News

The National Trust for Historic Preservation and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are inviting nominations for the 2009 HUD Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has published three new comprehensive housing market analysis reports for Albuquerque, NM, Ventura County, CA, and Shreveport-Bossier City, LA.

The Alabama Housing Finance Authority has announced the availability on its Web site of the 2009 application package, including instructions and supporting attachments, for the authority’s new funding round for low-income housing tax credits and federal HOME funds.

Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies has published a new report on the nation’s multifamily housing finance system and the role of the federal government, HUD, FHA, and the government-sponsored enterprises in the system.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced its intention to sell certain unsubsidized multifamily and healthcare mortgage loans, without Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insurance, in a competitive, sealed bid sale.

In his newly released proposed FY 2010 state budget, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) has said he plans to submit legislation that would revise and enhance the state’s Heritage Tax Credit Program, which provides a state tax credit for the rehabilitation and renovation of historically and culturally significant properties, preserving Maryland’s architectural heritage.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has published comprehensive housing market analyses for the Abilene, Texas and Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas areas.

The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency will now require analysts conducting market studies for proposed LIHTC projects in New Jersey to certify that “he or she is a certified member of the National Council of Affordable Housing Market Analysts.”

In an interview reported by the Boston Globe, U.S. Representative Barney Frank indicated he wants the government to spend $10 billion on stalled low-income housing tax credit projects unable to secure equity.

The U.S. Senate Banking Committee held a confirmation hearing for Shaun Donovan, President-elect Barack Obama’s choice for Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The U.S. Senate Finance Committee on January 23 released a draft of its own version of the tax component of the economic stimulus bill (the “Chairman’s Mark”) that the committee is scheduled to mark up on January 27. The House Appropriations and Ways and Means Committees have already marked up and approved the spending and tax portions of the House version of the stimulus bill (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009). The full House could vote on the package next week.

After adopting several amendments, the House Appropriations Committee approved HR 352 on a vote of 35-22. The measure is scheduled to be marked-up by two additional committees before being voted on by the full House of Representatives.