The purpose of this Rule Chapter is to establish the procedures by which the Corporation shall: (1) Administer the Application process, determine loan amounts, make and service mortgage loans for new construction or rehabilitation of affordable ...

FLORIDA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION

RULE NO: RULE TITLE
67-48.001: Purpose and Intent
67-48.002: Definitions
67-48.004: Application and Selection Procedures for Developments
67-48.005: Applicant Administrative Appeal Procedures
67-48.007: Fees
67-48.0072: Credit Underwriting and Loan Procedures
67-48.0075: Miscellaneous Criteria
67-48.009: SAIL General Program Procedures and Restrictions
67-48.0095: Additional SAIL Application Ranking and Selection Procedures
67-48.010: Terms and Conditions of SAIL Loans
67-48.0105: Sale, Transfer or Refinancing of a SAIL Development
67-48.013: SAIL Construction Disbursements and Permanent Loan Servicing
67-48.014: HOME General Program Procedures and Restrictions
67-48.015: Match Contribution Requirement for HOME Allocation
67-48.017: Eligible HOME Activities
67-48.018: Eligible HOME Applicants
67-48.019: Eligible and Ineligible HOME Development Costs
67-48.020: Terms and Conditions of Loans for HOME Rental Developments
67-48.0205: Sale, Transfer or Refinancing of a HOME Development
67-48.022: HOME Disbursements Procedures and Loan Servicing
67-48.023: Housing Credits General Program Procedures and Requirements
67-48.027: Tax-Exempt Bond-Financed Developments
67-48.028: Carryover Allocation Provisions
67-48.029: Extended Use Agreement
67-48.030: Sale or Transfer of a Housing Credit Development
67-48.031: Termination of Extended Use Agreement and Disposition of Housing Credit Developments
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this Rule Chapter is to establish the procedures by which the Corporation shall:
(1) Administer the Application process, determine loan amounts, make and service mortgage loans for new construction or rehabilitation of affordable rental units under the State Apartment Incentive Loan (SAIL) Program authorized by Section 420.5087, Florida Statutes; and the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program authorized by Section 420.5089, Florida Statutes; and
(2) Administer the Application process, determine Housing Credit amounts and implement the provisions of the Housing Credit (HC) Program authorized by Section 42 of the IRC and Section 420.5099, Florida Statutes.
The intent of this Rule Chapter is to encourage public-private partnerships to invest in residential housing; to stimulate the construction and rehabilitation of residential housing which in turn will stimulate the job market in the construction and related industries; and to increase and improve the supply of affordable housing in the state of Florida.
SUMMARY: Prior to the opening of an Application Cycle, the Corporation (1) researches the market need for affordable housing throughout the state of Florida and (2) evaluates prior Application Cycles to determine what changes or additions should be added to the Rule, Application and/or QAP. The proposed amendments to the Rule and adopted reference material include changes that will create a formulated process for selecting Developments that will apply in the 2009 Application Cycle.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 420.507 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 420.5087, 420.5089, 420.5099 FS.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: April 17, 2009, 9:00 a.m.
PLACE: Florida Housing Finance Corporation, 227 North Bronough Street, 6th Floor, Seltzer Room, Tallahassee, Florida 32301. The hearing will be accessible via phone at 1(888)808-6959, Conference Code #1374197.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 5 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Blake Carson-Poston [phone]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Deborah Dozier Blinderman, Deputy Development Officer, Florida Housing Finance Corporation, 227 North Bronough Street, Suite 5000, Tallahassee, Florida 32301-1329, [phone]

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

67-48.001 Purpose and Intent.

