General News

On December 17, Governor Charlie Baker (R) signed the supplemental budget to close out the $1 billion surplus from Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. The budget includes $2.5 million for a down payment assistance program for first-time homebuyers with low and moderate incomes as well as $2 million for a rental and mortgage arrearage assistance pilot […]

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (FHLBank Boston) is hosting three sessions to assess its Affordable Housing Program (AHP) priorities and competitive scoring framework to ensure that the program remains a vital, flexible capital source to support a wide range of affordable housing initiatives across New England and the communities its members serve.

Governor Ralph Northam (D-VA) announced his proposed budget will include $92 million in new funding to address housing affordability, eviction rates and supportive housing throughout the Commonwealth. The Governor’s proposed budget invests $63 million in the Virginia Housing Trust Fund (VHTF), bringing the total amount to $84 million over three years.

The United States Conference of Mayors has issued a new report “Mayor’s Vision For America: A 2020 Call To Action” which calls for new investments in infrastructure, innovation and inclusion.  The report outlines 12 priorities including to “make housing more affordable and end homelessness.”  The report specifically calls for increased funding for the Community Development Block Grant and HOME Program as well as the creation of a new program for blighted neighborhood restoration.  Additionally, the report calls for the expansion of rental housing supply noting, “There is an increased need for rental housing. The nation needs to create and pursue policies to develop more rental housing.

On November 20, 2019 Legislation introduced in the South Carolina Legislature  that would create a state low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) for properties in opportunity zones. Analysis of the legislation by Novogradac & Company finds that the measure “would create a 25 percent tax credit for investment in the state’s OZs and add OZs to other state incentive programs.

Lei Ding and Peter Birke of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia have published a report on Opportunity Zones, “How Are Cities Leveraging Opportunity Zones for Community Development? Philadelphia as a Case Study.”  Using Philadelphia as a case study, this study intends to reflect on the selection of Opportunity Zones in major cities and to explore real estate market trends and residential mobility in designated zones in Philadelphia.

Due to the city’s ongoing budget crunch, newly-elected Nashville Mayor John Cooper has proposed to cut funding in half for the Barnes Fund for Affordable Housing.  The city faces an estimated budget shortfall of $41.5 million.  Mayor Cooper indicated the city would only award $5 million in Barnes Fund Grants this year.  The Barnes Fund […]

The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is seeking feedback on the NOFA and program guidelines for the next round of its Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) program. Thanks to new, voter-approved housing bonds, the TOD program will be releasing a new NOFA in 2020. In preparation, HCD invites you to help shape Round 4 Guidelines by reviewing the Round 3 Guidelines from Fiscal Year 2013-2014 and providing feedback.

The California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) recently published a term-sheet for its new Mixed-Income Program (“MIP”), which provides competitive long-term subordinate financing for new construction multifamily housing projects restricting units (tax credit or CalHFA) between 30% and 120% of county Area Median Income (“AMI”).

The Six District Court of Appeals in California issued a ruling on November 26, 2019 requiring the City of San Jose to comply with a state law that requires cities to make surplus public land available for affordable housing.  The San Francisco Chronicle reports that, “The ruling, if it stands, will apply to 121 cities […]

The Washington State Housing Finance Commission named Steve Walker as its new executive director after a nationwide search. Walker returns to the Commission, where he was director of Multifamily Housing and Community Facilities until 2013, after most recently leading the City of Seattle Office of Housing.

Kingsley Associates released an executive summary of findings from confidential interviews with 31 large institutional investors and investment advisors on the topic of affordable housing investment. They found three main reasons these investors chose not to invest in affordable housing:

The Federal Government’s “onerous rules and regulations.”
The miseducation (or under-education) of the investment community.
Investing in affordable housing solely to meet a mandate.