CDFI Fund: Revised Opportunity Zones Resource Data Now Available
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has released revised information concerning census tracts that are eligible for nomination as Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs). Specifically, data in the Opportunity Zones Information Resource has been updated from information provided in a February 8, 2018, release to include all census tracts that meet the New Markets Tax Credit…
Census Bureau: Housing Vacancy Survey Annual Results Available for 2017
Today the U.S. Census Bureau released annual statistics for the 2017 rental and homeowner vacancy rates, homeownership rates and characteristics of units available for rent for the United States, regions, states and the 75 largest metropolitan statistical areas. Data for all geographies are from the Current Population Survey/Housing Vacancy Survey and are available annually. Homeownership…
HUD: Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants Awarded
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded nearly $5 million to six communities to help create plans to redevelop severely distressed HUD assisted housing and revitalize neighborhoods. Funded through HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, these grants will help local leaders to craft comprehensive, homegrown plans to revitalize and transform these neighborhoods. HUD’s…
FHFA: Index Shows Mortgage Rates Increased in January 2018
Nationally, interest rates on conventional purchase-money mortgages increased from December to January, according to several indices of new mortgage contracts. The National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders Index was 4.12 percent for loans closed in late January, up 4 basis points from 4.08 percent in December….
FHFA: U.S. House Prices Rise 1.6 Percent in Fourth Quarter 2017
U.S. house prices rose 1.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017 according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index (HPI). House prices rose 6.7 percent from the fourth quarter of 2016 to the fourth quarter of 2017. FHFA’s seasonally adjusted monthly index for December was up 0.3 percent from November. The HPI is…
OCC: Publication Focuses on Single-Family Rehabilitation Financing Programs
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) published the latest edition of its Community Developments Investments newsletter titled “Expanding Housing Opportunities: Single-Family Rehabilitation Financing Programs.” This edition of Community Developments Investments discusses how national banks and federal savings associations can help revitalize communities by establishing housing rehabilitation loan programs. The publication describes how…
HUD and Census Bureau: New Residential Sales Report for January 2018
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Census Bureau jointly announced the following new residential sales statistics for January 2018: New Home Sales Sales of new single-family houses in January 2018 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 593,000. This is 7.8 percent (±19.0 percent)* below the revised December…
SBA: CEOs Ready to Get on the Fast Track to Grow in 2018; Apply by March 2nd
SBA Recruits for Emerging Leaders Initiative The U.S. Small Business Administration has launched recruitment for the 2018 Emerging Leaders Initiative, a seven-month executive-level training series targeting small businesses with high-growth potential and the entrepreneurial drive to follow through with their new skills and planning tools. For the seventh consecutive year, the Hawaii District Office will…
CFPB: How to Save for Emergencies and the Future
If your car broke down or you had an unexpected trip to the hospital, would you be able to cover the costs? If you don’t have savings, you could wind up borrowing money at high interest rates, which means you’ll owe even more in the long run. You could end up with credit card debt…