News

The National Council of Housing Market Analysts (NCHMA), a professional association of real estate market analysts and appraisers, has announced a new version of the organization’s Model Content Standards for Rental Housing Market Studies and Market Study Index. These documents contain recommended guidelines for the content of market studies prepared by market analysts on proposed new construction or substantial rehabilitation of multifamily housing projects.

The House of Representatives Appropriations Committee recently approved FY 2014 spending caps, known as 302(b) allocations, for its 12 individual appropriations Subcommittees, including the Transportation-HUD (T-HUD) and Agriculture-Rural Development Subcommittees.

Representative David McKinley (R-WV) recently introduced a bill entitled Preserving America’s Downtown and Heritage Act of 2013 (HR 2042) which would increase the rehabilitation credit for commercial buildings and provide a rehabilitation credit for principal residences.

NH&RA member firm, CohnReznick recently released a report examining the relationship between low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) pricing and banks that invest in certain geographies in order to meet certain conditions under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) of 1977.

A bipartisan coalition of U.S. lawmakers recently introduced the Hurricane Sandy Tax Relief Act of 2013 (H.R.2137) to provide tax relief for victims of Hurricane Sandy in areas designated as federal disaster areas by the president.

The taxpayer in the Historic Boardwalk Hall (HBH) vs. Commissioner case recently filed a petition for a Writ of Certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court seeking reversal in the U.S. Third Circuit Court’s opinion.

In his State of the City speech earlier this year, Washington, DC Mayor Vincent Gray pledged $100 million towards affordable housing for the District of Columbia. The plan that will guide the administration’s affordable housing efforts was recently unveiled. “Bridges to Opportunity: A New Housing Strategy for DC” was produced by a task force appointed by the Mayor in 2012 and proposes three broad strategic goals and 24 Action Items to achieve those goals.

HUD has published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the FY-2013 Annual Adjustment Factors (AFF) for adjustment of contract rents for units assisted in certain Section 8 housing assistance payment programs during the initial (i.e., pre-renewal) term of the HAP contract and for all units in the Project-Based Certificate program.

The Louisiana House of Representatives recently approved H.B. 726 by a vote of 66-33, a measure to create a state New Markets Jobs Tax Credit to provide incentives for private businesses to invest in low-income rural and “emerging urban” communities.

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad yesterday signed Senate File 436 into law to modify the rules for the state Historic Preservation and Cultural and Entertainment District Tax Credit, making the program easier to use and expanding eligibility.

The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority Board of Directors approved the draft 2013 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP).

HUD recently issued Notice PIH-2013-11 to provide instructions for submitting requests for Subsidy Layering Reviews (SLRs) according to various guidelines.