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Inside: Property Tax Cut in Your Future? ✂️ + Four Seasons Residences 🤤 

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(*unbiased opinion)

WHAT'S INSIDE

• 🔢 THE DATA

• 🤠 WHAT’S HAPPENING AROUND TOWN

• ⁉️ WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU

• 🤤 HOUSE WORTH DROOLING OVER

🔢 THE DATA

I’m an ex-dentist turned Realtor - let’s work together! Email me, tweet me or send me a carrier pigeon. 🐦️ 

How are home builders dealing with tariffs?

The WSJ is reporting that builders and contractors are accumulating materials and scaling back construction plans to mitigate the anticipated effects of tariffs.

Doesn’t sound great.

It’s not. Some contractors are paying out of pocket to stockpile materials like lumber, windows, cabinetry and steel. Builders anticipate that when/if the tariffs take effect, the cost of increased goods will be passed on to buyers within a matter of months.

What does the tariff delay mean?

The President is delaying some tariffs impacting Mexico and has left builders more confused about what’s next.

Larger companies are using this time to prepare. They will likely be able to use size and leverage to resist price fluctuations with oversees suppliers. Smaller builders may be boxed out with rising material costs and tougher competition.

What does this all mean for me?

According to the National Association of Home Builders - “more than 70% of imported softwood lumber and nearly one-third of the imported gypsum used for drywall—both essential to residential construction—come from Canada and Mexico.” The NAHB estimates that tariffs could increase the cost of new single-family homes between $7,500 and $10,000.

It will be interesting to see how this practically plays out - there are many strong opinions as we enter uncharted territory.

Read more here.

🤠 WHAT’S HAPPENING AROUND TOWN

To help homeowners or not? That is the $6B question.

What’s going on?

Texas lawmakers have $6B set aside to reduce property taxes. They (obviously) can’t agree on if homeowners or business should benefit most.

Um. Homeowners? Please?

The Texas Senate wants the larger cut to benefit homeowners but the Texas House of Representative wants to include significant relief for businesses.

What is the Senate’s plan?

The Senate bill calls to increase the homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000. Increasing exemption amounts will reduce the taxable value of a home and lower future property tax bills.

Proponents say a homestead exemption is fair and provides comprehensive relief to all homeowners.

The Senate, like the House, plans for $3B to lower the school tax rates.

Under the Texas Senate plan - a Texas homeowner with a home value of $302,000 could see savings of $500 on school taxes.

What is the House’s plan?

Under the Texas House plan - a Texas homeowner with a home value of $302,000 could see savings of $204 on school taxes.

What’s going to happen?

Politics, I guess. Both the House and Senate’s plans have drawn criticism. I will keep you updated on what comes next.

⁉️ WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU

If you’re a buyer/seller/investor/renter or just interested in real estate - this weekly newsletter will help guide your decision making and help you better understand the market.

🤤 HOUSE WORTH DROOLING OVER

So much reading today - here is a beautiful palate cleanser.

I have to come back to this every once in a while because sometimes you want the comfort of your home and the experience of a luxury hotel. Your answer - the residences at the Four Seasons.

100,000 square feet of private amenities and direct lake access - 2,000 acres of protected land and 3,070 feet of private waterfront.

Hate cooking? Agreed. No worries here - skip down to a private restaurant curated by Michelin starred chef Daniel Boulud.

That’s not even scratching the amenities surface but I’ll let you see for yourself. Yours for $7,775,000.
+$5,808 monthly HOA but let’s ignore that for now.

Thank you for being here! Reply to this email if you have any questions or just to say hello! 👋 

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