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Tag: Real estate economics

Published on Leave a comment on Spain cuts Property Tax

Spain has announced plans to try to tackle the severe problems facing its housing market

The Spanish Government has decided to try to create more demand for new properties by cutting IVA (VAT) from 8 to 4 per cent thus saving a property purchaser a sizeable €8,000 on a €200,000 purchase.

Spain's economy was plunged into recession following the collapse of its once-buoyant property sector.

The government is also hoping that building projects will help create jobs and cut the unemployment rate, which is one of the highest in the eurozone.

A reduction in tax paid on new properties and incredibly low prices are set to boost the Spanish property market, according to real estate professionals.

The 50 per cent reduction in VAT is applicable until 31st December 2011 and has been widely welcomed by the property industry.

bbc.co.uk

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Published on 1 Comment on Can Housing Policy be an Effective Stimulus?

Changing housing policy benefits economy at a local level

The housing market predicts local economic conditions. There is a correlation between the percentage of underwater mortgages in a state (i.e., mortgages on which the homeowner owes more than his property is worth) and the unemployment rate.

“There’s no environmental review to conduct or long-delay in actually getting this into motion; underwater consumers who want to knock a few hundred dollars off their mortgages are well-incentivized to initiate, carry out and make sure this gets completed themselves. It outsources much of the bureaucratic requirements to those consumers who stand to benefit” - Mike Konczal.

washingtonpost.com