NMA Blog

Even when you're an experienced multifamily owner/manager, the prospect of an MOR can be daunting. For newbies to PBRA, it's even more so! Getting audited is never fun but being prepared before it happens will help you and your staff feel more comfortable and increase your odds of a successful outcome.

• Tip #1: Audit your own files before HUD does

Try to run a review of your files that's as close to an actual MOR as possible. Are you complying with all HUD requirements? You'll need to check move-ins, interims, annuals, gross rent changes, and initial certifications conducted in the past 12 months. We suggest using the Form HUD 9834 Addendum A when self-auditing. This is the form HUD uses when auditing and allows you to know if you are falling short on any HUD requirements. Focus your internal quality control on files that are most likely to have mistakes: most common files an auditor will chose include, large assets, large medical deductions, and multiple income sources, as well as your most recent move-in.

• Tip #2: Do a companywide forms audit

In addition to auditing your own files, this is the best time to do a companywide audit of your forms to ensure they are up-to-date. You should make sure all the information is still correct and nothing is outdated. If you find anything that's incorrect, update your forms to meet current standards and practices. Not only will this help keep the company forms updated, but it will also make certain the whole company is ready when an MOR comes.

• Tip #3: Do a physical assessment of your properties

After doing an audit of your paperwork, it is important to get an inspector to evaluate the properties. During this time, check to see if there are any damages to the sites. If there are, make the necessary arrangements to get them fixed before the MOR. This will make sure the properties are up to code and help the audit process go more smoothly. (If you need help looking for an inspector, we do offer UPCS inspections.)

With a bit of preparation, you can get through an MOR with flying colors. Just make sure to review your files, forms, and properties before your MOR and make any changes or updates to items that need to be fixed.

Not sure if you're compliant? We can help! We offer on- and off-site MOR readiness reviews and file corrections and UPCS inspections. Our new class, MOR Prep, is also an excellent option for ensuring you understand the MOR process and how to navigate it successfully.

What we're reading now: the latest housing reports and analysis

National Low Income Housing Coalition: Details of bipartisan HUD and USDA spending deal for FY19

Congress has enacted the omnibus spending package for HUD and other federal agencies. The 1,090-page bill had been approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives on February 14, and the President signed the bill on February 15.

The bill provides more than $12 billion above the President’s request for HUD programs. Building on the 10 percent increase in HUD funding for 2018, $1.5 billion in new resources is now available for 2019—including modest increases for the public housing Capital Fund and Operating Fund, Section 8 HAP renewals and ongoing administrative fees, the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program, and Healthy Homes, to name a few. The Choice Neighborhoods program has not been eliminated and has been funded at the same levels as last year. In addition, an amendment that would have barred people charged with certain crimes from receiving housing assistance has not been included over concerns regarding its implementation. 

The National Low-Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) has posted an article detailing provisions of the bill and an updated chart comparing fiscal year (FY) 2018 funding levels to proposed and final levels for FY 2019.

In other news:

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: HUD funding bill will launch Housing Voucher mobility demonstration

• Congress recently passed the mobility demonstration to help PHAs plan and implement a housing mobility program to help low-income families gain access to low-poverty neighborhoods with higher-performing schools.
  
  

National Low Income Housing Coalition: THUD subcommittee holds hearing to review HUD’s performance during government shutdown

• An oversight hearing was held on Feb. 12 by the House THUD Appropriations Subcommittee to review HUD's management of project-based rental assistance contracts that expired during the partial government shutdown. The subcommittee hopes to use lessons learned from the shutdown to improve communication with Congress and housing stakeholders.
  
  

The Sault News: State to offer a new option for low-income housing

• Michigan is offering a new modular housing option to help low- and low-mid level income families buy homes. So far 55 cities and nonprofit organizations have expressed interest in the program.
  
