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New York Passes Comprehensive Anti-Eviction Law

December 29, 2020

The New York State Legislature convened an unusual special session just after Christmas to pass one of the nation’s most comprehensive anti-eviction laws, which will ban landlords from evicting most tenants for at least another 60 days. Some studies show…

Trump Finally Signs Funding and Relief Bills

December 28, 2020

On December 27, 2020, President Trump finally signed the FY 2021 Omnibus Spending and COVID-19 Relief Bills. Passage of these two pieces of legislation will impact the affordable housing industry in some significant ways, primarily by setting the 4% LIHTC…

HUD Publishes Operating Cost Adjustment Factors (OCAF) for 2021

December 26, 2020

On November 27, 2020, HUD published in the Federal Register a Notice of Certain Operating Cost Adjustment Factors for 2021. These OCAFs may be used for eligible project-based assistance properties that have an anniversary date on or after February 11,…

HIghlights of COVID-19 Relief Bill

December 22, 2020

President Trump is expected to sign the massive, year-end catchall bill Congress passed that combines $900 billion in COVID-19 aid with a $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill and reams of other unfinished legislation on taxes, energy, education, and health care.…

Minimum Wage to Increase in Many Areas in 2021

December 21, 2020

In 2021, 19 states will have new minimum wage rates. Affordable housing managers responsible for determining the income of applicants and residents need to be aware of state and local minimum wage laws in order to ensure the most accurate…

The rise in Housing Prices Further Inhibits Affordability – But, May Offer Opportunities to Landlords

December 20, 2020

Affordable housing across America – whether ownership or rental – is growing scarcer than ever, as the wealthy bid up properties that might once have been considered “affordable.” This is especially the case in the big coastal cities. It now…

New Products Make Healthy Housing a Reality

December 19, 2020

Healthy living is on everyone’s mind now. The COVID-19 pandemic has raised awareness of the environments we live in and the importance of those environments in our daily lives. Also, the increase in reasonable accommodation requests relating to “multiple chemical…

Novogradac Releases Estimates of National, State, and Local Median Incomes for 2021 and 2022

December 12, 2020

Novogradac, a national accounting and professional services firm, has released its estimates of income limits on a national and state level. Using the 2019 American Community Survey (ACS) and the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) consumer price index (CPI) estimate, Novogradac…

A. J. Johnson to Host Full-Day Webinar on Income and Asset Requirements

December 6, 2020

A. J. Johnson will be conducting a webinar on December 16, 2020 on The Verification and Calculation of Income and Assets on Affordable Housing Properties. The Webinar will be held from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time. This six-hour…

A. J. Johnson to Offer Fair Housing Webinar on December 15

December 5, 2020

A. J. Johnson will be conducting a webinar on December 15, 2020, on Compliance with Federal and State Fair Housing Requirements. The Webinar will be held from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM Eastern Time. The course will equip attendees with…

HUD Issues Updated Notice on Electronic Signature, Transmission, and Storage

November 29, 2020

On November 6, 2020, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued Notice H-2020-10, Electronic Signature, Transmission, and Storage – Guidance for Multifamily Assisted Housing Industry Partners. This Notice provides guidance to HUD multifamily assisted housing industry partners on…

A. J. Johnson to Host Webinar on Management of Properties with HOME Funds

November 2, 2020

A. J. Johnson will be conducting a webinar on November 12, 2020, on The Onsite Management Requirements of the HOME Program. The Webinar will be held from 9 AM to 3:30 PM Eastern time. This six-hour course outlines the basic…

Website Accessibility Bill Introduced in Congress

October 31, 2020

On October 1, 2020, Congressmen Lou Correa (D-CA) and Ted Budd (R-NC) introduced the bipartisan Online Accessibility Act (H.R. 8478) which would create guidance to help businesses ensure their website complies with the ADA. The purpose of the bill is…

Venmo – Understanding the Payment App

October 28, 2020

In the process of reviewing thousands of tenant files annually, we are seeing rapid growth in Venmo and PayPal transactions on bank accounts. We often receive questions from property managers regarding how to handle these transactions, with the primary question…

Impact of COVID-19 on Affordable Housing Properties

October 17, 2020

A recently published study by NDP Analytics, funded in part by the National Leased Housing Association, outlines the dramatic impact that COVID- 19 has had – and will continue to have – on affordable housing. According to the study, “Impacts…