The purpose of this rule chapter is to establish the procedures by which the Corporation shall:

(1) Administer the Application process, determine loan amounts, make and service mortgage loans for new construction or Rehabilitation/Substantial Rehabilitation of affordable rental units under the State Apartment Incentive Loan (SAIL) Program authorized by Section 420.5087, F.S., and the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program authorized by Section 420.5089, F.S.; and

(2) Administer the Application process, determine Housing Credit amounts and implement the provisions of the Housing Credit (HC) Program authorized by Section 42 of the IRC and Section 420.5099, F.S.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507 FS. Law Implemented 420.5087, 420.5089(2), 420.5099 FS. History–New 7-22-96, Amended 12-23-96, 1-6-98, Formerly 9I-48.001, Amended 11-9-98, Repromulgated 2-24-00, 2-22-01, Amended 3-17-02, Repromulgated 4-6-03, 3-21-04, Amended 2-7-05, Repromulgated 1-29-06, 4-1-07, Amended 3-30-08, Repromulgated_________.

 

67-48.002 Definitions.

(1) “Act” means the Florida Housing Finance Corporation Act as found in Chapter 420, Part V, F.S.

(2) “Address” means the address assigned by the United States Postal Service and must include address number, street name and, city, state and zip code. If address has not yet been assigned, include, at a minimum, street name and closest designated intersection and, city, state and zip code.

(3) “Adjusted Income” means, with respect to a HOME Development, the gross income from wages, income from assets, regular cash or noncash contributions, and any other resources and benefits determined to be income by HUD, adjusted for family size, minus the deductions allowable under 24 CFR § 5.611, which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference and available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related References Information and Links.

(4) “Affiliate” means any person that, (i) directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Applicant or Developer, (ii) serves as an officer or director of the Applicant or Developer or of any Affiliate of the Applicant or Developer, or (iii) directly or indirectly receives or will receive a financial benefit from a Development except as further described in Rule 67-48.0075, F.A.C., or (iv) is the spouse, parent, child, sibling, or relative by marriage of a person described in (i), or (ii) or (iii) above.

(5) “ALF” or “Assisted Living Facility” means a Florida licensed living facility that complies with Sections 429.01 through 429.54, F.S., and Chapter 58A-5, F.A.C.

(6) “Allocation Authority” means the total dollar volume of Competitive Housing Credits available for distribution by the Corporation and authorized pursuant to Section 42 of the IRC.

(7) “Applicable Fraction” means Applicable Fraction as defined in Section 42(c)(1)(B) of the IRC.

(8) “Applicant” means any person or legally formed entity that is seeking a loan or funding from the Corporation by submitting an Application or responding to a request for proposal for one or more of the Corporation’s programs. For purposes of paragraph 67-48.0075(7)(b) and Rules 67-48.0105, 67-48.0205 and 67-48.031, F.A.C., Applicant also includes any assigns or successors in interest of the Applicant.

(9) “Application” means the forms and exhibits created by the Corporation for the purpose of providing the means to apply for one or more Corporation programs. A completed Application may include additional supporting documentation provided by an Applicant.

(10) “Application Deadline” means 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the final day of the Application Period.

(11) “Application Period” means a period during which Applications shall be accepted as posted on the Corporation’s Website and with a deadline no less than 21 Calendar thirty Ddays from the beginning of the Application Period.

(12) “Binding Commitment” means, with respect to a Housing Credit Development, an agreement between the Corporation and an Applicant by which the Corporation allocates and the Applicant accepts Housing Credits from a later year’s Allocation Authority in accordance with Section 42(h)(1)(C) of the IRC.

(13) “Board of Directors” or “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

(14) “Building Identification Number” means, with respect to a Housing Credit Development, the number assigned by the Corporation to describe each building in a Housing Credit Development, pursuant to Internal Revenue Service Notice 88-91, which is incorporated by reference and available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related References Information and Links.

(15) “Calendar Days” means, the seven (7) days of the week.

(16) “Carryover” means the provision under Section 42 of the IRC and Rule 67-48.028, F.A.C., which allows a Development to receive a Housing Credit Allocation in a given calendar year and be placed in service by the close of the second calendar year following the calendar year in which the allocation is made.

(17) “Catchment Area” means the geographical area covered under a Local Homeless Assistance Continuum of Care Plan, as designated and revised as necessary by the State Office on Homelessness, in accordance with Section 420.624, F.S.

