NH&RA News
By Caitlin Jones
6 min read
Tax Credit Advisor, February 2010:
NH&RA Announces Schedule of Upcoming Conferences
The new year means a slate of new conferences to be held by the National Housing & Rehabilitation Association.
The next conference, NH&RA’s affordable Housing Conference and 2010 Annual Meeting, will be held on March 11-13 in Miami Beach, Fla. Topics on the agenda will deal with the low-income housing tax credit, historic tax credit, pending and proposed legislation, energy efficiency incentives, and other areas. An optional pre-conference symposium on the new markets tax credit will be held on March 10. Registration is still open. To register and for more information, go to http://www.housingonline.com.
Also on deck for 2010 will be NH&RA’s Spring Policy Forum, set for May 20-21 in Washington, D.C.
On July 21-14, NH&RA will travel to Dana Point, Calif., to host the 2010 NH&RA Summer Institute conference. It will be preceded on July 20 by a pre-conference symposium on the new markets tax credit.
(For details on upcoming conferences, go to http://www.housingonline.com/events/)
Energy Group Achieves Legislative Success
The Council for Energy Friendly Affordable Housing (CEFAH), a council within NH&RA, has been victorious with the introduction of energy efficiency legislation in the U.S. Senate that mirrors an earlier House bill.
The new Senate bill (S. 2897), introduced by Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), is the companion to H.R. 4099, introduced by Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (D-Ohio). S. 2897 has been referred to the Senate Banking Committee. The Senate and House bills reflect proposals developed by CEFAH.
The Energy Efficiency Modernization Act would create significant new financial incentives for owners of federally assisted housing projects for improvements to their properties that reduce energy and water costs.
(For details on CEFAH, go to http://www.housingonline.com/Councils.aspx)
New Markets Tax Credit Committee Develops 2010 Agenda
The New Markets Tax Credit Steering Committee of NH&RA has formulated its agenda of projects and priorities that it will focus on in 2010. Priorities include to press for an immediate extension of the NMTC program in tax credit extender legislation as well as for a long-term multi-year extension. As part of this, the committee will create informational resources to promote the program and conduct training on how to promote the program through groundbreakings, ribbon-cuttings, and direct advocacy. The committee will also focus on various technical issues, including addressing the proposed codification of economic substance relating to tax credit transactions; true debt analysis; the implications of a recent U.S. Tax Court ruling involving Virginia state historic tax credits (see article on p. 24) for the structuring of NMTC transactions; and other regulatory issues. The committee will also explore creating educational resources to recruit new investors and leveraged lenders to the program.
(For details on NMTC Council, go to http://www.housingonline.com/Councils.aspx)
Gambrell to Speak at NMTC Symposium
Donna Gambrell, Director of the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, which administers the federal new markets tax credit program, will be a keynote speaker at NH&RA’s 2010 New Markets Tax Credit Symposium on March 10 in Miami Beach, Fla.
Gambrell, who has been CDFI Fund Director since November 2007, will discuss current and upcoming developments regarding the NMTC program. The CDFI Fund in the fall announced its latest round of NMTC allocations.
Gambrell will also attend NH&RA New Markets Steering Committee meeting held on March 10.
(For details on the symposium and to register, go to http://www.housingonline.com/events/
NCAHMA Conducts Training for California Officials
The National Council of Affordable Housing Market Analysts (NCAHMA), a Council of NH&RA, held a training session on January 12 in Sacramento for staff members of the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC) and the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee (CDLAC).
The training session provided information on market studies prepared for proposed projects to be financed with low-income housing tax credits and/or tax-exempt bonds, including the NCAHMA recommended guidelines for the content of such market studies and standards for professionals who prepare market studies.
CTCAC allocates housing credits in California, while CDLAC allocates tax-exempt bond authority, including for affordable multifamily rental housing projects.
The California event is the latest in a series of training sessions that NCAHMA has held for state agencies.
More than 20 state agencies have adopted NCAHMA’s market study guidelines as part of their low-income housing tax credit programs.
(For information on NCAHMA and its guidelines, go to http://www.housingonline.com/Councils.aspx)
NCAHMA Schedules 2010 Spring Conference
The National Council of Affordable Housing Market Analysts will hold its 2010 Spring Underwriting Forum on April 6-7, 2010, in New Orleans.
NCAHMA is soliciting suggestions for topics to be covered at the conference. Suggestions should be directed to Thom Amdur, [email protected].
NCAHMA Surveys Members on Activities
The National Council of Affordable Housing Market Analysts recently completed a survey of its members.
The survey was intended to identify the number of market analysts employed by firms that are members of NCAHMA, and the specific states in which these analysts prepare market studies for affordable housing projects.
NCAHMA received responses from 32 firms indicating that they employ a total of 135 market study professionals that prepare about 1,660 market studies per year. Many of the same firms also reported that they conduct appraisals of affordable housing projects, and indicated that they employ some 239 appraisers performing nearly 10,800 appraisals per year. The firms noted they work in 30 states plus Washington, D.C.
(For details, contact Thom Amdur, [email protected])
HOPE VI Group to Meet at Conference
The HOPE VI Council, a council within NH&RA, will convene to discuss pertinent current issues and activities during the NH&RA 2010 Annual Meeting, scheduled for March 11-13, 2010, in Miami Beach, Fla.
In addition, the Annual Meeting will feature a related, panel session entitled, Development Opportunities with Non-Traditional Partners.
Historic Council to Participate in Conferences
The Historic Preservation Development Council, a council within NH&RA, will meet during the NH&RA 2010 Annual Meeting on March 11-13 in Miami Beach, Fla.
In addition, HPDC will conduct a panel session at the upcoming National Historic Tax Credit Conference, sponsored by the National Council of State Historic Preservation Officers, to be held on March 1-5 in Washington, D.C.
(For more information on HPDC, go to http://www.housingonline.com/Councils.aspx)
Upcoming Conferences
To register, and for more information, go to http://www.housingonline.com
National Housing & Rehabilitation Association
2010 Winter New Markets Tax Credit Pre-Conference Symposium
March 10, 2010
Ritz-Carlton Hotel South Beach, Miami Beach, Fla.
National Housing & Rehabilitation Association
Affordable Housing Conference & 2010 Annual Meeting
March 11-13, 2010
Ritz-Carlton Hotel South Beach, Miami Beach, Fla.
National Council of Affordable Housing Market Analysts
2010 Spring Underwriting Forum
April 7-8, 2010
Intercontinental Hotel New Orleans, New Orleans, La.
National Housing & Rehabilitation Association
2010 Spring Policy Forum
May 20-21, 2010
Liaison Hotel, Washington, D.C.
National Housing & Rehabilitation Association
Summer New Markets Tax Credit Pre-Conference Symposium & 2010 Summer Institute
July 21-24, 2010
Ritz-Carlton Hotel Laguna Niguel, Dana Point, Calif.
