The ComReal Companies are proud to announce that Edward Redlich has been selected as the “2014 Commercial Realtor of the Year” by the Realtor Commercial Alliance (RCA) of Miami.

RCA Miami is one of the largest commercial Realtor organizations in the country with approximately 1,700 active members in South Florida and is part of the Miami Association of Realtors (MAR) which is the 2nd largest board of Realtors in the world with over 141,000 members in South Florida. RCA Miami members specialize in office, industrial, retail, multifamily, investment and other commercial disciplines. Redlich served as the 2014 Commercial President for RCA Miami and is currently serving as the 2014-2015 President of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) Florida Chapter, which is comprised of nearly 180 members. In addition, he is the Vice Chairman for the Commercial Alliance Committee with Florida Realtors which has over 141,000 members. Although he volunteered heavily with all of these organizations, Redlich still made time to lead his team to book over $45,000,000 worth of sales/lease transaction volume in 2014.

Redlich is a native Miamian, graduate of Florida International University (FIU) and has been a licensed Realtor for two decades. Redlich comes from a real estate family, joined by both parents and a sister, who have all been affiliated with the profession.

For more information about the Realtor Commercial Alliance (RCA) of Miami, please visit their website at www.miamire.com

Dear Florida Legislator,

It was a pleasure to meet with you and your staff for the “Great American Realtor Days” in Tallahassee on March 19th. We sincerely appreciate your hospitality and precious time. As you know, Florida Realtors is the largest trade association in the state with more than 127,000 members. In addition, we represent thousands of small, medium and large businesses throughout the state. Every business that leases commercial property in Florida must pay the state sales tax of 6%. Florida is the only state in the nation that charges such a tax. The Florida Realtors as well as the business community aims to reduce and/or eliminate this unfair tax.

To our understanding, you are aware of the Realtors’ plight this year to make a nominal reduction to the sales tax on rent paid or commercial properties. We respect your decision either way, however below are a few reasons why you should support Realtors and Florida businesses on this issue:

•    Since Florida is the only state in the USA that levies such a tax, other competing states are using this to our disadvantage. The Economic Development Organizations (EDO’S) of other states try to persuade businesses against locating and/or expanding to Florida. There is a fierce competition to create jobs across the country. Higher taxes do not help us recruit new employment opportunities. According to a 2012 survey by Site Selection, Florida ranks 36th in attracting new businesses from a tax perspective.

•    If we reduce the overall occupancy costs then businesses may hire more employees; invest in training and education of employees; offer more healthcare and retirement benefits; open additional locations; and more.

•    One of the most menacing facts about doing business in Florida is that the sales tax is charged on top of property taxes. This is double taxation. This is simply not fair.

•    If and when the entire 6% sales tax is repealed, over 185,000 new employment opportunities would occur along with an estimated $20,000,000,000 positive economic impact. This would be five times the revenue impact according to Economic Impacts of Sales Tax Reduction on Commercial Property Leases by Fishkind & Associates, August 2013.

We understand that the revenue generated from the tax is about $1.2B. However, please keep in mind, that in addition to this tax, businesses are paying many, many other taxes, permits, fees, tolls, etc. to national, state, county and local taxing authorities. The feedback that we receive from our mutual customers (i.e. the people of Florida) is that they are simply being over taxed and over regulated. Please help support Florida Realtors and businesses by making at least a nominal reduction to the sales tax.

Thank you very much for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Edward J. Redlich, P.A., SIOR, CCIM
President
Realtor Commercial Alliance (RCA) Miami
786-433-2379
ERedlich@ComReal.com
www.MiamiRE.com/Commercial

CC: Paul Cauchi, Sr. Vice President of Commercial, Miami Assoc. of Realtors
Bruno Lopes, Vice President of Government Affairs & Housing, Miami Assoc. of Realtors
John Sebree, Senior Vice President of Public Policy | Florida Realtors