(18) “CHDOs” or “Community Housing Development Organizations” means Community housing development organizations as defined in Section 420.503, F.S., and 24 CFR Part 92.

(19) “Commercial Fishing Worker” means Commercial fishing worker as defined in Section 420.503, F.S.

(20) “Commercial Fishing Worker Household” means a household of one or more persons wherein at least one member of the household is a Commercial Fishing Worker at the time of initial occupancy.

(21) “Competitive Housing Credits” or “Competitive HC” means those Housing Credits which come from the Corporation’s annual Allocation Authority.

(22) “Compliance Period” means a period of time that the Development shall conform to all set-aside requirements as described further in the rule chapter and agreed to by the Applicant in the Application.

(23) “Consolidated Plan” means the plan prepared in accordance with 24 CFR Part 91, which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference and available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related References Information and Links, and which describes needs, resources, priorities and proposed activities to be undertaken with respect to certain HUD programs, including the HOME Program.

(24) “Contact Person” means the person with whom the Corporation will correspond concerning the Application and the Development. This person cannot be a third-party consultant.

(25) “Corporation” means the Florida Housing Finance Corporation as defined in Section 420.503, F.S.

(26) “Credit Underwriter” means the independent contractor under contract with the Corporation having the responsibility for providing stated credit underwriting services.

(27) “DDA” or “Difficult Development Area” means areas designated by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development as having high construction, land, and utility costs relative to area median gross income in accordance with Section 42(d)(5), of the IRC.

(28) “Department” means the Department of Community Affairs as defined in Section 420.503, F.S.

(29) “Developer” means any individual, association, corporation, joint venturer, or partnership which possesses the requisite skill, experience, and credit worthiness to successfully produce affordable housing as required in the Application.

(30) “Development” means Project as defined in Section 420.503, F.S.

(31) “Development Cash Flow” means, with respect to SAIL Developments, cash flow of a SAIL Development as calculated in the statement of cash flows prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and as adjusted for items including any distribution or payment to the Applicant or Developer, Principal(s) of the Applicant or Developer or any Affiliate of the Principal(s) of the Applicant or Developer, or to the Developer or any Affiliate of the Developer, whether paid directly or indirectly, which was not expressly disclosed in determining debt service coverage in the Board approved final credit underwriting report.

(32) “Development Cost” means the total of all costs incurred in the completion of a Development excluding developer fee and total land cost as shown in the Development Cost line item on the development cost pro forma within the Application.

(33) “Development Expenses” means, with respect to SAIL Developments, usual and customary operating and financial costs, such as the compliance monitoring fee, the financial monitoring fee, replacement reserves, the servicing fee and the debt service reserves. As it relates to SAIL Developments and to the application of Development Cash Flow described in subsections 67-48.010(5) and (6), F.A.C., the term includes only those expenses disclosed in the operating pro forma included in the final credit underwriting report, as approved by the Board.

(34) “Document” means electronic media, written or graphic matter, of any kind whatsoever, however produced or reproduced, including records, reports, memoranda, minutes, notes, graphs, maps, charts, contracts, opinions, studies, analysis, photographs, financial statements and correspondence as well as any other tangible thing on which information is recorded.

(35) “Domestic Violence” means Domestic violence as defined in Section 741.28, F.S.

(36)(35) “Draw” means the disbursement of funds to a Development.

(37)(36) “Elderly” means Elderly as defined in Section 420.503, F.S.

(38)(37) “ELI Household” or “Extremely Low Income Household” means a household of one or more persons wherein the annual adjusted gross income for the Family is equal to or below the percentage of area median income for ELI Persons.

(39)(38) “ELI Persons” or “Extremely Low Income Persons” means Extremely low income persons as defined in Section 420.0004(8), F.S., and for the Universal Cycle, will be as outlined in the ELI County Chart included in the Set-Aside Commitments section of the Universal Application instructions.

