- May 18, 2012
On May 14, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) released for public comment its draft strategic plan for fiscal years 2013-2017. To help inform NCSHA’s comments, please send your reaction to NCSHA’s Garth Rieman by June 6.
- May 17, 2012
During the hearing, Committee members and the sole witness, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, discussed ways to promote mortgage refinancing, including the Responsible Homeowner Refinancing Act of 2012, S. 3085 , introduced May 10 by Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA). S. 3085 would amend the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) to expand refinancing opportunities for homeowners with Fannie Mae- or Freddie Mac-owned loans.
- May 17, 2012
On Friday, May 11, NCSHA submitted comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on HUD’s proposed Annual Customer Service Survey of Performance-Based Contract Administrators (PBCAs). HUD plans to use this survey to determine which PBCAs may earn an annual incentive fee for customer service, as stipulated in the 2011 Annual Contributions Contract. Eleven state HFAs are currently serving as PBCAs under this contract.
- May 17, 2012
On May 15, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) hosted two symposiums featuring Administration officials and housing industry leaders as part of NAR's Midyear Legislative/Regulatory Conference. NCSHA staff attended the events.
- May 16, 2012
The approximately $85 million in funding will be awarded to state housing or other appropriate housing agencies to provide project-based rental assistance for the development of supportive housing for extremely low-income (ELI) persons with disabilities.
- May 14, 2012
HUD has issued Notice CPD 12-007, which provides operating guidance for implementing the HOME oversight provisions included in the FY 2012 HUD funding bill, P.L. 112-55. The requirements apply to all projects receiving FY 2012 HOME funds, including all 2012 CHDO set-aside funds.
- May 14, 2012
On May 3, the IRS formally issued final regulations on Housing Credit qualified contracts providing guidance on taxpayer requests to Housing Credit agencies to obtain qualified contracts for acquisition of low-income buildings. The IRS adopted a number of NCSHA’s recommendations on the proposed rule and recognized the importance of maintaining flexibility for HFAs in administering the qualified contract process.
- May 11, 2012
Earlier today, Holly Glauser, Director of Development for the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, participated in a Housing Credit briefing in Washington, DC for the staff of members of the House of Representatives. The event was coordinated by the co-chairs of the House Real Estate Caucus, Ways and Means Committee member Richard Neal (D-MA) and Congressman Michael Turner (R-OH), with help from NCSHA and other Housing Credit stakeholders.
- May 10, 2012
Last week, the Obama Administration released its April Housing Scorecard. The report paints a mixed picture on the state of the housing market. Although sales of new and existing homes dropped from February to March, mortgage delinquency rates also declined for prime, subprime, and FHA-insured mortgages.
- May 10, 2012
HUD rolled out this week its new eCon Planning Suite, which has three main components: an expanded planning database; a new mapping tool, CPD Maps; and an electronic Consolidated Plan template. According to HUD’s Consolidated Plan Notice, which describes the changes and HUD’s plan for implementation, grantees submitting Consolidated Plans on or after November 15, 2012, are required to use the Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS) to submit the plan and all subsequent Annual Action Plans.
