Posted on 06/19/2006 7:36:52 PM PDT by neverdem
A measure meant to deny jobs and services to illegal immigrants has even legal residents rethinking their future in the state.
ATLANTA — Two months ago, all Alina Arguello had to do to find Latino home buyers was put up a sign and answer her phone.
But ever since Georgia passed one of the most stringent and far-reaching immigration laws in the nation, the number of Latino buyers who call the Re/Max agent's home office in suburban Atlanta has dwindled from about 10 to two a day.
"We're seeing a drastic drop," she said. "There's just a tremendous amount of people who want homes, but are not calling." Many real estate agents and mortgage providers who cater to Spanish-speaking immigrants across Georgia say that the flourishing Latino home buying market has faltered since April, when Gov. Sonny Perdue signed the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act.
Almost immediately, Latino home buyers pulled out of contracts. Some who had already bought, put their homes on the market. And many prospective buyers stopped searching for homes.
Although Georgia's new legislation does not prohibit illegal immigrants from owning property, many wonder whether they will want to live in Georgia when it begins to come into effect in July 2007.
The law will require companies with state contracts to verify employees' immigration status, penalize employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, curtail many government benefits to illegal immigrants and require that jailers check the immigration status of anyone who is charged with a felony or driving under the influence.
"For Latinos, buying a home is the American dream, but, you know, at this time they are hesitant to accomplish that dream," said Eliezer Velez, who provides housing advice for immigrants through Atlanta's Latin American Assn.
The recent caution among Latino home buyers has caught many...
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
I'm racking my brain in search of the down side to this story.
there are so many US businesses that rely on as much population growth as possible, for them to make a buck, and they use their money as political clout to try and influence government policy.
Wanna buy a house? Learn English, and prove your LEGAL status. Then, go right ahead.
Bump that.
All states need to do this - kill the incentives for illegals staying here and they'll go home on their own.
I guess we'll see more coming up 85 to Charlotte.
Illegally sneak into Mexico, and try to buy a home. Chances are that they'll sell you the house; take your money, then ship your sorry butt back, and then foreclose on your house.
We are the ONLY country on the planet that sells land to foreign nationals (both legal, and illegal). What can I say, we're idiots.
The down side is for everyone who doesn't live in GA - they're going to scatter like cockroaches ...
That's the crux of the matter. US businesses need the cheap labor, need the customers. As long as taxpayers pay for the benefits, businesses will have it good for a while, that is until the entire country collapses.
I'd be willing to bet that Governor Perdue would loan a copy of the law to N.C. legislators.
indeed, this is proof of this. forced deportation and police roundups aren't needed. just dis-incentivize the system by enforcing laws against employers and landlords, even using only civil fines, do it everywhere, and many illegals will essentially deport themselves. have 2-3 years of that, with border security, then we can come back and assess what we really need as a national policy regarding numbers of LEGAL immigrants and guest workers.
No matter what your view of Mexican immigration and the need to control it, consider this, just my opinion: If Mexican immigrants stop buying homes, there will be a severe pullback in home values.
Adios, amigos. Don't let la puerta hit your culata on the way out.
Gringos...ie Americans are not allowed to own property in Mexico. There is some 100 year lease which is sort of like owning but I don't think you can pass it on when you die.
so what. based on that approach, we should let the whole world come here (legally or illegally) and push housing demand/prices through the roof.
What fo legal Latinos have to worry about?
Seems to be working, but I don't see why legal residents would leave unless they are stupid.
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