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A. J. Johnson

A. J. Johnson

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No More Paper Checks for Federal Benefits

April 1, 2011

Paper checks are being phased out for all federal benefit payments. Beginning May 1, 2011, anyone newly applying for Social Security, Veterans benefits or any other federal benefit, will need to choose an electronic payment method – paper checks will…

House Financial Services Committee Discussion Bodes Well for Multifamily Housing

April 1, 2011

At a March 1, 2011 hearing on HUD’s fiscal 2012 budget, there was bipartisan agreement on the need to preserve affordable rental housing. While discussion centered generally on budget cutting, Committee Chairman Spencer Bacchus (R-AL) noted the bipartisan agreement among…

Mississippi Requiring Community Services for LIHTC Projects

April 1, 2011

The Mississippi Home Corporation (MHC) is requiring all 2011 low-income housing tax credit projects to provide tenant services not usually offered in affordable housing. The requirement, which is part of the Agency’s Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) requires that projects commit…

Ohio Considering New Requirements for Tax Credit Market Studies

April 1, 2011

The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) is considering the adoption of new requirements for tax credit project market studies. The changes would include new procedures that will demand more comprehensive conclusions regarding project feasibility. Analysts may also be required to…

HUD Notice Regarding Protection of Tenant Privacy

April 1, 2011

HUD has recently restated its intention to punish owners and managers of HUD assisted housing who fail to adequately safeguard the personally identifiable information (PII) of applicants and tenants in HUD assisted properties. Notice PIH 2010-15(HA), issued on May 6,…

HUD Develops Self-Certification for Owners to Show Eligibility for Weatherization Assistance Program

April 1, 2011

HUD has developed a self-certification procedure enabling owners of HUD-assisted multifamily housing projects to show eligibility for the Department of Energy (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). On January 25, 2010, DOE published a regulation that was intended to reduce the…

Make Sure Your Section 8 Fact Sheet is Up-to-Date

April 1, 2011

HUD issued an updated Section 8 Fact Sheet in September 2010, but HUD noted in a TRACS conference call recently that many owners are still using the Fact Sheet from July 2007. There are differences in the two fact sheets…

Court Confirms that Individuals may be Held Liable for Fair Housing Violations

April 1, 2011

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has held that anyone who commits a prohibited act of discrimination in rental housing may be held personally liable under the Fair Housing Act, regardless of whether that person…

HUD General Counsel Opinion: Medically Prescribed Marijuana Not a Reasonable Accommodation

April 1, 2011

According to a January 20, 2011 HUD Office of General Counsel (OGC) legal opinion, PHAs and owners of federally assisted housing may not permit disabled current or prospective tenants to grow, use, possess, or distribute medical marijuana, even if permitted…

HUD Proposes Expanded Protections for Applicants & Residents at HUD Properties

April 1, 2011

On January 20, 2011, HUD issued a proposed rule clarifying that all otherwise eligible households, regardless of marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity, have an equal opportunity to participate in HUD programs. This rule would also expand the definition…

Program Relief for Flood & Tornado Victims

April 1, 2011

State Housing Finance Agencies in Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Mississippi are relying on IRS Revenue Procedure 2007-54 to provide relief for owners and tenants affected by recent flooding and tornados. The Procedure provides temporary relief from carryover allocation rules, recapture,…

Nations Top Four Apartment Owners are Tax Credit Firms

April 1, 2011

The National Multi Housing (NMHC) as released its annual list of the nation’s 50 largest apartment owners for 2011. The top four on the list are all deeply involved in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program, and are as follows:…

Virtually All HFAs Now Providing Incentives for Preservation Projects

April 1, 2011

According to a National Housing Trust Survey of state qualified allocation plans (QAPs), almost all State Agencies are now awarding points, providing set-asides, and seeking preferences for preservation in the development of tax credit projects. 16 agencies have included preservation…

IRS Releases Updated 8823 Guide

April 1, 2011

The IRS has released the third version of the 8823 Guide, designed to assist State Agencies and taxpayers in understanding IRS requirements relative to compliance with the Section 42 Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program. Changes were not as sweeping as…

Affordable Housing Investors Council Issues New Underwriting Guidelines

April 1, 2011

The Affordable Housing Investors Council (AHIC) has revised their guidelines for the underwriting of low-income housing tax credit projects, calling for increased scrutiny of development and management teams. The revised recommendations include the following: • Investors should closely investigate developer…

