Housing & Development

WASHINGTON, DC - August 3, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan and Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller announced today the launch of the National Mortgage Servicing Settlement’s first public service announcement (PSA) television ad titled “Homeowner Help.” The PSA, which can be viewed at www.hud.gov and www.nationalmortgagesettlement.com, is designed to educate homeowners about the resources available to them through the mortgage servicing settlement.

DES MOINES - July 23, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Branstad/Reynolds Administration today announced that a comprehensive statewide housing study is underway and encourage Iowans to participate in the process by sharing information about the housing needs in their areas at one of eight public meetings that are scheduled throughout the state in the coming weeks. The study is commissioned by the Iowa Finance Authority in partnership with RDG Planning & Design.

WASHINGTON, DC - June 26, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Iowa’s Department of Administration Services (DAS) has begun using standard contract documents developed by ConsensusDocs as the basis for its building contracts. The state agency, which typically oversees 200 projects and $200 million worth of construction projects annually, is the latest in a series of construction owners to embrace the contract documents.

WASHINGTON, DC - June 7, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa is urging the Department of Housing and Urban Development to make public the salary data it collected from public housing authorities across the country under pressure from Grassley and amid numerous salary scandals. The Administration made only aggregate information public in announcing a salary cap proposal this week.

Des Moines, IA - March 13, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) Board of Directors recently approved a combined total of more than $105,000 in grants to provide affordable homeownership and rental opportunities to families in Burlington, Rock Rapids and Tipton. The funding is made available through the State Housing Trust Fund’s Project-Based program, which provides financing for the development of affordable single-family and multifamily housing units.

State Grant to Support Lease-Purchase Program Des Moines, Iowa – The Iowa Finance Authority Board of Directors recently approved a $50,000 grant to the Northeast...

DES MOINES, IA - December 23, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today announced that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has approved the Branstad/Reynolds Administration’s request for a temporary waiver of income restrictions on federal housing tax credit properties throughout the state to assist Iowans who may have been displaced by the Missouri River flooding last summer. The Iowa Finance Authority administers the federal housing tax credit program in Iowa and a listing of properties is available at: www.IowaFinanceAuthority.gov/EmergencyHousing.

Des Moines, IA - December 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Iowa Finance Authority Board of Directors recently approved a $50,000 grant to Habitat for Humanity of Marion County, Inc. to assist in the construction of an affordable home for a family in Knoxville. The funding is made available through the State Housing Trust Fund’s Project-Based program. The program provides financing for the development of affordable single-family and multifamily housing units.

Des Moines, IA - November 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Leonard Boswell (IA-3) sent a letter to House Conferees to H.R. 2112 urging them to reject language contained in the legislation that would restore the currently expired Federal Housing Authority (FHA) loan limits.

Des Moines, IA - November 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Iowa Finance Authority Board of Directors today certified the NIACOG Housing Trust Fund through the State Housing Trust Fund’s Local Housing Trust Fund program. The designation means the group may apply for funds from the Iowa Finance Authority’s State Housing Trust Fund program. More than $5 million is available to the 25 certified Local Housing Trust Funds on a competitive basis in fiscal year 2012. Local Housing Trust Funds use the funding to build affordable housing locally.

Des Moines, IA - September 16, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Iowa Finance Authority Board of Directors recently approved a $50,000 grant to Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity to help acquire three lots in foreclosure, deconstruct for salvage material and demolish a dilapidated home and construct three new affordable homes. The funding is made available through the State Housing Trust Fund’s Project-Based program. The program provides financing for the development of affordable single-family and multifamily housing units.

Des Moines, IA - September 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Three outstanding Iowa housing initiatives and one individual from throughout the state were recently recognized with HousingIowa Awards at the 2011 HousingIowa Conference, presented by the Iowa Finance Authority in Des Moines.

WASHINGTON, DC - August 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced that it is charging John and Nancy Meany, owners of an apartment building in Traer, Iowa, with violating the Fair Housing Act for refusing to accommodate a request from a family with a child with cerebral palsy. HUD brings the charge on behalf of the child and her mother, claiming the owners refused to allow the seven-year-old girl to have a medically-prescribed emotional support animal.

WASHINGTON, DC - August 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced that it is charging John and Nancy Meany, owners of an apartment building in Traer, Iowa, with violating the Fair Housing Act for refusing to accommodate a request from a family with a child with cerebral palsy.

WASHINGTON, DC - August 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the State of Iowa and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following last month’s severe storms and flooding.