(40)(39) “ELI Set-Aside” or “Extremely Low Income Set-Aside” means the number of units designated to serve ELI Households.

(41)(40) “Eligible Persons” means one or more natural persons or a family, irrespective of race, creed, national origin, or sex, determined by the Corporation to be of Low Income or Very Low Income, as further described in Rule 67-48.0075, F.A.C.

(42)(41) “EUA” or “Extended Use Agreement” means, with respect to the HC Program, an agreement which sets forth the set-aside requirements and other Development requirements under the HC Program.

(43)(42) “Executive Director” means the Executive Director of the Corporation.

(44)(43) “Family” describes a household composed of one or more persons.

(45)(44) “Farmworker” means Farmworker as defined in Section 420.503, F.S.

(46)(45) “Farmworker Household” means a household of one or more persons wherein at least one member of the household is a Farmworker at the time of initial occupancy.

(47)(46) “Final Housing Credit Allocation” means, with respect to a Housing Credit Development, the issuance of Housing Credits to an Applicant upon completion of construction or Rehabilitation of a Development and submission to the Corporation by the Applicant of a completed and executed Final Cost Certification Application pursuant to Rule 67-48.023, F.A.C.

(48)(47) “Financial Beneficiary” means any Developer and its principals or Principals of the Developer or Applicant entity who receives or will receive any direct or indirect financial benefit from a Development except as further described in Rule 67-48.0075, F.A.C.

(49)(48) “Financial Institution” means Lending institution as defined in Section 420.503, F.S.

(50)(49) “Florida Keys Area” means all lands in Monroe County, except:

(a) That portion of Monroe County included within the designated exterior boundaries of the Everglades National Park and areas north of said Park;

(b) All lands more than 250 feet seaward of the mean high water line owned by local, state, or federal governments; and

(c) Federal properties.

(51)(50) “Funding Cycle” means the period of time commencing with the Notice of Funding Availability or Notice of Credit Availability pursuant to this rule chapter and concluding with the issuance of allocations or loans to Applicants who applied during a given Application Period.

(52)(51) “General Contractor” means a person or entity duly licensed in the state of Florida with the requisite skills, experience and credit worthiness to successfully provide the units required in the Application, and which meets the criteria described in Rule 67-48.0072, F.A.C.

(53)(52) “Geographic Set-Aside” means the amount of Allocation Authority or funding which has been designated by the Corporation to be allocated for Developments located in specific geographical regions within the state of Florida.

(54)(53) “HC” or “Housing Credit Program” means the rental housing program administered by the Corporation pursuant to Section 42 of the IRC and Section 420.5099, F.S., under which the Corporation is designated the Housing Credit agency for the state of Florida within the meaning of Section 42(h)(7)(A) of the IRC and Rule Chapter 67-48, F.A.C.

(55)(54) “HOME” or “HOME Program” means the HOME Investment Partnerships Program administered by the Corporation pursuant to 24 CFR Part 92, which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference and available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related References Information and Links, and Section 420.5089, F.S.

(56)(55) “HOME-Assisted Unit” means the specific units that are funded with HOME funds. HOME units shall adhere to rent controls and income targeting requirements pursuant to 24 CFR § 92.252.

(57)(56) “HOME Development” means any Development which receives financial assistance from the Corporation under the HOME Program.

(58)(57) “HOME Rental Development” means a Development proposed to be constructed or rehabilitated with HOME funds.

(59)(58) “HOME Rent-Restricted Unit” means the maximum allowable rents designed to ensure affordability on the HOME-Assisted Units.

(60)(59) “Homeless” means a Family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence or a Family who has a primary nighttime residence that is:

(a) A supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations, including welfare hotels, congregate shelters, and transitional housing;

(b) An institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized; or

(c) A public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.

The term does not refer to any individual imprisoned or otherwise detained pursuant to state or federal law.

(61)(60) “Housing Credit” means the tax credit issued in exchange for the development of rental housing pursuant to Section 42 of the IRC and the provisions of Rule Chapter 67-48, F.A.C.

