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A. J. Johnson

A. J. Johnson

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IRS Extends COVID-19 Relief

January 16, 2021

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRS issued Notice 2020-53 in July 2020. This Notice provided temporary relief from certain requirements under §42 of the Internal Revenue Code and §§142(d) and 147(d) of the Code for properties with tax-exempt…

Work Patterns Will Never Be the Same Again – Long Term Planning & Preparation is Key

January 10, 2021

Despite the death grip COVID-19 has had, the global economy is on the threshold of a burst of growth driven by technology. If long-gestating technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation fulfill their potential, we’ll have the chance to escape…

Fixed Four Percent Credit – When Does it Apply?

January 3, 2021

The COVID-19 relief legislation that was recently signed into law included a provision fixing the four percent LIHTC at an actual four percent rate. This floor applies both to properties with tax-exempt bonds and acquisition credits. However, there are transition…

Virginia Landlord Settles Sexual Harassment Case

January 2, 2021

On September 29, 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Gary T. Price, a manager of rental properties in and around Harrisonburg, VA, together with owners of the properties, Alberta Lowery and GTP Investment Properties, LLC, will pay…

New York Passes Comprehensive Anti-Eviction Law

December 29, 2020

The New York State Legislature convened an unusual special session just after Christmas to pass one of the nation’s most comprehensive anti-eviction laws, which will ban landlords from evicting most tenants for at least another 60 days. Some studies show…

Trump Finally Signs Funding and Relief Bills

December 28, 2020

On December 27, 2020, President Trump finally signed the FY 2021 Omnibus Spending and COVID-19 Relief Bills. Passage of these two pieces of legislation will impact the affordable housing industry in some significant ways, primarily by setting the 4% LIHTC…

HUD Takes Hard Line on Local “Nuisance” Policies that Target Affordable Housing

December 27, 2020

A recent compliance agreement entered into between the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) and a California city demonstrates the aggressive approach HUD will take against localities that develop policies that penalize residents for excessive 911 calls or properties…

HUD Publishes Operating Cost Adjustment Factors (OCAF) for 2021

December 26, 2020

On November 27, 2020, HUD published in the Federal Register a Notice of Certain Operating Cost Adjustment Factors for 2021. These OCAFs may be used for eligible project-based assistance properties that have an anniversary date on or after February 11,…

HIghlights of COVID-19 Relief Bill

December 22, 2020

President Trump is expected to sign the massive, year-end catchall bill Congress passed that combines $900 billion in COVID-19 aid with a $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill and reams of other unfinished legislation on taxes, energy, education, and health care.…

Minimum Wage to Increase in Many Areas in 2021

December 21, 2020

In 2021, 19 states will have new minimum wage rates. Affordable housing managers responsible for determining the income of applicants and residents need to be aware of state and local minimum wage laws in order to ensure the most accurate…

The rise in Housing Prices Further Inhibits Affordability – But, May Offer Opportunities to Landlords

December 20, 2020

Affordable housing across America – whether ownership or rental – is growing scarcer than ever, as the wealthy bid up properties that might once have been considered “affordable.” This is especially the case in the big coastal cities. It now…

New Products Make Healthy Housing a Reality

December 19, 2020

Healthy living is on everyone’s mind now. The COVID-19 pandemic has raised awareness of the environments we live in and the importance of those environments in our daily lives. Also, the increase in reasonable accommodation requests relating to “multiple chemical…

Hoarding – A Challenge for Housing Managers

December 13, 2020

In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) declared hoarding to be a clinical disability, automatically putting the issue of hoarding front and center with housing operators. The Fair Housing Act (FHA) bans discrimination against individuals with disabilities. The FHA defines…

Novogradac Releases Estimates of National, State, and Local Median Incomes for 2021 and 2022

December 12, 2020

Novogradac, a national accounting and professional services firm, has released its estimates of income limits on a national and state level. Using the 2019 American Community Survey (ACS) and the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) consumer price index (CPI) estimate, Novogradac…

A. J. Johnson to Host Full-Day Webinar on Income and Asset Requirements

December 6, 2020

A. J. Johnson will be conducting a webinar on December 16, 2020 on The Verification and Calculation of Income and Assets on Affordable Housing Properties. The Webinar will be held from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time. This six-hour…

