Archive for August, 2009

REALTOR University FREE Webinar Summit

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

The REALTOR® University Newsletter is proudly brought to you by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® as another member service working towards satisfying NAR’s Mission and Vision. 

 

RIGHT TOOLS RIGHT NOW – FREE WEBINAR SUMMIT

RIGHT TOOLS RIGHT NOW – Webinar Discount

NAR’S ONLINE GREEN DESIGNATION COMMERCIAL ELECTIVE COURSE COMING SOON!

NEW REAL ESTATE VIDEO CENTER

NAR Announces New Path for RSPS Certification

 

Exciting news!  You’ll now be receiving this newsletter from the National Association of REALTORS®!  If for any reason you wish not to receive this information, click here to Unsubscribe

  

RIGHT TOOLS, RIGHT NOW – FREE WEBINAR SUMMIT

 

Don’t miss this opportunity to educate yourself for FREE! Through NAR’s Right Tools, Right Now Initiative, REALTOR® University is offering a FREE, day-long Webinar Summit, on Sept. 22. We’re lining up leading experts to present timely topics to assist you with succeeding in today’s market. Click here to receive notices on the latest developments for this event.

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RIGHT TOOLS RIGHT NOW – Webinar Discount

As part of NAR’s Right Tools, Right Now initiative, REALTOR® University is offering a $5.00 discount on all its webinars.  Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the experts in real estate!

Check out the Event Calendar for upcoming webinars.

Enter code WEBINARS during check-out to receive discount.

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NAR’S ONLINE GREEN DESIGNATION COMMERCIAL ELECTIVE COURSE COMING SOON!

As the commercial elective for NAR’s Green Designation program, this course takes a closer look at sustainable strategies, practices, and considerations in commercial real estate. NAR’s Green Designation Commercial Elective Course helps students understand the broker’s specific roles in guiding clients and customers in the sale or acquisition of sustainable property or property with sustainable features. As a practical resource, this course examines the benefits and limitations of pursuing certifications as well as advanced concepts in sustainable design.
Click here to be notified when the online course launches! 
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NEW REAL ESTATE VIDEO CENTER

REALTOR® University’s educational programming has expanded to include a state-of-the-art, on-demand video viewing system.  There are over 70 video clips loaded with tips, dialogues, training on objection handling, pricing skills, buyer secrets, prospecting ideas, referral secrets, social media, management and much more.

For a limited time only, this subscription is offered at a drastically reduced price of only $9.97 a month!
Subscribe now and receive access to the extensive video library by the leading experts in real estate, plus:

  • At least one new video every week
  • Two on demand powerful webinars a month
  • Bi-weekly podcasts from the top minds in real estate
  • Bonus checklists proven to increase your income

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NAR Announces New Path for RSPS Certification

As part of an effort to increase member benefits, the National Association of REALTORS® announces changes to the courses required to obtain NAR’s Resort and Second Home Property Specialist (RSPS) Certification.  Applicants no longer need to complete the RLI Tax Deferred (1031) Exchange course, but can use it towards elective credit if they have already completed the course.

 

Under the new requirements, to earn the RSPS Certification, you must complete the required core course, Resort and Second-Home Markets plus either Option 1 (two approved real estate educational elective courses) or Option 2 (Hold one of the following designations: ABR, CCIM, GREEN, CIPS, ALC, CPM, CRS, CRB).  For more information on the new requirements for obtaining your RSPS certification or for general inquiries, visit www.realtor.org/resort or call 312/329-8393.


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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS(R)

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430 N. Michigan Avenue

Chicago, IL 60626

1-800-874-6500

 

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ED CON

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

 

2009

76th Annual Education Conference & Trade Show

Hilton Airport Inn Hotel

October 12th & 13th, 2009

v SeaTac, Washington

 

Register Today!

Schedule of Events

Monday, October 12th, 2009

8:30am to 11:30am 3 Clock Hours

Doug DeVitre Blogging Effectively

Blogged or be dodged. Consumers want information now that is relevant, useful, and timely. Become the source of the source of information by developing your own real estate syndicated online newspaper to build customer relationships, enhance media relations, and rank higher in the search engines. Incorporate multimedia, video, music, and pictures that sells, not smells. Minimize risk by avoiding common fair housing, copyright, and Code of Ethics violations. This beginner/intermediate level discussion will have you blogging effectively and an action plan to implement what you have learned.

Cindy White DOL Mandatory Transition Course

The law is changing effective July 1, 2010, every licensee will be required to take a transition course for their license renewal. Don’t be the last person to attend the state mandated transition course.

Trade Show Opens @ 9:30am

Join your fellow Realtors and visit vendors from the real estate industry.

