News

This Guide was created as part of the Energy Efficiency For All Project, a joint effort of the Natural Resources Defense Council, the National Housing Trust, the Energy Foundation, and Elevate Energy. Electric and gas utilities in the U.S. invest billions of dollars annually to help their customers become more energy efficient, often by making […]

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), National Housing Trust (NHT), Energy Foundation, Elevate Energy, and New Ecology are conducting a multistate and multiyear Energy Efficiency for All affordable multifamily housing efficiency project with the goal of cost effectively reducing energy consumption as a means of maintaining housing affordability, creating healthier and more comfortable living environments […]

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that it is revising the affordable housing lending categories that are excluded from the multifamily lending purchase caps established in the 2015 Scorecard for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Ginnie Mae announced that effective June 1, 2015, USDA Section 538 Multifamily loans with a maximum loan amount of 70% of total development costs will be eligible for pooling into Ginnie Mae mortgage-backed securities (MBS). This is an increase from the previously allowable maximum loan amount of 50% of the total development costs.

Boston Capital is investing in the construction of a 72-unit apartment community. The apartment community will be built with tax credit equity from the LIHTC program. Homes will be available to individuals and families earning 60 percent or less of the area median income (AMI).

Senators introduced a bill on May 5 to create a permanent floor for the low income housing tax credit. The bill is identical to the one introduced to the House in late February.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released recently a draft form of an updated Multifamily Accelerated Processing (MAP) Guide. The agency is inviting stakeholders to provide feedback until May 14, 2015.

Methodist Retirement Community worked with Lancaster Pollard to refinance the Happy Harbor Apartments, a 51-unit affordable seniors housing community with a Sec. 8 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contract on all 51 units.

House Appropriations Transportation-HUD subcommittee approved a fiscal 2016 appropriations bill that would provide $55.27 in discretionary spending for infrastructure and housing programs. The measure would put FY-2016 funding above 2015 enacted levels, but still fall short of the Obama Administration’s budget request.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program is launching Water Wednesdays. The project intends to help HUD project officers and HUD grantees incorporate water efficiency into their programs and projects.

A property that was under development in Baltimore by the Woda Group was destroyed in a massive fire. The development, which was 45% complete, plans to replace a blighted block with 61 units of affordable senior housing and service, counseling, and job training space.

Congress passed a bill that will implement new measures to encourage building owners and tenants to use more cost-effective energy efficiency and water efficiency measures. The bill is a more modest version of a larger efficiency bill sponsored by Senators Portman and Shaheen.