RISMEDIA, April 7, 2006—Texas can brag about affordable housing, but sports dismal numbers in actual homeownership rates; our state homeownership levels lag four points behind the rest of the U.S. at only 65% versus the national average of 69%. That figures ranks Texas 45th in the country for homeownership.

Real estate industry experts say it is because of the T word: Taxes. For this reason, thousands of Texas real estate professionals and property owners are rallying in Austin, Monday, April 17 for property tax reduction at the opening of the special session of the Texas Legislature.

Texas Realtors support property-tax relief that would not result in increased costs for homeownership. They support the Texas Tax Reform Commission’s recommendations of lowering school property taxes and creating a low-rate, broad-based business tax to fund public schools.

Buses will be loading up from El Paso to El Campo and San Antonio to San Augustine, all en route to Austin as a show of force to state lawmakers.

Houston participants will get on the bus at 6:30 a.m. at the west parking lot of the First Baptist Church located at 7401 Katy Freeway to join those in Austin. The Austin rally, including a speech from Governor Rick Perry, will be held on the Capitol steps at 11 a.m.

Slightly reminiscent of the famed Boston voices against taxation without representation, the Austin “T” Party will issue symbolic tea bags and buttons as a show of solidarity.

1 Source: U.S. Census Bureau