Lunch Provided in the Trade Show from 11:30am to 1:15pm

Annie Fitzsimmons 20 Ways to Stay Out of Trouble

Cindy White 20 Tips from a Broker

1:30pm to 5pm 4 Clock Hours

Doug DeVitre Power Prospecting & Renewing Referrals

Fish for clients on the web like bobbing for water. Find prospects, clients, past connections, and referral opportunities on the web using the power of social media. Create profiles that build your authority in your niche, script dialogues on common conversations online and craft an online community of raving fans using common social networks such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Explode your communication on to other blogs and websites using RSS, status updates, and widgets. Dominate the online discussion boards while spending no money and limited time.

Annie Fitzsimmons Mandatory CORE Curriculum

The Washington State Real Estate Commission and the Department of Licensing have adopted new rules that will require the completion of 3 clock hours of prescribed core curriculum. The 3.0 mandatory clock hours must be included in the 30 hours required for all active licensees. Topics Include *Sellers Disclosure *Current Legal/Regulatory Issues *Licensing Issues

Trade Show Reception 5pm to 6pm

Join us in the trade show to enjoy free hors d’oeurves and a no-host bar while getting a last opportunity to visit industry experts. Don’t miss your chance to win $500! Must be present to win.

Speaker: Doug DeVitre Topic: 20 Tech Tools to Help You Succeed

 

Classes ranging from high tech to high touch will keep you informed and enthused. Washington R

ealtors

® Education is setting the industry standard. Join national speakers Gee Dunsten, Doug Devitre, as well as many local speakers at the best state education conference in the country!

 

Call 1.800.748.7053 for more details or go online to www.warealtor.org.

 

Special Early-Bird Price!

 

Register online by August 15th, 2009 for only $149.00

 

(includes: 15 clock hours, continental

breakfast, coffee, trade show and box lunch);

 

$179

 

(also includes Tuesday’s Keynote

Lunch-Speaker NAR Economist Jed Smith).

 

Continued on Next Page

Four Easy Sign-Up Options

Thanks to Our Sponsors

Online: www.warealtor.org

Fax: 360.357.6627

Phone: 800.748.7053

Mail: WA R

PO Box 719

Olympia, WA 98507

ealtors® Education

 

Washington

Chapter

Hotel Room blocks with Hilton Airport Inn Hotel call 1.888.235.4465 and use group code: WAR to get discounted price.

Providing Quality Education to Real Estate Professionals

CRS Networking Event (By Invitation Only) 6pm until 7pm

The Washington Chapter Certified Residential Specialist’s (WACRS) sponsor a Business Referral Networking & Education session which includes: Guest Speaker Doug DeVitre will be talking about Social Networking Business & Time Management. Bring plenty of business cards for the networking session! $5.00 Raffle Tickets to help Habitat for Humanity are available for a CRS Wine Basket and all proceeds go to Habitat for Humanity. Go to www.crswa.com and register by October 5th, 2009 for a fun filled evening.

International Festival (Ticketed Event) 6:30 to 8:00pm

Enjoy a fun-filled evening as you mix and mingle with your colleagues from around the state, while we bring the world to you! Taste scrumptious food, listen to great music from around the globe, and enjoy a variety of cultural displays offering helpful tips and information on working with many cultures! Cost is $39.00 per person and includes a buffet dinner.

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

8:30am to 12pm 4 Clock Hours

Gee Dunsten Things Mom didn’t Teach You about Business Planning

Whether you are just getting started or are a veteran in the business, this step by step system will help take your profession and/or life to a higher level of excellence.

Or, Take All of These Breakout Sessions

8:30am to 9:30am

Dave Porter Green Building in 50 Minutes

This session will provide a 30,000 feet, 500 MPH overview of basics of green building: define green. It will also encourage real estate professionals to learn more. Students will also discuss the various green building programs.

9:40am to 10:40am

Mike Schoonover Real Estate Auctions

$58,500,000,000 in real estate was sold at Auction in the United States in 2008. Learn the facts on how to find and work with Professional Auctioneers, how to protect your client and your commission, plus add another option to your marketing plan. Put your chairs in the upright position, fasten your seat belts and hang on!

10:50am to 12pm

Claudia Wicks Social Networking

Six essential social media tools for every real estate professional: Learn how to win more clients and make more money without spending a penny!

Keynote Lunch (Ticketed Event: $30) Noon to 1:15pm

NAR Economist Jed Smith – The Housing Market & The Economy

The housing markets and the economy have faced major challenges in recent months. Foreclosures, short sales, difficult credit markets, government programs, and changes in the economy have been in the news. What is the outlook for the existing home sales market in the next year? What are the implications for the real estate business? Jed Smith, Managing Director of Quantitative Research for the National Association of REALTORS(R) , will discuss the economic news and how it may impact the sales outlook.

