Obama Administration Announces Initiative for State and Local Housing Finance Agencies – October 20, 2009

WASHINGTON – As part of its comprehensive plan to stabilize the U.S. housing market, the Obama Administration today announced a new initiative for state and local housing finance agencies (HFAs) that will help support low mortgage rates and expand resources for low and middle income borrowers to purchase or rent homes that are affordable over the long term. Following up on the intent to support HFAs first outlined in February under the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan, the Administration’s initiative has two parts: a new bond purchase program to support new lending by HFAs and a temporary credit and liquidity program to improve the access of HFAs to liquidity for outstanding HFA bonds.

Please click here for the full press release.

CPA Match Hits Record Low – October 14, 2009

BOSTON – The Community Preservation Act (CPA) trust fund payment distributed this week to 135 eligible municipalities was the lowest since the program began, according to data from the state Department of Revenue (DOR). The FY10 base payment of a 34.8 percent match to locally raised funds is over 65 percent lower than the dollar for dollar match received in the first six years of the CPA program. DOR estimates that the distribution will fall again next fiscal year, likely as low as 28 percent for many communities.

Please click here for the full press release.