  

Los Angeles Times: HUD Secretary Ben Carson announces job funds for Nickerson Gardens tenants

• U.S. Secretary of HUD, Ben Carson, announced on Feb. 20 a $3.7-million grant for a new job center at Nickerson Gardens. The grant will be applied to the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles' Jobs Plus Initiative Program, which helps citizens with job placement and getting employment.
  
  

What we're reading now: the latest housing reports and analysis

DSNews: HUD offers helping hand to displaced earthquake victims

HUD announced on Monday, February 11, disaster assistance efforts would be accelerated for Alaska's 7.0 magnitude earthquake. This announcement follows the January 31 major disaster declaration issued for Anchorage and affected counties, which allowed a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures of FHA home mortgages.

The relief is now open to providing federal disaster assistance to support low-income renters and homeowners displaced by the recent earthquake. HUD's Section 203(h) program will also provide relief by helping disaster victims with their mortgage insurance on homes that were destroyed or damaged beyond repair.

HUD is sharing this information with FEMA and will be reaching out to housing providers to find available units at public housing agencies and in multi-family properties.

In other news:

Multi-Housing News: Bridge Housing tops out $84M affordable project in OR

• A 203-unit affordable housing development in Portland, OR is nearing completion. The building will provide housing to low-income families and homeless military veterans in the area.

Strong Towns: Nominate your city for our 4th Annual Strongest Town Contest!

• Strong Towns are now taking applications for their Annual Strongest Town Contest. Community members can nominate their town and share what they think makes it unique and worth celebrating.

HUD Public Affairs: HUD awards $74 million to help families reach self-sufficiency

• On Thursday, Feb. 14, HUD announced the recipients for service coordinators in the FSS program.

League of California Cities: Looking to update your general, specific, or community plan?

• California cities can apply this coming spring for funding through the SB 2 Planning Grants Program to update a variety of plans.

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: HUD funding bill will launch housing voucher mobility demonstration

• Congress passed the funding bill which includes $28 million to fund the voucher mobility demonstration. This fund will help housing mobility support services and operating regional mobility programs, along with providing new vouchers for families with children.

Last Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, we published a blog article discussing the eligibility of ineligible noncitizens for participation in the Family Self-Sufficiency program. We have since determined that HUD has not issued any specific guidance on the issue. In the absence of clear HUD guidance on this issue, we urge PHAs to seek HUD’s authorization before establishing local policies permitting ineligible family members to participate in FSS.

Our policy has always been to base all of our answers on HUD guidance, and we didn’t follow that policy here. We apologize for any confusion this post caused, and promise to do better.

What we're reading now: the latest housing reports and analysis

Multi-Housing News: How privatizing GSEs could impact the multifamily market

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo released a proposal Friday, Feb 1 2019 to reform the GSEs, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, by privatizing them. This has caused industry experts to worry about who will take on the counterparty risk for the government if GSEs do get privatized. And although this isn't the first time a GSE reform has been made, changes in positions at the Federal Housing Finance Agency could mean this reform might pass.

As of today, this possible reform has left a lot of unanswered questions yet to be addressed by Crapo's proposal that could impact the multifamily housing industry.

In other news:

National Low Income Housing Coalition: NLIHC provides memo to 116th Congress offering solutions to rental housing crisis

• The NLIHC released a memo Jan 30 that lists suggestions senators and representatives can take to help end homelessness and aid low-income citizens with affordable housing.

National Low Income Housing Coalition: Senators reintroduce ‘Voucher Mobility’ Bill to improve access to high-opportunity neighborhoods

• On Jan 31, senators introduced S. 291, the “Housing Choice Voucher Mobility Demonstration Act." This bipartisan bill hopes to provide greater choice and mobility in HUD’s existing voucher program.

National Low Income Housing Coalition: House finalizes committee rosters for 116th Congress

• The House has finalized the membership of committees and announced subcommittee leadership for the 116th Congress.

North Carolina Department of Commerce: NC disaster recovery program

• HUD appropriated $236,529,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds to the state of North Carolina for recovery from Hurricane Matthew.