A. J. Johnson to Present Webinar on Complying with the Requirements of the IRS on Tax Credit Properties

October 17, 2020

A. J. Johnson will be conducting a webinar on October 27, 2020, on Meeting IRS Requirements for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program. The Webinar will be held from 9 AM to 3:30 PM Eastern time. One of the key…

Social Security COLA – 2021

October 13, 2020

The federal government announced on October 13, 2020, that the Social Security Cost of Live Adjustment (COLA) for 2021 will be 1.3%. This increase will provide an additional $20 per month for the average retiree. This is slightly less than…

Upcoming 2021 Social Security COLA

October 12, 2020

The Social Security Administration is scheduled to release the 2021 Cost-of-Living Adjustment for Social Security tomorrow (October 13, 2020). Operators of affordable housing properties should be on the look-out for the announcement and include the increase in projected income for…

HUD Issues Fair Housing Charge Against Wyoming Property Owner, Management Agent, and Onsite Manager for Familial Status Violation

October 11, 2020

On September 9, 2020, the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) charged the owners and managers of an apartment community in Cheyenne, Wyoming with violation of the familial status provisions of the Fair Housing Act (FHA). This case is…

A. J. Johnson Webinar on Management of Tax-Exempt Bond Financed Properties

October 11, 2020

A. J. Johnson will be conducting a webinar on October 21, 2020, on Understanding the Basic Management Requirements of the Tax-Exempt Bond Program. The Webinar will be held from 1 PM to 4 PM Eastern. THIS IS A TWO HOUR…

Recent Court Decision Confirms that a Right of First Refusal is Not an Option to Purchase

October 5, 2020

A recent New York court case has affirmed that a non-profit’s Right of First Refusal (“ROFR”) is not an option to purchase a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) property. The Case Riseboro Community Partnership, Inc., formerly known as Ridgewood Bushwick…

Helping Older Adults Age Safely in Place

September 27, 2020

With the aging of the U.S. population, the number of older adults living if affordable housing is growing and the average age of residents is increasing. Assisting residents to age in place safely is good for both property owners and…

A. J. Johnson to conduct a webinar on Interviewing Skills for Affordable Housing Managers.

September 27, 2020

A. J. Johnson will be conducting a webinar on October 7, 2020, on Interviewing Skills for Affordable Housing Managers. The Webinar will be held from 1 PM to 4 PM Eastern. One of the most important skills any affordable housing…

A. J. Johnson to Host Webinar on Critical Policies for Affordable Housing Developments

September 25, 2020

A. J. Johnson will be conducting a webinar on October 6, 2020, on Critical Policies for Affordable Housing Developments. The Webinar will be held from 10 AM to 3 PM Eastern. As important as it is to understand the technical…

A. J. Johnson to Host Webinar on Management of Rural Development Section 515 Properties

September 21, 2020

A. J. Johnson will be conducting a webinar on October 8, 2020, on The Management of Rural Development Section 515 Properties. The Webinar will be held from 9 AM to 3 PM Eastern. This full-day course outlines the basic requirements…

CDC Issues Emergency Order Halting Residential Evictions

September 6, 2020

On September 4, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published an Agency Order for a Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions to Prevent the Further Spread of COVID-19. This order is issued under Section 361 of the Public…

Mandated Mask Wearing in Apartments Must be in the Form of a Written Policy

August 29, 2020

More and more apartment owners and managers are considering mandating the wearing of masks for residents, guests, and others in common areas of apartment communities. While such a policy makes good sense from a public health perspective, it cannot be…

September 1 Webinar on Income Calculation & Verification

August 24, 2020

A. J. Johnson will be conducting a webinar on September 1, 2020, on Calculation and Verification of Income at Affordable Housing Properties. The Webinar will be held from 1:00 PM to 3 PM Eastern Time. A critical aspect of every…

A. J. Johnson Partnering with Mid-Atlantic AHMA – Webinar on Preparing Affordable Housing Projects for Physical Inspections

August 16, 2020

A. J. Johnson is partnering with the Mid-Atlantic Affordable Housing Management Association (Mid-Atlantic AHMA) in offering a webinar on Preparing Affordable Housing Properties for Agency Required Physical Inspections. The webinar will be live and will be held on August 26…

HUD Announces Resumption of REAC Inspections

August 13, 2020

On August 7, 2020, the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) has announced that REAC inspections will resume, under a protocol that will prioritize the inspection of properties in counties identified has being at low-risk for COVID-19. Based on…

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