PD&R Edge Elist 12/14/2012

New on The Edge

Message from the Acting Assistant Secretary:
Context Matters: FHA’s Latest Actuarial Review
As the housing market continues to show signs of strengthening, Acting Assistant Secretary Erika Poethig discusses the findings of the Fiscal Year 2012 FHA actuarial report and explains its implications in light of the PD&R White Paper.

In Practice:
M Station: Green and S.M.A.R.T. Housing in Austin’s TOD District
Developers in Austin, Texas are combining sustainable building practices with educational opportunities in the East Austin Transit Oriented Development District. The LEED for Homes Platinum certified M Station provides 150 units of housing with a learning center for children and adults.

HUD Partner Reports:
NLIHC and PAHRC Launch National Housing Preservation Database
Data is critical to supporting evidence-based policies and strategies to preserve and create affordable housing. The National Low-Income Housing Coalition in partnership with the Public and Affordable Housing Research Corporation recently launched the National Housing Preservation Database, which includes information on more than 4.5 million housing units in 75,000 federally assisted properties.

Research:
How Green Is HUD-Assisted Housing?
The HUD-sponsored study “An Evaluation of Affordable Housing Using the National Green Building Standard” examines the cost and incremental actions required to bring HUD-assisted units into compliance with the National Green Building Standard.

Statistical Reports:
Housing Scorecard November 2012
The November Housing Scorecard shows home values continuing to rise, with the Case-Shiller index up 3.0 percent in September 2012 from the previous year. New home sales in October remained consistent with the previous month and sales and were up 17.2 percent from October 2011. Home refinances under the Home Affordable Refinance Program remained strong, with more than 90,000 homes refinanced in September — bringing the yearly total to 709,000.