Jed Smith is Managing Director, Quantitative Research with the National Association of Realtors ®. Before joining NAR he worked as an economist with the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission, addressing the economics of processing and delivery issues, with an emphasis of estimating costs as a function of residential and commercial sector activity. Other experience has included working as a consultant with KPMG, as a planner for the Washington Gas company, and as a business analyst for the General Electric Company. He has provided input on a variety of housing, commercial sector, tax, and planning issues. His Ph.D. in economics is from Purdue, and he was awarded an A.B. in economics with honors by Hamilton College.

1:30pm to 5pm 4 Clock Hours

Gee Dunsten Get Your Buyers Moving & Your Listings Sold

Learn innovative ways to convert your buyers’ fears into their dreams for the future. Formulate strategies to identify each buyer’s prize that is irresistible and worth paying for and use these techniques to go from “wait and see” to “give me my key!” Discover methods to reposition your listings to reach the top two markets; internet consumers and top buyer agents. Assemble a SWAT team to kick open the door of opportunity to generate excitement and multiple offers on your listings. Build seller relationships by becoming the primary defender of their equity.

Or, Take All of These Breakout Sessions

1:30pm to 2:20pm

Pili Meyer Use the Electronic Conference Room for Effective Communication

Raw data is not compelling. It needs nuance and explanation to help clients make good decisions. Strong presentation skills enable an agent to convey information in a manner that makes sense to clients. The best offer may be sabotaged by a poor presentation. When we did most of this face to face it was easier because we could gauge their reactions. It’s different in a digital world where agents are tempted to just fax or email offers. This class shows how to use that technology along with the strong presentation skills.

2:30pm to 3:20pm

Larry Kramer International Sales Panel

Join moderator, Larry Kramer and panelists while they discuss the current international market and current trends. If you are interested in international real estate, don’t miss this session.

3:30pm to 5pm

Jillayne Schlicke Short Sales & Foreclosures

In this workshop, real estate agents will learn the answers to questions about short sales and foreclosures in today’s challenging market. Who qualifies for dept forgiveness? What happens to a second mortgage debt after the first lender forecloses and title is cleared? How much will a second mortgage lender demand

during short sale negotiations? What are the new changes to the WA State Deed of Trust Act? We will answer these questions and more.

 

Schedule of Events

Continued from Previous Page

Four Easy Sign-Up Options

Online: www.warealtor.org • Fax: 360.357.6627 • Phone: 800.748.7053

Mail: WA R

ealtors® Education, PO Box 719, Olympia, WA 98507

Providing Quality Education to Real Estate Professionals

Hotel Room blocks with Hilton Airport Inn Hotel call 1.888.235.4465 and use group code: WAR to get discounted price.

 

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Septic System Repair Financial Assistance Program

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

 

Thurston County Environmental Health

 

 

Septic System Repair

 

Financial Assistance

 

Program

 

Loans and grants are available to Thurston County

homeowners to

failing septic systems.

fi nance the repair or replacement of

 

Eligibility

 

1. Property must be located in Thurston

County.

2. Property owner must apply for the loan (renters

cannot apply for loans).

3. Septic system must be failing, which means

sewage is surfacing outside, backing up into the

house, or a Marine Shoreline Repair (see below).

Thurston County Environmental Health will

verify the eligibility of all systems.

4. House must not be for sale.

5. Repair cannot be used for remodeling,

expansion or addition, nor can additional living

units be connected to the system.

6. Loans/grants may be used to connect to public

sewer.

 

Loans

 

Any Thurston County homeowner with a failing

septic system may apply for a low-interest loan.

 

• Loan interest rates are from 1% to 3.5% for

qualified applicants. Interest rate is

determined by the income of the applicant and

the cost of the repair or sewer connection.

• There is no loan origination fee, and the repayment

term can be up to 20 years.

• The loan is secured by a promissory note and

deed of trust (creating a mortgage on the

property).

• A credit report, tax history check, and title

search will be completed for all applications.

• Loans must be repaid by the homeowner.

Before the property can be sold or transferred,

the loan must be paid off.

 

Grants

 

Grants are available for Marine Shoreline Repairs

or for homeowners with limited incomes.

does not have to be repaid.

a portion of the total cost of system replacement. Grant

awards can range from $1,000 to $6,000, and are based

on a percentage of the repair cost.

