Scott Beyer Author Archives

ICAST’s IRA & BIL Instant Benefit Estimate Calculator is now available on NH&RA’s website under the Resources section.

There has been a recent debate, inside and out of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) community, about where affordable housing projects should be built. Following negative press from NPR and ProPublica showing how a majority of units were going into low-income areas, legislators have called for state qualified allocation plan (QAP) adjustments to award credits to developers who build in nicer areas. The thinking is that by placing LIHTC tenants in mid- or high-income areas, they will have better access to good schools, jobs and amenities.

It’s rare that the financial forces of government and industry collide to an extreme degree in any one city neighborhood. As someone who’s traveled much of the U.S., I’ve seen plenty of divestment, even in places that are centrally-located. The area I’m profiling this month used to be somewhat like that, but has seen a flood of public, private and philanthropic capital that may cause it to eventually rival surrounding boomburbs in Northern Virginia.

The United States, thanks to a combo of Coronavirus lockdowns, supply chain issues, tariffs and a rise in inflation, is seeing a spike in home material prices.

A recent NH&RA presentation describes new and underutilized options for affordable home providers.

For decades, racial discrimination has been a real problem in housing – both for those building it and those living in it. Reversing the trends that limit housing access, and spurring economic mobility, has become a salient goal for the affordable housing industry.

In recent years, the rising cost of traditional construction—we’re looking at you, lumber—has pushed some affordable housing producers to explore modular options.

Affordable housing production is needed in markets with high job growth, in order to accommodate the increased demand from inbound workers.

Texas is well-known for its fast growth, yet ability to stay affordable. The state has a mostly elastic housing market (of the 50 largest U.S. metros, four of the top 12 in permitting rates are in Texas).

Odd as it sounds given the events, the U.S. property market had a banner year in 2020, and its upward streak continues. The Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which measures single-family home prices, is up 12 percent since February 2020.

Wood-frame high-rise construction may soon become commonplace in the United States. The International Code Council (ICC), which develops a model building code, recently approved mass timber construction of up to 18 floors.

Energy efficient construction (EEC) is a focus area for cities and states as they move to reduce carbon emissions – after all, current buildings account for nearly 40 percent of such pollution. In many jurisdictions, developers—and consumers, to whom costs are passed down—must contend with building code changes that call for more EEC.

In early March, NH&RA held its annual meeting, a three-day symposium on all things housing, finance and tax credits. As part of the meeting and ongoing efforts in the industry, the meeting included discussion of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Vincent R. Brown, a Cincinnati-based consultant who coaches companies and nonprofits on DEI strategies, delivered a keynote address. This topic is salient, not only with stories dominating the news but also as an ongoing issue in the affordable housing industry and the communities they serve.