FEMA: $2.2 Billion in Federal Aid Approved for Puerto Rico Households and Businesses
With two weeks remaining before the deadline to register with FEMA, more than $2.2 billion in federal aid is helping fuel the recovery for households and businesses in Puerto Rico. More than 1.1 million Puerto Rico households and businesses have contacted FEMA for help and information. Survivors contact FEMA seeking help for various reasons such…
FEMA: Mitigation Grants Program Eclipsed $15 Billion in Helping Communities Rebuild, Recover and Avoid Future Losses
This year marks three decades since the Robert T. Stafford Act was amended to include funding for hazard mitigation; to date, FEMA has provided more than $15 billion in mitigation grants to support state, local, tribal and territorial efforts to rebuild their communities stronger and safer. A National Institute of Building Sciences report issued earlier…
FEMA: Transitional Sheltering Assistance for Florida Hurricane Irma Survivors Ends
Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA), which pays for hotel rooms as temporary, emergency housing for eligible Hurricane Irma survivors, ends March 10, 2018. Under TSA, disaster survivors may be eligible to stay in a participating hotel or motel for a limited period of time and have the cost of the room and taxes covered by FEMA….
FHFA: Proposed Rule Amending Federal Home Loan Banks’ Affordable Housing Program Regulation Issued
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is seeking comments on proposed amendments to its regulation on the Federal Home Loan Banks’ (FHLBanks) Affordable Housing Program (AHP). The proposed amendments would authorize the FHLBanks to redesign their project selection systems and create special targeted funds, which would allow the FHLBanks more flexibility to align their AHP…
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: FHA Expands Foreclosure Relief for Victims of 2017 Disasters
New options offered to struggling homeowners impacted by hurricanes, wildfires and mudslides WASHINGTON – The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) today announced expanded mortgage relief to FHA-insured homeowners who live or work in areas impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria as well as California wildfires and subsequent flooding and mudslides. FHA is instructing mortgage servicers…