A grantNOTE: Grants cover only

 

To be eligible for a grant:

1. Repair must be one that requires a County permit

( or city permit if connection to sewer),

AND

 

2. Estimated repair cost must be at least $2,000,

AND

 

3. One of the following:

• Owner’s gross annual income is $40,000 or less,

• Owner is enrolled in the senior or disabled tax

exemption by County Treasurer, or

• Repair quali

fi es as a Marine Shoreline Repair.

 

Marine Shoreline Repair

 

Marine Shoreline Repair includes the following:

• Any septic system failure on a marine waterfront

property

• Biomax or other obsolete system that no

longer has manufacturer support

• Septic systems located less than 50 ft from a

marine shoreline that cannot properly treat

sewage

• Seepage pit on property next to the marine

shoreline

 

How Do I Apply or Get More Info?

 

Contact Debra Baker at 360-754-3355, ext. 7521

(TDD line at 360-754-2933) to verify your eligibility

and get a loan application.

Submit your loan application and last year’s federal

tax return to the Thurston County

Permit Assistance Center (PAC),

2000 Lakeridge Dr. SW, Olympia,

WA 98502, attention: Debra Baker,

Environmental Health Division.

1/09

 

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Get These Resources to Help Your Business – FREE!

Tuesday, August 4th, 2009

 
 
Get These Resources to Help Your Business – FREE!

The ‘Right Tools, Right Now’ initiative offers a wide range of tools. Here are just three of the many resources you can now download for FREE through NAR’s ‘Right Tools, Right Now’ initiative.

Getting It Sold

Get the staging conversation going with your seller and help them sell faster.
Order your copy for FREE

Relocation Reports

Win relocation clients before they ever visit your area.
Order your copy for FREE

2009 Member Profile

Find out what members like you are doing in this changing market.
Order your copy for FREE

Visit ‘Right Tools, Right Now’ homepage to see all FREE and AT-COST products and resources that are part of NAR’s ‘Right Tools, Right Now’ initiative. Listings are updated monthly, so check back often!

These special product prices are exclusively available to REALTORS®. To access these and the hundreds of other downloadable products for FREE, member login is required at the REALTOR.org website.

Members love ‘Right Tools, Right Now’ – click here to view a short 3 minute video showing how some have benefitted.

If you don’t know your login, click here or call NAR’s Information Central at 1-800-874-6500.

If you haven’t downloaded an eProduct before, click here to find out how, or call NAR’s Information Central at 1-800-874-6500.

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Short Sales & Foreclosures:What Buyer’s Representatives Need to Know

Tuesday, August 4th, 2009

Short Sales & Foreclosures:

What Buyer’s Representatives Need to Know


Don’t Miss Another Short Sales & Foreclosures Tour!
For many real estate professionals, short sales and foreclosures represent the new “traditional” real estate transaction. Knowing how to maneuver the complexities of short sales as well as how to identify the distinct real estate opportunities in foreclosure are not merely good skills to have in today’s market-they are critical. This course helps students evaluate all available options for distressed homeowners and identify the components of an effective short-sale package. This course looks at how real estate professionals can counsel buyer-clients in the purchase of foreclosure properties. An as a practical resource, this course shows students how consumers can avoid foreclosure in the future. The Short Sales and Foreclosure course counts as one REBAC elective course to be applied towards the ABR designation and also offers 7.5 clock hours for renewal. The course goes from 8:30am to 5pm except the course in Tacoma goes from 9am to 5pm and the schedule is as follows:

September 1st @ Silverdale Beach Hotel in Silverdale

September 2nd @ Washington REALTORS in Olympia

September 3rd @ Tacoma Assoc. of REALTORS in Tacoma

Instructor: Pili Meyer, ABR, CRS, GRI, SRES, e- Pro

Pili Meyer is a full time associate broker with Coldwell Banker Uptown Realty in Port Angeles, WA. She has been licensed since 1986 and an instructor since 1994. She is a consistently effective agent and loves the fact that there are so many different aspects of the business. Her experience-and success–in the trenches bring a reality and relevance to the classes she teaches. As a Master Instructor in Washington and Oregon, she is in demand as a speaker at state conventions around the country. Besides being a top producer in real estate in Port Angeles, Pili has been active in the Realtor® Association. She is a past president of the Washington Realtors® and currently serves as a National Association of Realtors® Director. She has been named Realtor® of the Year by her local association and Washignton Realtors. In 1999, she was named Hugh Hawkins Instructor of the Year in Washington. She has also been honored by the Soroptimist International of Port Angeles with their Woman of Distinction award.

For more information or to register contact Washington REALTORS® Education at 800.748.7053 or CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TODAY!

