http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/ en Copyright 2008 Fri, 29 Feb 2008 08:01:33 -0700 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss The Colorado Division of Real Estate on Thursday said it permanently revoked the license of Greeley real estate agent Tracy T. Todd and issued a 90-day suspension against Greeley agent Steve G. Boye for alleged mortgage fraud schemes in Greeley. The division contends that Todd offered to purchase a home in Greeley at $425,000 which has been on the market for nine months for $300,000. In exchange for the higher price, Todd executed a separate agreement requiring the seller to pay $135,000 in a "consulting fee" to his company, Medicine Creek Consulting. The buyer of the home was Grace Todd, a relative. In another home, listed by Boyer, Todd executed a contract to buy a Greeley home that included a $72,250 consulting fee to Medicine Creek. The buyer was Todd's mother-in-law. http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/29/#030514 http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/29/#030514 Housing and Homeless www.rockymountainnews.com Fri, 29 Feb 2008 08:01:33 -0700 Aspen school officials have concluded that a majority of their employees are in rental housing, and, unless they are somehow able to buy their homes, many might end up leaving the district soon. A recent employee survey also shows that a third of the district’s employees are unhappy with their current housing, would like to own their homes and can afford a fairly hefty mortgage if given the chance to buy. The survey, which drew 153 responses from the district’s 229 employees, was designed to give the district administration an idea of how many teachers, bus drivers, office workers and other employees might want an opportunity to buy into government-subsidized housing. http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/29/#030482 http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/29/#030482 Housing and Homeless aspentimes.com Fri, 29 Feb 2008 06:18:32 -0700 In order to better serve the homeless and working poor in Boulder County, two nonprofit organizations will merge at the end of March to strengthen fundraising and provide better services to those in need. The Carriage House Homeless Community Center and Community Table have both been serving Boulder County's homeless for about 10 years. Though each organization currently has its own way of providing for the community, they believe that joining forces will help offer the community the best level of service possible. “We both serve similar clientele and guests, and we think it's a much better use of resources,” said Lee Strongwater, president of Community Table. “The merger is about common vision, more exposure and delivery of our services to our clientele in the best possible way.” http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/29/#030422 http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/29/#030422 Housing and Homeless coloradodaily.com Fri, 29 Feb 2008 06:04:02 -0700 The Colorado Division of Real Estate said Thursday that it has revoked the license of Greeley-area real estate broker Tracy Todd and suspended that of Steve G. Boyer for 90 days over an alleged mortgage fraud scheme. Todd made a $425,000 offer on a home that hadn't sold for nine months at a $300,000 listing price. His offer, made on behalf of a relative, included a separate commission agreement to pay a $135,000 "consulting fee" to Medicine Creek Consulting, a company owned by a business partner of Todd's. In another case, Todd executed a contract to buy a Greeley home for $425,000 with a $72,250 consulting fee to Medicine Creek Consulting. The buyer was Todd's mother-in-law. Steve Boyer was the listing agent, and his participation in the transaction resulted in his suspension. http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/29/#030440 http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/29/#030440 Housing and Homeless www.denverpost.com Fri, 29 Feb 2008 05:53:24 -0700 To get more affordable housing built in the valley, the county wants to form a “housing authority,” an approach that has been taken in both Summit and Pitkin counties. The county commissioners would preside over the housing authority, whose main goal would be to build affordable homes and buy free market homes to resell at affordable prices in the county. Initially, it would not be funded by a tax, unlike those in other counties. Forming the authority would give the county greater flexibility in investing money, selling or buying land, making bylaws or rules pertaining to housing, and managing any affordable homes the county owns, said County Commissioner Arn Menconi. “I think it should be apparent that the county is trying to take leadership in listening to residents and producing affordable housing. This is one tool to do that,” Menconi said. http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/29/#030469 http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/29/#030469 Housing and Homeless vaildaily.com Fri, 29 Feb 2008 05:26:59 -0700 A stalled Edwards land deal was the was the source of contention between residents and county officials Wednesday night. About 50 residents gathered at the Homestead