Two ways to improve Texas’ housing tax credit allocation plan
We recently filed comments (jointly with Texas Appleseed) on the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs‘ (TDCHA) “Qualified AllocationContinue Reading
Author: Kevin Jewell
Bo’s Clips: GSE Accounting
The president declares an end to the housing collapse and calls for shutting down Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. TheContinue Reading
Bo’s Clips: Fannie and Freddie in the Black
An improved housing market puts Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac back in the black and generating enough profit to repayContinue Reading
2013 Texas Legislative Session Wrap Up
Here’s our wrap up of the major low-income housing issues in the 83rd regular session of the Texas legislature. TDHCAContinue Reading
Bo’s Clips: Housing Discrimination Persists
Race continues to be a barrier to housing for people of color in the US with African-Americans encountering the greatestContinue Reading
Bo’s Clips: Wall Street Buyers
The housing industry’s spike in sales is largely fueled by speculating corporations with idyll bucks to invest. The typical dealContinue Reading
Bo’s Clips: Unequal Recovery
The Federal Reserve has released a new report that asserts the nation has yet to recover from the recession. WhileContinue Reading
Austin’s KUT on Affordable Housing
Last week, Austin’s NPR-affliate KUT News explored the nuts and bolts of Austin affordable housing in a four-part series –Continue Reading
Bo’s Clips: More Mortgage Abuse
As the ink dries on a $25 billion settlement with the government last year, big banks resume their sleazy mortgageContinue Reading
Bo’s Clips: Suburban Poverty Grows
A new Brookings Institute study says America’s poor are increasingly pushed out into the suburbs where the costs of livingContinue Reading
NLIHC Highlights Nacogdoches Tenant Association
The Spring 2013 issue of Tenant Talk, a publication of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, contains a moving essayContinue Reading
Senate Passes TDHCA Sunset
The Texas Senate passed out the TDHCA Sunset bill this afternoon. The bill voted out adopted the recommendations of theContinue Reading
Bo’s Clips: Homeownership and Labor Mobility
The “American Dream” of homeownership is challenged by a new study that links high rates of unemployment to high ratesContinue Reading
TDHCA Sunset Heads to Senate
TXLIHIS Co-Director John Henneberger testified this week at the Intergovernmental Relations Committee hearing on the TDHCA Sunset bill. His testimonyContinue Reading
Bo’s Clips: Continuing mortgage servicing abuses
While the housing industry slowly recovers, New York’ attorney general is suing big banks for continuing to scam borrowers. TheContinue Reading
Rare Floor Fight on Model Subdivision Rules Bill
Last Week, HB 611, (Rep Guillen) died on the floor of the Texas house on a record vote. The billContinue Reading
Bo’s Clips: Minorities Pay More for Homes
Racial inequities in US housing ownership continue as a new report shows minorities pay more for their homes and areContinue Reading
House Amends TDHCA Sunset Bill
The Texas House yesterday debated HB3361, the bill to continue the functions of the Texas Department of Housing and Community AffairsContinue Reading
Bo’s Clips: Wall Street Betting on Single Family
As the housing recovery stalls, big banks move in to grab the bargains, leaving low-income buyers languishing. Market analysts speculateContinue Reading
Hurricane Ike survivors testify at House Ways and Means
Shelly Batten and Tina Colunga drove up from Galveston yesterday to testify on HB 835. HB 835, by Representative Eiland, (andContinue Reading
CFED: Manufactured Homes in South Texas
This morning CFED unveiled two sets of materials covering Manufactured Housing in South Texas: a Data Snapshot, which illustrates theContinue Reading
Bo’s Clips: Houston Looks for Work Force Housing
Houston planners are proposing to develop more work force housing for middle income households inside the inner loop. The mayorContinue Reading
Bo’s Clips: Texas Lemon Law for Homes Focuses on Veterans
Fueled by record-low interest rates, housing sales surge beyond supply and send builders scrambling to restart and expand their operations.Continue Reading
The Tale of Two Sequesters
You have a private plane and sequester is going to delay your flight plan? Don’t worry, Texas has your back.Continue Reading
Bo’s Clips: Dallas Council Member Blames Plano for Dallas Homeless
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac begin to make write-downs on troubled mortgages as they post a 2012 profit of $17.2Continue Reading
Map of the Day: Housing Units Lacking Complete Plumbing
The fine folks at the Housing Assistance Council released a report called “Taking Stock” a few months ago. Taking Stock,Continue Reading
Bo’s Clips: Mortgage Credit Easing
Home builders now rush to respond to a surging market as nationwide sales rise 7.3 percent in the last year.Continue Reading
NLIHC: Americans Support Mortgage Interest Deduction Reform
A poll commissioned by the National Low Income Housing Coalition finds that while most Americans do favor the mortgage interestContinue Reading
Bo’s News Clips: Speculators Sweep Available Rentals
As the housing market slowly improves, some banks are buying huge tracts of foreclosed houses and renting them in hopeContinue Reading
The Blogosphere Discusses Segregation in Austin
Over the last two months, there’s been an uptick in folks visiting the Texas Housers website after searching on termsContinue Reading