Our Price:
REALTOR Early Price $75/$99 REALTOR Regular Price
Non-Member Early Price $99/$129 Non-Member Regular Price

Early Price is 10 days before the class starts
Regular Price will be charged if register within 10 days of the class starting

 


 

Washington REALTORS® Education


email: education@warealtor.org

phone: 1.800.748.7053

web: http://www.warealtor.org/education

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HUD HIGHLIGHTS August 2009

Tuesday, August 4th, 2009

HUD HIGHLIGHTS

August 2009

HUD e-Briefs from Alaska, Idaho, Oregon & Washington

Martha Dilts, Region X Deputy Director     206/220-5356       Leland Jones, Editor

 

REFINING REFI’S

  HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan has announced that, by August 15th, FHA insured borrowers will be able to seek a Making Homes Affordable loan modification and “significantly reduce their monthly mortgage payments.”In guidelines released on July 30th under authority of the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009, lenders and servicers are expected to use partial claims to defer the payment of some amount of outstanding mortgage principal through an interest-fee, subordinate mortgage that does not come due until the first mortgage is paid off.  FHA also will pay an incentive to loan servicers for every FHA loan modified under the program.  Bringing this “important tool to the table,” says the Secretary will enable FHA borrowers “to modify their mortgages in the same manner as so many others who are taking advantage” of the program.  For more, read FHA Mortgagee Letter 09-ML-23  at http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page?_pageid=73,7774665&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

 

DON’T FHA-GET!

HUD Seattle,, FHA’s Santa Ana Homeownership Center and the Washington Mortgage Lenders are holding a 3-day FHA Lenders Update from September 15th to 17th in Sea-Tac.  It’ll give you everything you need to know – and more – about FHA underwriting, processing, appraising and making FHA work for your firm and your customers.  Register on-line at http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/events/swa091509.pdf

 

* * * NEWS TO MUSE * * *

    HUD USER has announced that the proposed Fiscal Year 2010 Fair Market Rents to be published in The Federal Register on August 4th already are on-line at www.huduser.org/datasets/fmr.html

 

BRIEF BRIEFS

 Low Income Housing Institute and Enterprise Community Partners celebrates grand opening of the 49-unit, HUD-assisted Bart Harvey, a residence for low-income disabled or homeless 62 and older in Seattle. . .USDA awards $5.3 million to Priest River, Idaho and  $9.5 million to upgrade water and wastewater infrastructure. . .Community Frameworks breaks ground for 30 town homes in Spokane. . .American Institute of Architects selects Green Lake Residence in Seattle as one of 20, 2009 Small Project Award winners that succeed “no matter the limits of size and scope”. . .Maggie LaMont named chair of the Oregon State Housing Council, succeeding a retiring Larry Medinger. . .King County Housing Authority wins 100 and Tacoma Housing Authority wins 50 family unification vouchers to reunite foster children with their families . . . Journal of Business reports Spokane United Methodist Homes to build 38-unit senior housing complex in Spokane Valley. . .Portland Bureau of Housing & Community Development wins a 2009 IEDC Excellence in Economic Development Award. . .Idaho and Oregon associations of REALTORS among 25 groups to win Foreclosure Prevention & Response grants from the National Association of REALTORS. . .His Eminence Archbishop Alex Brunette offers blessings at the grand opening of the 56-unit Frederic Ozaman House and at the ground breaking for the 51-unit Monica’s Village Place, both in Seattle and both projects of the Archdiocesan Housing Authority. . .Saying she knows “how much of a challenge it is” to administer Housing Choice Voucher programs, “especially during a recession,” HUD Assistant Secretary for Public Housing Sandra Henriquez says HUD shortly will award remaining $11 million of $100 million set-aside as well as another $30 million to public housing agencies prevent the termination of families from program.

 

“HOME, SWEET (and HEALTHY) HOME”

 Boise is the place to be September 15th to 17th if you’re committed to making houses as healthy as they can be for those who call them “home.”  Among the featured speakers at this year’s Idaho Healthy Homes Conference are Ruth Ann Norton of Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning, Wesley Priem of the Michigan Department of Community Health, Eileen Gagney of the American Lung Association and Barbara Ross, EPA’s Regional Lead Coordinator.  For more, visit www.hud.gov/idaho 

 

THREE-PEAT?

 Befitting our climate, it “rained” revitalization last fall with the Bremerton, King County and Seattle housing authorities winning three of the six HOPE VI Public Housing Revitalization grants competitively awarded by HUD in 2008.  Can it happen again? We’ll see.  On July 14th, HUD Secretary Donovan announced the opening of the 2009 competition for $113 million in HOPE VI funds.  Saying it’s time “to take the lessons learned” from the 248 HOPE VI grants HUD’s already awarded, he also said extra points would be awarded to applications that promote green development and energy efficiency and to applications that implement a “comprehensive, high-quality, results-oriented earl education program”  Applications are due November 17th.