President Proposes Changes to Section 42

March 1, 2011

The Obama Administrations fiscal 2012 budget makes changes in the tax provisions that govern the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program. One change would permit a 30 percent basis increase for bond-financed preservation projects that were originally financed with federal funds,…

Use Facts to Fight NIMBYism

March 1, 2011

Developers of affordable housing often face an uphill battle when trying to convince local planning commissions, city councils and community residents that an affordable housing complex will actually be good for a community. A recent report from the National Association…

Connecticut Court Case Good News for Affordable Housing Assessments

March 1, 2011

The Connecticut Superior Court has ruled that low and moderate income housing must be assessed using an income capitalization approach to value, and not a cost approach. This is good news for owners challenging high assessments of affordable properties, even…

New Cell Phone Application Offers Translation Services

March 1, 2011

Codetalker (www.codetalkerinc.com) is a new cell phone application that connects users to a live interpreter for a three-way conversation. Interpreter services for more than 175 languages are available, and the service also offers 24-hour turnaround for translation of documents. This…

Administration Proposes Cutting 538 Funding

March 1, 2011

The Obama Administration’s fiscal 2012 budget includes $95.2 million for Section 515 direct rental housing loans, but no money for Section 538 guaranteed multifamily loans.

Rural Housing Service Issues Final Regs on Continuous Section 538 Guarantee

March 1, 2011

On January 3, 2011, the Rural Housing Service issued final regulations for the Section 538 guaranteed multifamily housing loan program that provide for a single, continuous guarantee for construction and permanent financing. The regulation went into effect on February 2,…

Reminder Regarding DUNS Number

March 1, 2011

Last month, I reviewed the HUD requirement that all owners of HUD assisted properties obtain a Dun and Bradstreet Number no later than March 5, 2011. Failure to do so could result in a loss of subsidy. If you are…

HUD Establishes Rules for Conversion of Efficiencies to One-Bedroom Units

March 1, 2011

HUD Notice H-2011-03, issued on February 1, 2011, outlines procedures for converting efficiency units to one-bedroom units in assisted projects when the demand for efficiencies is weak and the conversion will not increase subsidy costs. While the Notice addresses only…

HUD Issues Notice on Handling the Death of a Sole Household Member

March 1, 2011

Notice PIH 2010-50 (HA), issued January 1, 2011, clarifies the procedures PHAs must follow to avoid housing subsidy overpayments when the sole household member dies, including the treatment of units with live-in-aides. If the only remaining household member is a…

Use Project Binder to Organize for HUD MOR

March 1, 2011

When HUD or Contract Administrators conduct Management & Occupancy Reviews (“MOR”), they will ask for a slew of documents. Failure to have the documents will result in MOR findings that will lower the property’s score. It is a good idea…

Major Cuts – Some Increases in Administration’s 2012 Budget Proposal for HUD

March 1, 2011

The fiscal year 2012 HUD budget proposal released by the Obama Administration increases funding for Section 8 and homeless assistance, but cuts funding for CDBG, HOME, Section 202, and Section 811 housing. HUD is also proposing some key operational changes…

Avoid Lease Addendums Regarding Second Hand Smoke

March 1, 2011

In Upper East Lease Assoc, LLC v. Cannon, January 2011, an owner sued a resident for unpaid rent. The resident claimed that the owner had violated the warranty of habitability by allowing secondhand smoke to infiltrate from a downstairs neighbor.…

Fair Housing v. Security; Be Careful When Deciding Whether to Show an Apartment

March 1, 2011

It is a good management practice to avoid showing apartments when a manager feels threatened in any way. I always advise managers not to show units when they fear being alone with a prospect. However, fair housing law requires the…

TCAP Grants Considered Income By IRS

March 1, 2011

In Chief Counsel Advisory (CCA) 201106008, issued December 3, 2010, the Office of Chief Counsel of the IRS stated that because the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the Recovery Act) did not specifically exclude Tax Credit Assistance Program…

State Agencies Getting Tough on Developers

March 1, 2011

Agencies in a number of states have tightened the requirements for developers with regard to being eligible to apply for tax credits. Iowa, Texas, and Florida have all added requirements that expand the ways applicants may be deemed ineligible for…

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