will continue to update you as the situation and events warrant.Sincerely, Charles McMillan, CIPS, GRI 2009 NAR President