 .

WELCOME.

 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has named Jim Norlund, owner of Norland Carpentry in Anchorage and the former Director of Public Assistance for the State of Alaska, as director of USDA Rural Development in Alaska, Wallace Hendrick, former general manager of Esco Supply, as director of USDA Rural Development in Idaho and Mario Villanueva, director of Catholic Charities Housing Services in Yakima, as USDA Rural Development in Washington.

 

INVET-MENT

 HUD will be providing an additional 650 rental housing vouchers for homeless veterans served by Department of Veterans Affairs medical clinics and hospitals in American Lake, Anchorage, Boise, Portland, Roseburg, Seattle, Spokane, Vancouver, Walla Walla and White City.  The new vouchers are over and above the 450 vouchers for homeless veterans that HUD awarded to Northwest housing authorities under the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program.  The vouchers, said HUD Secretary Donovan, will provide those who “have put their lives on the line” permanent housing and, in collaboration with local Continuums of Care, “critically needed supportive services.”

 

BRIEF BRIEFS TOO

HUD awards almost $5.5 million in Recovery Act funds under the Tax Credit Assistance Program to help “jump start” stalled affordable housing projects in Alaska. . .Urban League of Portland releases State of Black Oregon report that finds “ black Oregonians remain at or near the bottom of every meaningful social and economic measure”. . ..Yakima Habitat for Humanity celebrates 25 years and 126 homes worth of service to the community. . .Twin Falls selected as Idaho’s 21st Heritage City for “protecting” historic properties. . .Former Long & Foster Companies President and CEO David Stevens sworn in as Federal Housing Administration Commissioner. . .HUD okays $23 million loan to build 25-unit hospital to replace one almost 50 years old in Grand Coulee. . .Looking Glass – a Eugene group that helps homeless young people but was itself made homeless by fire – has returned to its old home, now newly-rebuilt. . . Washington State Housing Finance Corporation proposes to allocate Recovery Act funds under Tax Credit Assistance Program to eight projects to provide 456 units of affordable housing in Centralia, Graham, Renton, Seattle, Spokane, Toppenish and Yakima that have been stalled or adversely affected by the economic downturn. . .Saying they’ll “not only help our vulnerable neighbors” but also “create well-paying jobs,” Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels announces award of $8.1 million to rehabilitate nearly 200 units of housing for low-income seniors and to build 70 units of workforce housing. . .Work is well underway on 36-unit Adams Square Family Center that will “greatly expand” the Tacoma Rescue Mission’s efforts to give needy women and families an opportunity to live happy, productive lives”. . .Spokane Urban Ministries celebrates grand opening of 47-unit Walnut Corners. . .HUD competitively awards $18.3 million in Indian Housing Block Grant and Indian Community Development Block Grant funds under the Recovery Act to Chilkoot Indian Association, Cook Inlet Housing Authority, Akiachak Native Community, and Yakutat Tlingit Tribe in Alaska; Coeur d’Alene Tribal Housing Authority in Idaho; the Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Tribe and Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde in Oregon; and the Kalispel Tribe, the Cowlitz Tribal Housing Authority and the Suquamish Tribe in Washington.

 

FROM FEAR TO FAVOR

 How things change.  “The vision of farm worker housing connotes certain stereotypes for some people,  Hacienda Community Development Corporation executive director Pietro Ferrari recently told The Portland Oregonian.  “That’s what we were up against” three years ago when it unveiled plans to build a 24-unit complex for farm workers and their families in Molalla. “The best we hoped for was indifference.”  But now that the award-winning and “green” Plaza Los Robles is up and occupied, “the city’s fear of farm worker housing,” The Oregonian noted, have melted “into pride.”  In fact, it notes, when housing developers come to town looking for sites, city officials “routinely suggest” a drive by the complex as “a perfect example,” said planning director Shane Potter, “of the sorts of projects we’d like to see more of here.”  It has become, added the City Manager John Atkins, “a real community asset,” introducing a lot of Molalla residents to “families who are earning a living, buying groceries and hardware and supporting this town.”

 

 

 

 

SPEAKING OF WHICH. . .

Oregon Housing & Community Services has announced that, between now and December 31st, it will accept applications for $2.3 million in remaining tax credits to “construct, acquire and/or rehabilitate” housing for low or very low income farm workers.  For more, contact Loren Schulz 503/986-2008.

 

QUOTE TO NOTE

 “If you haven’t been to Mountain View lately you ought to pay it a visit and see what a great job Cook Inlet Housing Authority has been doing to build new homes and clean up an old neighborhood.” – Mike Jens in July 29th Anchorage Daily News after  “a few of us decided to jump on our bicycles and, in the spirit of the Tour de France,” did “our own Tour de Anchorage.”.

