Housing Affairs Letter

(HOMELESS) Defaults Rack Up Homeless Count

hal@cdpublications.com (HAL Editor) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:02:00 EST

Despite providing more than $1.5 billion a year, and an extra $1.5 billion in emergency aid to slow the surge of homelessness, HUD is caught in a Catch 22 situation -- the more money it spends to

(HEARD AT HUD) Emanuel, Carrion Real HUD Bosses?

hal@cdpublications.com (HAL Editor) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:58:00 EST

The major issue facing HUD employees though is the massive reorganization expected to be unveiled soon. The changes, disclosed by HAL in the April 10 issue, projects massive changes in

(INTEREST RATES) Rates Dip Over Labor Worries

hal@cdpublications.com (HAL Editor) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:56:00 EST

Increasing unemployment concerns send mortgage interest rates lower this week. Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey shows the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.20% with an

(CONGRESS) Plans To Spend TARP Dividends

hal@cdpublications.com (HAL Editor) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:54:00 EST

Profits realized from the country's investment in the bank bailout of late 2008 likely will be spent on housing for the poor rather than to pay down the national debt, if some House democrats have their

(HOPE VI) Powers Push Public Housing Plan

hal@cdpublications.com (HAL Editor) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:52:00 EST

Tuscaloosa, AL housing officials are able to lobby HUD Secy. Shaun Donovan and the state's top federal lawmakers face-to-face to obtain a $20 million HOPE VI grant. The city wants to revitalize and

(COUNSELING) Counseling Opportunities Scored

hal@cdpublications.com (HAL Editor) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:51:00 EST

A survey of HUD housing counseling agencies in Illinois by the Woodstock Institute and Housing Action Illinois shows gaps in the department's provision of counseling to homeowners on the brink of

(GEORGIA) County In Housing Funding Squeeze

hal@cdpublications.com (HAL Editor) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:49:00 EST

HUD is withholding $3 million of Neighborhood Stabilization Program from a $13.3 million grant to Fulton County, GA, to ensure that the county repay the department $3.2 million of HOME program a

(SETTLEMENT) Builder Settles False Claims Charges

hal@cdpublications.com (HAL Editor) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:48:00 EST

Beazer Homes USA agrees to pay the Federal Housing Admin. $5 million and reimburse homeowners up to $48 million to resolve allegations that it and affiliate Beazer Mortgage Corp. were involved

(CONGRESS) Minority Report Faults Government

hal@cdpublications.com (HAL Editor) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:45:00 EST

Government intervention in the housing market beginning in the early 1990s led to the present financial crisis, a report by the Republican staff of the House Committee on Oversight &

(SPENDING) Money Bills Holds TARP Accountable

hal@cdpublications.com (HAL Editor) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:41:00 EST

If a House Appropriations Committee effort maintains political traction, the Treasury Dept. would be required to inform lawmakers before it makes any more investments in private companies under

(NOMINATION) FHA Nominee Remains In Senate Limbo

hal@cdpublications.com (HAL Editor) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:39:00 EST

Despite a belated endorsement from the Senate Banking Committee, the nomination of David Stevens remains in congressional limbo. No date has been set for a Senate floor vote

(VOUCHERS) Work Plan, Voucher Count Cloud Reform

hal@cdpublications.com (HAL Editor) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:36:00 EST

Backers of the public housing Moving to Work program are at odds with low-income housing advocates who abhor the pilot program, setting the stage for a bitter floor fight when HR 3045 reaches the

(ENERGY) Housing In Cap & Trade Bill

hal@cdpublications.com (HAL Editor) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:34:00 EST

Energy conservation in public and assisted housing is a component of HR 2998, the so-called energy independence, climate and cap and trade bill. The measure cleared the House on a narrow 219-212

(RURAL LOANS) Rural Housing Funding Boost Seen

hal@cdpublications.com (HAL Editor) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:30:00 EST

Federal subsidies for rural housing in the Agriculture Department appear to be headed for a solid increase in FY 2010, although House and Senate bills differ in their approaches

(PROPERTY) Property Taking Bill Sidelined

hal@cdpublications.com (HAL Editor) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:29:00 EST

Legislative efforts to revamp North carolina's eminent domain law are snagged in the state House. After reaching the House floor, lawmakers vote 60-56 to send the measure back to the Judiciary

(HUD) Another Try To Close Foreclosure Gap

hal@cdpublications.com (HAL Editor) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:25:00 EST

A shift in policy to allow government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to back mortgages that are 25% greater that the value of the home is the latest in a series of maneuvers to

(MORTGAGES) Refinancing Ups Mortgage Demand

hal@cdpublications.com (HAL Editor) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:21:00 EST

Weekly statistics tracking mortgage demand show a double-digit increase for the period ending July 3. The Mortgage Bankers Association's Market Composite Index increases 10.9%, seasonally

(CREDITS) States Get $1 Billion in Tax Credits

hal@cdpublications.com (HAL Editor) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:19:00 EST

HUD approves plans to produce thousands of affordable housing units by 26 state housing agencies using a tax credit mechanism created in the most recent economic stimulus package

(ENERGY) Builders Oppose Energy Legislation

hal@cdpublications.com (HAL Editor) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:16:00 EST

Even though it heralds the green building movement, the Nat'l Assn. of Home Builders is the latest opponent to ambitious climate control legislation generating debate on Capitol Hill

(COURTS) Court Rebuffs Wells Fargo Plea

hal@cdpublications.com (HAL Editor) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:14:00 EST

Efforts by Wells Fargo to end a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination in its business practices within Baltimore have failed, and another hearing for the case is set for July 20 in U.S. District Court in the city