Title of Regulation: 13VAC10-20. Rules and Regulations for Multi-Family Housing Developments (amending 13VAC10-20-40).

Statutory Authority: § 36-55.30:3 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Hearing Information:

November 25, 2008 - 10 a.m. - Virginia Housing Development Authority, 601 S. Belvidere Street, Richmond, VA

Public Comments: Public comments may be submitted until 5 p.m. on November 26, 2008.

Agency Contact: J. Judson McKellar, Jr., General Counsel, Virginia Housing Development Authority, 601 S. Belvidere Street, Richmond, VA 23220, telephone (804) 343-5540 or email judson.mckellar@vhda.com.

Summary:

The proposed amendments permit the authority’s board to authorize by resolution the executive director to approve and to authorize the issuance of commitments for multifamily mortgage loans without further approval or authorization by resolution of the board, subject to compliance with any procedures and requirements that may be provided in such resolution. Current regulations authorize the board by resolution to adopt procedures that provide for its prior review and consideration of the recommendations of the executive director before the executive director may approve the mortgage loan and authorize the issuance of a commitment. This technical amendment gives the board broader authority to delegate authorization to the executive director to approve multifamily mortgage loans and authorize the issuance of commitments for such loans, subject to such procedures and requirements as the board may impose.

13VAC10-20-40. Application and acceptance for processing.

Application for a mortgage loan shall be commenced by filing with the authority an application, on such form or forms as the executive director may from time to time prescribe, together with such documents and additional information as may be requested by the authority. The applicant shall complete a previous participation certificate, in such form as the executive director shall require, which shall provide information about rental housing projects in which the principal participants (or their affiliates) in the proposed development have previously had any interest or participation, all as more fully specified by the executive director.

The authority's staff shall review each application and any additional information submitted by the applicant or obtained from other sources by the authority in its review of each proposed development. Such review shall be performed in accordance with subdivision 2 of subsection D of § 36-55.33:1 of the Code of Virginia and shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. An analysis of the site characteristics, surrounding land uses, available utilities, transportation, employment opportunities, recreational opportunities, shopping facilities and other factors affecting the site;

2. An evaluation of the ability, experience, financial capacity and predisposition to regulatory compliance of the applicant;

3. A preliminary evaluation of the estimated construction costs and the proposed design and structure of the proposed development;

4. A preliminary review of the estimated operating expenses and proposed rents and a preliminary evaluation of the adequacy of the proposed rents to sustain the proposed development based upon the assumed occupancy rate and estimated construction and financing costs; and

5. A preliminary evaluation of the need for such housing at rentals or prices which persons and families of low and moderate income can afford within the general housing market area to be served by the proposed development.

Based on the authority's review of the applications, previous participation certificates, documents, and any additional information submitted by the applicants or obtained from other sources by the authority in its review of the proposed developments, the executive director shall accept for processing those applications which he determines satisfy the following criteria:

1. The applicant either owns or leases the site of the proposed development or has the legal right to acquire or lease the site in such manner, at such time and subject to such terms as will permit the applicant to process the application and consummate the initial closing.

2. Subject to further review and evaluation by the authority's staff under 13VAC10-20-50, the estimated construction costs and operating expenses appear to be complete, reasonable and comparable to those of similar developments.

3. Subject to further review and evaluation by the authority's staff under 13VAC10-20-50, the proposed rents appear to be at levels which will: (i) be affordable by the persons and families intended to be assisted by the authority; (ii) permit the successful marketing of the units to such persons and families; and (iii) sustain the operation of the proposed development.

4. The applicant and other principal participants in the proposed development have the experience, ability, financial capacity and predisposition to regulatory compliance necessary to carry out their respective responsibilities for the acquisition, construction, ownership, operation, marketing, maintenance and management of the proposed development and will fully and properly perform all of their respective duties and obligations relating to the proposed development under law, regulation and the applicable mortgage loan documents of the authority.

5. The proposed development will contribute to the implementation of the policies and programs of the authority in providing decent, safe and sanitary rental housing for low and moderate income persons and families who cannot otherwise afford such housing and will assist in meeting the need for such housing in the market area of the proposed development.

6. It appears that the proposed development and applicant will be able to meet the requirements for feasibility and commitment set forth in 13VAC10-20-50 and that the proposed development will otherwise continue to be processed through initial closing and will be completed and operated, all in compliance with the Act, the documents and contracts executed at initial closing, applicable federal laws, rules and regulations, and the provisions of this chapter and without unreasonable delay, interruptions or expense.

The executive director's determinations with respect to the above criteria shall be based on the documents and information received or obtained by him at that time from any source and are subject to modification or reversal upon his receipt of additional documents or information at a later time. If the executive director determines that the above criteria are satisfied, he will recommend to the board that the application be approved for further processing. If the executive director determines that one or more of the above criteria are not satisfied, he may nevertheless, in his discretion, recommend to the board that the application be approved for further processing and that the mortgage loan and issuance of the commitment therefor be approved and authorized subject to satisfaction of such criteria in such manner and within such time period as he shall deem appropriate. The board shall review and consider the recommendation of the executive director, and if it concurs with such recommendation, it may by resolution approve the application and authorize the mortgage loan and the issuance of a commitment therefor, subject to the further review in 13VAC10-20-50 and such terms and conditions as the board shall require in such resolution. However, the board may by resolution adopt procedures that provide for its review and consideration of the recommendations of the executive director and that, upon compliance with such procedures, authorize the executive director to approve, and to authorize the issuance of commitments for, mortgage loans without further approval or authorization by resolution of the board. If such procedures are then in effect and if the requirements therein for the authorization of the executive director to approve the mortgage loan and authorize the issuance of a commitment therefor have been satisfied, subject to compliance with any procedures and requirements that may be provided in such resolution; and pursuant to and in accordance with such resolution, the executive director may approve and authorize the mortgage loan and the issuance of a commitment therefor without further approval or authorization by the board, subject to the further review in 13VAC10-20-50 and such terms and conditions as the executive director may require.

A resolution authorizing, or a commitment for, a mortgage loan to a for-profit housing sponsor may prescribe the maximum annual rate, if any, at which distributions may be made by such for-profit housing sponsor with respect to the development, expressed as a percentage of such for-profit housing sponsor's equity in such development (such equity being established in accordance with 13VAC10-20-80), which rate, if any, shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of the Act. In connection with the establishment of any such rates, the board or the executive director shall not prescribe differing or discriminatory rates with respect to substantially similar developments. The resolution or commitment shall specify whether any such maximum annual rate of distributions shall be cumulative or noncumulative and shall establish the manner, if any, for adjusting the equity in accordance with 13VAC10-20-80.

The executive director may impose such terms and conditions with respect to acceptance for processing as he shall deem necessary or appropriate. If any proposed development is so accepted for processing, the executive director shall notify the sponsor of such acceptance and of any terms and conditions imposed with respect thereto. If the executive director determines not to recommend approval of the application, he shall so notify the applicant.