 

BRIEF BRIEFS THREE

 HUD Deputy Secretary Ron Sims spends a day in Portland, meeting with local officials and partners and touring Central City Concern’s 24-unit Taggart Manor which is slated to receive CDBG funds under the Recovery Act to save energy and cut water consumption. . .Daily Bee reports Bonner Community Housing Agency and Planet Construction have launched partnership to build at least 10 affordable homeownership units in Seven Sisters area of Kootenai County using USDA’s Section 502 program for financing. . .Downtown Emergency Services Center breaks ground in Seattle for the 83-unit Canaday House, its eighth Housing First complex for chronically homeless men and women. . .Seattle Housing Authority and City’s Office of Housing announce plans to award 50 project-based rental vouchers to non-profits to “subsidize replace housing for units that were demolished during the redevelopment of the High Point community”. . . 31 “Bike & Build” college students from Virginia “take a break” from their 3,900 cross-country ride to help Habitat for Humanity build a house in Idaho Falls. . .University of Oregon head men’s basketball coach Ernie Kent and players attend dedication ceremony for new basketball court at Village Oaks complex in Eugene. . .More than 500 at-risk homeowners sit down with lenders and housing counselors at Foreclosure Prevention Workshops in Everett, Seattle and Tacoma. . . KMVT-TV reports that “dozens of students” from College of Southern Idaho’s Abriendo Caminos program spend three days preparing housing in Twin Falls’ El Milagro neighborhood for top-to-bottom paint jobs. . .Seattle Housing Authority to use Recovery Act funds to transform first floor of Jefferson Terrace into respite care center to allow Public Health-Seattle & King County to provide homeless “a safe place to heal after being treated and discharged from local hospitals”. . .Keystone Apartments in Spokane opens Neighborhood Networks computer centers. . .American Planning Association sets September 9th deadline t apply for HUD Secretary’s Opportunity & Empowerment Award.

 

MAKING HISTORY

 The Medford Mail-Tribune reports that Tim Ellis, an appliance salesman, is the very first Oregonian to receive a grant through HUD’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program to buy a foreclosed property.   “I was happy I found a suitable house in the right neighborhood” for his wife Tan and 2-year-old son Michael.  “We’re pretty excited,” he said, adding that the grant will reduce his monthly payments by about $200.  The NSP program was created to help cities deal with upticks in abandoned and foreclosed properties.  Medford is receiving $459,200 under the program, about a third of which will go to buyers earning 50 percent or less of the area’s median income.  The balance will go to those earning up to 120 percent of median.  While Ellis is excited, he’s also a little nervous.  “I thought, “Holy cow!  I’m buying a foreclosure,” he said.  “What do I do now?”  But thanks to an A-B-C’s of Homebuying class, he’s got a good idea.  “Fix it up!”  Since the program requires him to live in the house for five years to gain full equity, looks like he’ll have plenty of weekends to do exactly that.

 

SAVING HISTORY

 First impressions matter. That’s why the City of Nampa decided in 2006 to use part of its CDBG funding from HUD to restore the facades of buildings in its historic district.  The program’s brought “downtown back to life,” says The Idaho Post Tribune, citing increased traffic in  businesses that have had face-lifts.  It’s also won awards for Nampa from the Association of Idaho Cities and Preservation Idaho.  “It’s pretty amazing that people have put the time and money into these properties that otherwise would be neglected,” says Dan Everhart of Preservation Idaho.  Amazing?  Yes.  Smart, too, which is why the City has allocated even more CDBG funds to restore even more historic buildings.

 

CONGRATS

 To William Rainford, associate professor of social work at Boise State University, for being selected – from a pool of 260,000 candidates – as Catholic Charities USA 2009 Volunteer of the Year.  The volunteer effort “closest to his heart”?  The Interfaith Sanctuary in Boise, a shelter built “with help from many volunteers across many faiths,” tells The Idaho Statesman.  His “most urgent” local priority?  “Legislation to promote mobile home tenants.”  Why does he volunteer?  “It’s a ministry for me.”