Court Club to question County Commissioners Sara Fisher and Peter Runyon about a potential $12 million land purchase that may be a future site for affordable housing. Negotiations for buying the 105-acre B&B Excavating property just west of the Eagle River Preserve in Edwards are stalled, commissioners said. http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/29/#030472 http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/29/#030472 Housing and Homeless vaildaily.com Fri, 29 Feb 2008 05:25:14 -0700 Mayor Dave Moore has announced plans to develop about 34 affordable housing units in Silt. “I believe that we can lead the parade on affordable housing in Garfield County,” Moore said in an interview Thursday. “And I’m looking forward to some great things happening in the town of Silt.” Moore, his family members, and a few business partners purchased three acres of land in the eastern part of Silt in August. The area sits on the north side of Main Street, across from the Intermountain Transfer and Storage business. He said he grew frustrated hearing lots of talk about affordable housing. “We all talk about affordable housing, but nobody does anything about it,” Moore said. http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/29/#030480 http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/29/#030480 Housing and Homeless www.postindependent.com Fri, 29 Feb 2008 05:20:06 -0700 Colorado Sens. Wayne Allard and Ken Salazar find themselves on opposite sides in the Senate this week as lawmakers wrestle over how to shore up the slumping housing market, even as Colorado moved up to fifth place nationally in the number of homes in foreclosure. Allard, a Republican who serves on the Senate Banking Committee, said he urged President Bush to issue a veto threat this week over any mortgage legislation that would allow homeowners in default to rewrite their mortgages in bankruptcy court. "Obviously we want to do what we can (to help) but to force the problem into bankruptcy court where a judge could change the conditions of the mortgage will only increase the risk to lenders and make it more difficult to get mortgages," Allard said in a telephone press conference Wednesday. "That has the potential to increase the cost of loans to everyone." http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/28/#030278 http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/28/#030278 Housing and Homeless pueblochieftain.com Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:39:27 -0700 Rep. Dorothy Butcher wants to help seniors who are forced to move for whatever reason to keep their homestead exemptions. She and Rep. Ray Rose, R-Montrose, have introduced a proposed ballot question that would allow them to take that exemption on their property taxes if they need to downsize their living accommodations. "(Sometimes) they can't take care of that huge yard and house anymore, they can't climb up the stairs, they don't have anyone to assist them," Butcher said. "But they still want to keep their independence, and they ought to be able to keep their independence." Under a constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2000, Colorado taxpayers who are more than 65 years old and have lived in the same home for 10 years or more can have half of their property taxes exempted. http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/28/#030273 http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/28/#030273 Housing and Homeless pueblochieftain.com Thu, 28 Feb 2008 08:41:08 -0700 With the Senate headed toward a vote on legislation aimed at reducing home foreclosures, Colorado's two U.S. senators split Wednesday on whether it would help or hurt the economy. Lawmakers will consider a bill that rewrites part of bankruptcy law, allowing judges to cut interest rates on some mortgages. People able to make revised payments could keep their homes. The Senate could take up the bill as soon as today, but President Bush already has threatened to veto the legislation. Sen. Ken Salazar, a Democrat, believes the changes are needed both for those facing foreclosure and a large chunk of homeowners in the state. Republican Wayne Allard said the legislation would increase costs for banks and other lenders and potentially hurt the economy. Allard aides were among those encouraging the Bush administration to threaten a veto of the bill. "Interest rates will go up, fees will go up and it will probably be more difficult to get loans for future mortgages for future homeowners," Allard said. Salazar said the pain caused by foreclosures would hurt many in Colorado. http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/28/#030224 http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/28/#030224 Housing and Homeless www.denverpost.com Thu, 28 Feb 2008 08:13:55 -0700 The Basalt town government’s proposal to boost property taxes to buy a flood-imperiled trailer park for $5 million has failed to attract a champion of the issue. While the election is only about a month away, April 1, no citizens’ committee has emerged to promote the purchase of the Pan and Fork Mobile Home Park. The bonding company the town is working with on the deal eventually will try to build awareness of the proposed