MHP Connect

Where'd the housing go? Tight markets for owners & renters

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Created: Tuesday, 16 July 2013 10:02

Many of us have long been aware of the tight rental market in the Twin Cities, as well as across the state, as former owners have moved back into the rental market post-foreclosure. But more recently, we've been seeing a tightening of the ownership market, too. What exactly is going on here, and what does it mean for Minnesota when it's hard to find apartments and to buy homes?

We've been thinking about this and plotting out some numbers at MHP, but we'd also like to hear your thoughts. Please add your comments below.

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Complete tax reform: peril and promise for housing

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Created: Monday, 08 July 2013 13:07

In an ongoing effort to overhaul the tax code, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-UT) made an announcement recently that the Senate would be taking a "blank state" approach to tax reform. They said that this means everything will be taken out of the tax code and individual provisions will be added back only if compelling arguments can be made for why it should survive the tax overhaul process.  Advocates, including MHP, are busy taking this opportunity to promote important housing policies, ranging from United for Homes' mission to fund the National Housing Trust Fund, to Affordable Rental Housing A.C.T.I.O.N.'s campaign to protect and strengthen the Low Income Housing Tax Credit.

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June Roundup: Subtle Discrimination and other Resources

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Created: Friday, 28 June 2013 13:01

In a time of rising inequality, it's fitting that this month's resources roundup features two studies of disparate housing impacts on whites versus people of color. One finds that housing discrimination has declined over time, but persists in subtle yet impactful ways. Another finds that Minnesota households in areas with higher concentrations of people of color lost nearly three times more wealth per household than those in segregated white communities in 2012. Other resources reveal a surprising correlation between evictions and children, the concerns of rural Minnesotans, housing unaffordability for those with disabilities, and a linkage between high home rates and unemployment down the line.

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Subcommittee adopts mark-up, bringing bad news for HUD programs

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Created: Friday, 21 June 2013 11:47

The House Appropriations on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Subcommittee passed its 2014 funding bill on the morning of June 20th.

As currently drafted, the bill reduces overall 2014 funding for HUD programs by 35% compared to 2013 pre-sequestration levels, and by 31% post-sequestration.  The bill includes unprecedented and devastating cuts to several HUD programs.

The Senate THUD subcommittee is expected to mark up its own bill on June 25.

Read more: Subcommittee adopts mark-up, bringing bad news for HUD programs