 

FUNDING-MENTALS

 August 1st deadline to apply for Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle Affordable Housing Program funds. . .August 3rd deadline to apply for IRS grants to provide training “to volunteers” who offer “free tax counseling and assistance to elderly individuals in the preparation of their Federal tax returns”. . .August 7th deadline to apply for HUD Indian Community Development Block Grant program. . .August 7th deadline to apply for HUD Hispanic Serving Institution Assisting Communities grants. . .August 7th deadline to apply for HUD Doctoral Dissertation grants. . .August 11th deadline to apply for HUD Public Housing Family Self-Sufficiency Program grants. . .August 14th deadline to apply for USDA Rural Utilities Service and National Telecommunications & Information Administration grants and loans to deploy broadband infrastructure in rural and underserved areas. . .September 4th deadline to apply for Department of Labor Energy Training Partnership grants. . .September 14th deadline to apply for EPA Indoor Air Pollutant Reduction grants. . .September 18th deadline to apply for HUD Fair Housing Initiatives Program grants. . .September 18th deadline to apply for HUD Resident Opportunity & Self Sufficiency (ROSS) grants. . .September 24th deadline to apply for USDA Rural Community Development Initiative grants. . .September 29th deadline to apply for Department of Labor Pathways Out of Poverty renewable energy training grants. . .November 17th deadline to apply for HUD HOPE VI Public Housing Revitalization grants.

 

COMING UP

 Webinar on the A-B-C’s of FHA’s Energy Efficient Mortgage.  Register on-line at www.hud.gov/emarc/index.cfm?fuseaction=emar.addRegisterEvent&eventId=148&update=N

 

HUD & Housing Assistance Council hold “Building Rural Communities with CHDOS” workshop in Boise, August 5th and 6th. Visit www.hud.gov/apps/calendar/event.cfm?state=id&record=9532&scheduleID=9293&calendarID=16

 

 Annual conference of Pacific Northwest Lenders Association in Blaine, August 9th to 12th.  Visit www.pnmlc.com/pnmlcsemi/htdocs/index.php

 

Alaska Municipal League holds annual conference in Palmer, August 12th to 14th.  Visit www.akml.org/conferences.html

 

 HUD Seattle hosts Federal Labor Standards training for public, tribal and tribally-designated housing authorities, August 17th, Seattle.  Register on-line at  www.hud.gov/emarc/ 

 

 HUD Portland hosts Federal Labor Standards training for housing authorities, August 19th, Portland.  Register on-line at http://www.hud.gov/emarc/index.cfm?fuseaction=emar.addRegisterEvent&eventId=173&update=N

 

 Washington Affordable Housing Management Association holds annual conference, August 20th to 21st, Bremerton.  Visit www.ahma-wa.org/

 

HUD Seattle hosts Federal Labor Standards training for CDBG and HOME grantees, August 24th, Seattle.  Register on-line at www.hud.gov/emarc/ 

 

HUD Spokane hosts Fair Housing Act workshop, September 2nd, Spokane. Visit www.hud.gov/apps/calendar/event.cfm?state=wa&record=8907&scheduleID=8668&calendarID=52

 

HUD Seattle hosts Recovery Act Update teleconference for faith- and community-based organizations, September 9th.  To participate, please contact Leland.jones@hud.gov

 

HUD Idaho hosts “Taking Faith & Community-Based Organizations to the Next Level” workshop in Pocatello, September 11th.  For more, contact brian.dale@hud.gov

 

HUD Seattle, FHA Santa Ana Homeownership Center and Washington Mortgage Lenders Association host three-day FHA Lender Update, September 15th to 17th, SeaTac.  Visit www.hud.gov/apps/calendar/event.cfm?state=wa&record=9727&scheduleID=9488&calendarID=52

 

 Idaho Healthy Homes Conference, September 15th to 17th, Boise.  Visit www.hud.gov/apps/calendar/event.cfm?state=id&record=9658&scheduleID=9419&calendarID=16

 Annual Conference of Alaska Association of REALTORS, September 15th to 19th, Fairbanks.  Visit  www.alaskarealtors.com/convention/convention.htm

 

 Idaho Association of REALTORS Business Conference & Expo, September 16th to 20th, Coeur d’Alene.  Visit www.idahorealtors.com/Default.aspx?page=events

 

 16th annual Housing Washington affordable housing conference, September 29th & 30th, Spokane.  Visit http://www.wshfc.org/conf/

 

 HUD & EPA host Northwest Children’s Environmental Health Forum & Expo in Tukwila, October 1st & 2nd.  Visit http://www.chenw.org/CEHforum.html

 

 84th Annual League of Oregon Cities Conference, October 1st to 3rd, Portland.  Visit http://www.orcities.org/Conference/tabid/806/language/en-US/Default.aspx 

 

 Northwest Environmental Business Council hosts Brownfields Redevelopment Conference, October 14th & 15th, Tacoma.  Visit  www.nebc.org

 

 Idaho Housing & Finance Association hosts 2009 Idaho Housing Conference, October 19th & 20th, Boise.  Visit http://www.2009housingconf.com/

 

 Association of Idaho Cities hosts Idaho Energy & Green Building Conference, October 21st to 23rd, Boise. Visit http://www.idahocities.org/

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