purchase. The town government is in a sticky spot on the issue. Colorado law prevents local governments from spending public funds to promote a specific outcome. “The town can’t really do a lot,” Town Manager Bill Efting said. “We can’t spend town money.” http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/28/#030259 http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/28/#030259 Housing and Homeless aspentimes.com Thu, 28 Feb 2008 04:49:20 -0700 The vacancy rate for affordable rental housing in Colorado fell to 5.9 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, down from 6.4 percent in the third quarter, as demand increased for subsidized housing, according to a report released by the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority and Colorado Division of Housing. The increased demand resulted in higher rents for Coloradans in affordable rental housing. The statewide median rent during the fourth quarter was $682, a 3.5 percent increase over the third quarter. CHFA Chief Operating Officer Cris White noted that the increased housing costs were coming at a particularly difficult time for renters who are already juggling to balance rising rents with increases in the cost of energy, food and medical care. http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/27/#030068 http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/27/#030068 Housing and Homeless www.rockymountainnews.com Wed, 27 Feb 2008 08:23:14 -0700 Two closely watched national housing reports released Tuesday draw vastly different conclusions about Denver-area home values in 2007. The government's Office of Federal Housing Enterprises Oversight report shows only a 0.49 percent decline in prices for the Denver-Aurora market from 2006 to 2007, while the private S&P/Case Shiller report shows prices dropping by 4.5 percent. The Case Shiller report shows a 9.1 percent decline for 20 U.S. cities last year. The OFHEO report tracks 291 metropolitan areas across the country. The Case Shiller report tracks only sales while the OFHEO report also tracks Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac refinances. Lou Barnes, principal of Boulder West Financial Services, said the OFHEO report brings more "stability" to the numbers. "In a market as tough as this one, you don't sell your home unless you have to," Barnes said. "You simply live in the house until the market improves. So a lot of the homes being sold are distressed homes, which distorts the market data." Also, the Case Shiller report gives more weight to expensive homes, while the OFHEO doesn't, he said. http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/27/#030069 http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/27/#030069 Housing and Homeless www.rockymountainnews.com Wed, 27 Feb 2008 08:22:40 -0700 Demand for affordable rental housing in Colorado increased during the fourth quarter, resulting in higher rents and fewer incentives, according to a report released Tuesday. Vacancy rates dropped to 5.9 percent, compared with 6.4 percent during the third quarter, according to the report released by the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority and the Colorado Division of Housing. The statewide median rent increased 3.5 percent to $682. During the fourth quarter of 2006, the vacancy rate was 5.2 percent and median rent was $680. "The affordable-housing industry is getting healthier as vacancies drop, rates go up and concessions decline," said Steve Wessler of Red Stone Agency Lending. "The ability of owners to increase profits is getting better. Hopefully, it will allow for the underwriting of some new projects to ease the crunch for lower-income households." http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/27/#029997 http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/27/#029997 Housing and Homeless www.denverpost.com Wed, 27 Feb 2008 07:10:41 -0700 The city of Durango is closer than ever to putting an affordable-housing ordinance on the books, but unfortunately for those waiting to take advantage of such a policy, closer doesn't necessarily mean close. On Tuesday, city councilors held their fifth study session about affordable housing since June 12. Peter Werwath, who was hired last year as a consultant to the Regional Housing Alliance of La Plata County, summarized the results of a need study - the annual demand in Durango for the next five years is 57 affordable rentals less than $750 per month, and 65 affordable homes priced from $94,600 to $260,000 - and recommended a combination of price caps and shared appreciation to meet that demand. "The fewer hurdles there are and the more formulaic it is, the smoother it will run," Werwath said of a future formal city policy. http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/27/#030024 http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/27/#030024 Housing and Homeless durangoherald.com Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:52:27 -0700 Homeowner associations can't adopt rules barring people in their neighborhoods from making energy-saving changes to their homes under a bill that won preliminary approval in the Colorado House on Monday. The bill allows homeowners to add such things as shutters, awnings and other