A. J. Johnson to Offer Fair Housing Webinar on December 15

December 5, 2020

A. J. Johnson will be conducting a webinar on December 15, 2020, on Compliance with Federal and State Fair Housing Requirements. The Webinar will be held from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM Eastern Time. The course will equip attendees with…

Affordable Housing Priorities of the Incoming Biden Administration

November 29, 2020

Elections have consequences. With the election of Joe Biden as President, the consequences for the affordable housing industry are likely to be very positive and will at the least put an end to the ambivalent – and even hostile – …

HUD Issues Updated Notice on Electronic Signature, Transmission, and Storage

November 29, 2020

On November 6, 2020, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued Notice H-2020-10, Electronic Signature, Transmission, and Storage – Guidance for Multifamily Assisted Housing Industry Partners. This Notice provides guidance to HUD multifamily assisted housing industry partners on…

Updated HUD Guidance on REAC Inspections During the COVID-19 Pandemic

November 21, 2020

On November 13, 2020, HUD issued updated guidance on the inspection of Public and Multifamily Housing projects during COVID-19. This guidance was issued in the form of an updated FAQ. The FAQ is comprehensive but following is some of the…

Senate Staff Issues Report on the State of Affordable Housing

November 8, 2020

In October 2020, the Senate Majority Staff issued a report titled, “Housing Programs – The Need for One Roof.” The purported purpose of the report is to “begin a needed conversation about reforming our housing system.” As noted in the…

CORRECTION – IRS Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Average Income Test

November 2, 2020

Thank God my clients read better than I type. One of my more astute readers noticed a pretty significant typo in the example in #1 below. I have corrected the error – I hope it did not create too much…

A. J. Johnson to Host Webinar on Management of Properties with HOME Funds

November 2, 2020

A. J. Johnson will be conducting a webinar on November 12, 2020, on The Onsite Management Requirements of the HOME Program. The Webinar will be held from 9 AM to 3:30 PM Eastern time. This six-hour course outlines the basic…

IRS Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Average Income Test

November 1, 2020

On October 30, the IRS published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register. This Notice concerns the LIHTC Average Income Test and outlines the current intention of the IRS with regard to certain rules governing the Average Income…

Website Accessibility Bill Introduced in Congress

October 31, 2020

On October 1, 2020, Congressmen Lou Correa (D-CA) and Ted Budd (R-NC) introduced the bipartisan Online Accessibility Act (H.R. 8478) which would create guidance to help businesses ensure their website complies with the ADA. The purpose of the bill is…

Venmo – Understanding the Payment App

October 28, 2020

In the process of reviewing thousands of tenant files annually, we are seeing rapid growth in Venmo and PayPal transactions on bank accounts. We often receive questions from property managers regarding how to handle these transactions, with the primary question…

HUD Updates COVID-19 Guidance

October 25, 2020

On October 14, HUD issued updated guidance on COVID-19 as it relates to HUD-assisted properties. Following is some of the new guidance issued by HUD. On-Site COVID Testing HUD will permit the temporary use of property common areas, parking lots,…

Recent Court Case Shows Importance of Apartment Accessibility

October 24, 2020

In Ability Center v. Moline Builders, Ohio, August 2020, a court granted partial judgment to fair housing advocates in a lawsuit against multiple entities and individuals based on the design and construction of a senior housing development in Ohio. At…

Impact of COVID-19 on Affordable Housing Properties

October 17, 2020

A recently published study by NDP Analytics, funded in part by the National Leased Housing Association, outlines the dramatic impact that COVID- 19 has had – and will continue to have – on affordable housing. According to the study, “Impacts…

A. J. Johnson to Present Webinar on Complying with the Requirements of the IRS on Tax Credit Properties

October 17, 2020

A. J. Johnson will be conducting a webinar on October 27, 2020, on Meeting IRS Requirements for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program. The Webinar will be held from 9 AM to 3:30 PM Eastern time. One of the key…

Social Security COLA – 2021

October 13, 2020

The federal government announced on October 13, 2020, that the Social Security Cost of Live Adjustment (COLA) for 2021 will be 1.3%. This increase will provide an additional $20 per month for the average retiree. This is slightly less than…

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