WI-CARH Newsletter – Summer 2015
Spring Training & Annual Conference
It all starts with the feedback
The Fair Housing Seminar provided by Mark English and Scott Moore of Fair Housing Solutions on April 22nd was well received. Topics covered during the day included Testers, Fair Housing Advertising, Reasonable Accommodation, Assistance Animals, and much more. 72% of the attendees that responded were very satisfied with the program. The down side was that it was a lot of information to cover in one day and it left some attendees wanting more. One attendee echoed the responses of many by saying, “More on this please – every bit was valuable.” You can see the complete 2015 Training Evaluation Summary here. The evaluations that we ask the attendees of our events to complete are reviewed thoroughly and used to make decisions about session topics at the Annual Conference and the Spring Training. We are working hard to provide valuable information at our upcoming Annual Conference on November 5th that will make your job easier and better prepare you to serve the rural housing industry.
Housing Authority of the City of Burlington Completes $1.475 Million Renovation
Funded by RD’s MPR Program
A $1.475 million renovation was recently completed at Riverview Manor, a 98-unit affordable housing apartment complex for the elderly and disabled that’s operated by the Housing Authority of the City of Burlington, Wisconsin. Wisconsin Management Company served as the general contractor, and its subsidiary, FGS The Restoration Company, performed rehab work, with USDA Rural Development as the lender through its Multi-Family Housing Preservation and Revitalization Demonstration Program (MPR). The project was designed and supervised by Benz Architecture Limited, LLC.
The primary focus of the remodeling project was interior improvements to the apartments. This included cabinetry, flooring, lighting, appliances, painting, low-curb showers and accessories. Six apartments were converted to full accessibility, while six additional apartments were given many accessibility features. Updates were made in the common areas and the exterior, giving the property a fresh look and user-friendly amenities.
New WI-CARH Member
Welcome Clear Gains!
Join us in welcoming Deborah Grayson, Program Coordinator at Clear Gains: Wisconsin’s Smoke Free Housing Initiative, a program of the American Lung Association. To learn more about smoke free housing, please email Deborah at Deborah.Grayson@lung.org or visit wismokefreehousing.com. Full contact information is available to WI-CARH members on our website.
More information about becoming a member of WI-CARH can be found here.
Sheperd Re-elected to WI-CARH Board
Meet David Sheperd
At the Annual Meeting of Members held during the WI-CARH Annual Conference on November 18, 2014, David Sheperd of WHEDA was re-elected to the Board of Directors. He is now serving his second three year term.
David has been in the housing and the real estate business for over 30 years. From 2003 to July 1, 2011 David was a Community Relations Officer at WHEDA. In this capacity, he established partnerships and relationships in communities throughout Wisconsin. Currently, David is a Commercial Lending Officer in the Commercial Lending group at WHEDA.
Read his full bio here.
A Buyer’s Market
Fannie Mae Acquisition Loans
For those receiving an abundance of real estate brokerage packages lately, one aspect is likely to stand out-the high prices sellers are asking for in today’s frothy acquisition market. Due to those high prices, as well as factors such as fewer closing contingencies, quicker closings and all-cash offers, now can be an ideal time to consider selling well-performing affordable apartment buildings.
Read the full article here.
Clear Gains in Smoke-Free Housing
Lessons From the Field
It is clear from the increasing availability of smoke-free multi-unit buildings that property owners and managers recognize the financial and health benefits of adopting these policies. Owners and managers have said that these benefits definitely outweigh the issues that arise as a result of smoke-free policies. These issues and responses to them are addressed here.
Contact
Laura Mason, Executive Assistant
PO Box 394, Mount Horeb, WI
608.437.2300
Save the Date!
November 5, 2015
WI-CARH Annual Meeting & Conference