shade structures to the outside of their home, and attic fans and evaporative coolers on the inside. The measure also allows them to install retractable clothes lines, energy-efficient outdoor lighting and wind-electric generators. "This bill is about giving power to the citizens of Colorado to be energy efficient and to produce their own energy," said Andrew Kerr, D-Denver, who introduced HB1270. "We heard in committee person after person coming in testifying how they tried to do some energy-efficient measure to their home only to be blocked at every turn." Since 1978, HOAs have been prohibited from adopting covenants or deed restrictions limiting the use of solar energy devices on homes. http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/26/#029829 http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/26/#029829 Housing and Homeless pueblochieftain.com Tue, 26 Feb 2008 08:18:28 -0700 New home construction in the Denver area last year fell to its lowest level in 16 years, as builders cranked down on construction because of a sluggish and overbuilt market. Permits for single-family homes dropped 34 percent to 10,986 in 2007, down from 16,263 in 2006, the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver said. A record 20,420 permits were pulled in 2005. "Certainly, that is a major cause of concern when you are going to be down (billions of dollars in construction) over the next year or two in any industry," said Tom Clark, executive vice president of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp. The report includes attached and detached homes. Detached homes make up about 65 percent of the permits pulled in Denver and its surrounding communities. The home building industry in Denver and across the nation is quickly shedding jobs because fewer homes are being built. http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/26/#029845 http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/26/#029845 Housing and Homeless www.rockymountainnews.com Tue, 26 Feb 2008 08:08:37 -0700 An Iraq war veteran’s employee housing is in jeopardy because his government disability income is more than what the rules allow. Casey Owens, a 26-year-old former Marine and a double amputee, was informed by the Aspen-Pitkin County Housing Authority earlier this month that he would have to move out of his apartment on Lone Pine Road because his income exceeds $32,000, which is the maximum a person can earn annually and still qualify to live in a deed-restricted category 1 unit. Through a routine check by the housing authority, which requires all employees living in deed-restricted units to submit tax returns and qualify under the program’s guidelines, it was determined that Owens doesn’t meet the qualifications for the apartment he lives in. http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/26/#029813 http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/26/#029813 Housing and Homeless aspentimes.com Tue, 26 Feb 2008 06:27:58 -0700 The city's occupancy code, dubbed the "three-unrelated" rule, makes it illegal for at least four unrelated people to live in the same house. Violations are punishable by a $500 fine on the first offense. Oates owns a Fort Collins home that the city has cited for housing more than three unrelated people. Oates' attorney, Erik Johnson, has argued the citation was illegal. "This law denies homeowners Tim Oates and his wife the full use of their property," Johnson argued. "This (law) describes who can live in a house, not how many people." Assistant City Attorney Teresa Ablao disagreed with Johnson, saying the city's stance that the three-unrelated law is legal and that it doesn't take away from homeowners' property rights. http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/26/#029746 http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/26/#029746 Housing and Homeless coloradoan.com Tue, 26 Feb 2008 05:21:15 -0700 Sen. Ken Salazar on Friday announced his support for a bill relating to the nation's housing crisis. At the Denver press conference, Salazar said the Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 recently introduced in the Senate helps keep families facing foreclosure in their homes, helps communities already harmed by foreclosures to recover and helps families avoid foreclosures in the future. The measure is to be considered on the Senate floor this week. Salazar said the housing situation is critical. "The housing crisis in our nation is putting the American dream of home ownership in jeopardy." Salazar said the foreclosure problems have hit Colorado especially hard, lowering home values and hurting the home construction business. http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/25/#029606 http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/25/#029606 Housing and Homeless pueblochieftain.com Mon, 25 Feb 2008 09:34:21 -0700 A veteran local real estate broker, Greg Hahn, co-owner and co-founder of ReMax of Pueblo, says the Pueblo foreclosure filing rate doesn't actually reflect the local real estate market. That's true during difficult economic times as well as the good runs, he says. While it's true that loan standards have tightened making it more difficult for people to get loans, Hahn says