Yearly Archives: 2009

COLUMBUS, OH - June 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Flanked by lending reform advocates, Rep. Matt Lundy (D-Elyria) today unveiled his much-anticipated fix to close loopholes in the law that are currently allowing payday lenders to charge up to 680 percent APR.

COLUMBUS, OH - June 1, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Buying a home is no longer a dream. With low sale prices and favorable mortgage rates, attaining homeownership is possible with stable financing and flexible options from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA).

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 28, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced that two Cleveland-based organizations will be awarded an aggregate $85 million through the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program. The funds, made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will support the existing tax credit program that works to create and save jobs, and develop real estate and business projects in both rural and urban distressed communities.

COLUMBUS, OH - May 26, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) was recently among the first to be awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Treasury under programs created through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

COLUMBUS, OH - May 20, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) Board today approved $8.95 million to create or maintain affordable housing for families, seniors and the homeless across the state. Nearly $3 million in funding from the Housing Development Assistance Program (HDAP) and $6 million from the Housing Development Loan (HDL) Program will provide a strong fiscal foundation for these properties.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 20, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chairman of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Economic Policy, will attend the White House signing ceremony today of two bills aimed at preventing foreclosures and protecting Ohioans from mortgage fraud. Brown has been an outspoken advocate for federal legislation that makes it easier for homeowners to hold onto their homes by refinancing into more affordable mortgages.

Columbus, OH - May 19, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Governor Ted Strickland and Lisa Patt-McDaniel, Interim Director of the Ohio Department of Development, today announced that Ohio’s Continuums of Care and county boards of commissioners will partner with the Department in awarding more than $24.5 million of Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) funds.

COLUMBUS, OH - May 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Ohio Department of Development Interim Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel today announced more than $20 million in Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund grants to 11 brownfield clean-up projects throughout the state. The funding, approved at a Clean Ohio Council Round Six award meeting, will allow for the reuse of idle commercial and industrial properties and is expected to initially create and retain more than 550 jobs.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 15, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — In an effort to bring transparency and accountability to government spending and appropriations, U.S. Senator George Voinovich (R-OH), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Homeland Security, today released the following Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations requests for Fiscal Year 2010.

CINCINNATI, OH - May 12, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — A Dayton father and son pleaded guilty in United States District Court here for their roles in an extensive mortgage fraud scheme that affected 210 residential properties, including 205 in Montgomery County.

WASHINGTON - May 4, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Todd Gongwer of Dublin, Ohio; Lance Parker of Dublin, Ohio; and Joel Lee, of Galena, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced. Gongwer, a licensed real estate agent, also pleaded guilty to tax evasion in the hearing before Judge Michael H. Watson in Columbus, Ohio. Parker also pleaded guilty to illegally structuring cash transactions.

Nearly $1 million of Federal Housing Tax Credits were awarded by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency to nine developments as part of allocations from the Housing and Economic Recovery Act. COLUMBUS, OH - May 1, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) today awarded nine affordable housing developments additional federal Housing Tax Credits through a provision included in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA). Passed in July 2008, the HERA provided OHFA with the ability to award extra tax credits for properties that received funding in 2008 and are ready to begin construction this year.

COLUMBUS, OH - April 30, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) today awarded seven affordable housing developments additional federal Housing Tax Credits through a provision included in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA).

Washington, DC - April 14, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — According to a National report released today on rental costs for every county, metropolitan area and state in the nation, the Housing Wage for Ohio is $13.14. The Housing Wage is the hourly wage a family must earn – working 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year – to be able to afford rent and utilities in the private housing market. This represents an increase of 26.9% since 2000.

COLUMBUS, OH - April 15, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) Board today approved eight initiatives to be financed through the Housing Investment Fund. In September 2008, the Board approved the Housing Investment Fund to support affordable housing initiatives in Ohio that could not be currently funded through OHFA’s standard programs. The Fund provides an opportunity for developers and housing organizations to receive grants or loans to respond to changing housing needs around the state.

Columbus , Ohio - April 2, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and Mark Barbash, Interim Director of the Ohio Department of Development, today joined...

Columbus, OH - April 02, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Governor Ted Strickland today announced a proclamation recognizing April as Fair Housing Month in Ohio. The proclamation is intended to raise awareness about fair housing opportunities throughout the state.

COLUMBUS, OH - April 1, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) has been serving the entire state for over 25 years and offers a diverse range of homeownership programs available to all who qualify regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, military status, disability, or ancestry.

COLUMBUS, OH - March 30, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Ohio Department of Development Interim Director Mark Barbash today announced that Vinton County will receive a $20,000 grant on behalf of the Vinton/Jackson County Consortia to assist with fair housing efforts. The funds will be awarded through the New Horizons Fair Housing Assistance Program, administered by the Department’s Office of Housing and Community Partnerships.

COLUMBUS, OH - March 26, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) today announced that they will launch their new Homebuyer Tax Credit Advantage Program on Monday, March 30. The program will allow qualified homebuyers to receive help with down payment and closing costs.