Statement from Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater Regarding the Federal Housing Finance Authority’s Proposed Housing Tax on Floridians

TALLAHASSEE, FL – December 12, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater released the following statement regarding his public comments to the Federal Housing Finance Authority regarding the proposed tax on Floridians. The FHFA proposal would increase Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s Guarantee Fee (“g-fee”) which could raise the total lifetime cost of mortgages by potentially thousands of dollars for aspiring homebuyers.

“This proposed fee is nothing more than a back-door housing tax that unfairly penalizes future homeowners and strains an already fragile housing market.

“Taxpayers have already spent nearly $190 billion bailing out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, of which only a fraction has been paid back. It is unconscionable to think that more of taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars will be added to their coffers through higher fees.

“This housing tax is short-sighted and financially burdensome and it should be withdrawn.”