the 2.4 percent appreciation of home values last year points to "the strength of the economy" and Pueblo's unique situation. "The market is so localized, not like the region or the state (markets)," he said last week. He says Pueblo's 1,504 foreclosures in 2007, and the 1 in 39 households foreclosure filing rate as cited by the Colorado Division of Housing, are numbers he finds concerning. http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/25/#029610 http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/25/#029610 Housing and Homeless pueblochieftain.com Mon, 25 Feb 2008 09:32:20 -0700 Colorado foreclosure filings jumped 40 percent in 2007 compared with 2006, according to a report released recently by the Colorado Division of Housing. Pueblo County was among those singled out for having one of the highest number of foreclosures, according to the state housing division. A total of 39,915 foreclosure filings statewide were made in 2007, up from 28,509 in 2006, according to the state. Meanwhile, foreclosure sales - in which the property is sold to the lender or a third party - rose 45 percent during 2007, to 25,320. In the report, an effort is made to distinguish between foreclosure filings and foreclosure sales. Once a borrower is about three months late with payments, the pubic trustee at the request of lenders will send the borrower a notice that indicates the property is officially in foreclosure. http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/25/#029611 http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/25/#029611 Housing and Homeless pueblochieftain.com Mon, 25 Feb 2008 09:32:09 -0700 U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., urged Congress on Friday to take action on a bill that would earmark more than $14 billion to combat the foreclosure crisis sweeping Colorado and the rest of the nation. Speaking at the Edgewater headquarters of the nonprofit Brothers Redevelopment Inc., where he later listened to housing counselors with the Colorado Foreclosure Hotline, Salazar said that the nation is suffering from the worst housing market since the Great Depression. He said home prices could fall 15 percent to 16 percent before the slump is over and noted that housing starts are down 60 percent. "The reality is there is no end in sight," he said. "The new-home construction business could essentially shut down," which would have huge economic ramifications. The Colorado Division of Housing recently reported that foreclosure filings shot up 40 percent last year to 39,915 from the previous record of 28,435 in 2006. "This affects every homeowner in the state of Colorado, whether your home is in foreclosure or not," Salazar said. "It's the painful part of the American dream of homeownership." http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/25/#029623 http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/25/#029623 Housing and Homeless www.rockymountainnews.com Mon, 25 Feb 2008 09:17:40 -0700 Once the bank-allotted 90 days come and go, there’s not much anyone can do to keep a family out of foreclosure and in their home. That’s why city leaders want to do more to educate current and future homeowners to prevent as many foreclosures as possible. Longmont continues to lead Boulder County’s foreclosures, said Kathy Fedler, the city’s affordable housing programs coordinator. “It’s a factor of construction that’s gone on here,” she said of Longmont’s foreclosures. “When you have the bulk of construction and the bulk of home sales here, it just makes sense the bulk of foreclosures would be here.” The vast majority of people who find themselves facing foreclosure are in that position because of predatory lending practices or because “they just didn’t understand what they were getting into,” Fedler added. http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/25/#029516 http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/25/#029516 Housing and Homeless www.timescall.com Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:06:40 -0700 Armed with data showing there's a hidden cost to leaving the unemployed, mentally ill and alcoholics alone on the streets, Denver officials are pushing forward with a $20 million plan to build 200 new housing units for the homeless. The plan is in keeping with Mayor John Hickenlooper's homelessness initiative, which holds that the past patchwork system of shelters wasn't the best way to tackle the issue. The proposal is still being finalized and then, depending on financial terms, could go before the City Council this spring. The council has emphasized the need to spread the housing instead of clustering it in strongholds of poverty. While support seems strong among most council members, some reservations persist over that issue, which could raise the ire of some neighborhood activists. "I can't emphasize enough the importance of this project moving away from the traditional islands of poverty that just warehouse folks," Councilman Paul Lopez said during a recent council committee meeting on the subject. http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/25/#029565 http://media.progressnowaction.org/clips/2008/02/25/#029565 Housing and Homeless www.denverpost.com Mon, 25 Feb 2008 07:33:42 -0700