(62)(61) “Housing Credit Allocation” means the amount of Housing Credits determined by the Corporation as necessary to make a Development financially feasible and viable throughout the Development’s Compliance Period pursuant to Section 42(m)(2)(A) of the IRC.

(63)(62) “Housing Credit Development” means the proposed or existing rental housing Development(s) for which Housing Credits have been applied or received.

(64)(63) “Housing Credit Extended Use Period” means, with respect to any building that is included in a Housing Credit Development, the period that begins on the first day of the Compliance Period in which such building is part of the Development and ends on the later of: (i) the date specified by the Corporation in the Extended Use Agreement or (ii) the date that is the fifteenth anniversary of the last day of the Compliance Period, unless earlier terminated as provided in Section 42(h)(6) of the IRC.

(65)(64) “Housing Credit Period” means with respect to any building that is included in a Housing Credit Development, the period of 10 years beginning with:

(a) The taxable year in which such building is placed in service, or

(b) At the election of the Developer, the succeeding taxable year.

(66)(65) “Housing Credit Rent-Restricted Unit” means, with respect to a Housing Credit Development, a unit for which the gross rent does not exceed 30 percent of the imputed income limitation applicable to such unit as chosen by the Applicant in the Application and in accordance with Section 42 of the IRC.

(67)(66) “Housing Credit Set-Aside” means the number of units in a Housing Credit Development necessary to satisfy the percentage of units set-aside at 60 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) or less as chosen by the Applicant in the Application.

(68)(67) “Housing Credit Syndicator” means a person, partnership, corporation, trust or other entity that regularly engages in the purchase of interests in entities that produce Qualified Low Income Housing Projects [as defined in Section 42(g) of the Internal Revenue Code] and provides at least one written reference in the Application that such person, partnership, corporation, trust or other entity has performed its obligation under the partnership agreements and is not currently in default under those agreements, in accordance with the Application instructions.

(69)(68) “Housing Provider” means, with respect to a HOME Development, Local Government, consortia approved by HUD under 24 CFR Part 92, for-profit and Non-profit Developers, and qualified CHDOs, with demonstrated capacity to construct or rehabilitate affordable housing.

(70)(69) “HUD” means the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

(71)(70) “IRC” means Section 42 and subsections 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as in effect on the date of this rule chapter, together with corresponding and applicable final, temporary or proposed regulations, notices, and revenue rulings issued with respect thereto by the Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service of the United States, which are incorporated by reference and available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related References Information and Links.

(72) “Joint Venture Application” means an Application in which the Applicant is either a Joint Venture Non-Profit Applicant or a Joint Venture Public Housing Authority Applicant.

(73) “Joint Venture Non-Profit Applicant” means an Applicant that (i) states in its Application that it is applying as a Non-Profit and (ii) is a legal entity which is owned by two or more separate and distinct legal entities which share no common ownership between or among them, at least one of which is a Non-Profit entity, as defined in Rule 67-48.002, F.A.C., provided such Non-Profit is receiving at least 25 percent of the total Developer fee.

(74) “Joint Venture Public Housing Authority Applicant” means an Applicant that is a legal entity which is owned by two or more separate and distinct legal entities which share no common ownership between or among them, at least one of which is a Public Housing Authority or an entity created under Section 421.08(8), F.S.

(75)(71) “Lead Agency” means a Local Government or non-profit serving as the point of contact and accountability to the State Office on Homelessness with respect to the Local Homeless Assistance of Continuum of Care Plan, in accordance with Section 420.624, F.S.

(76)(72) “Local Government” means Local government as defined in Section 420.503, F.S.

(77)(73) “Local Homeless Assistance Continuum of Care Plan” means a plan for developing and implementing a framework for a comprehensive and seamless array of housing and services to address the needs of homeless persons and persons at risk for homelessness, in accordance with Section 420.624, F.S.

(78)(74) “Low Income” means the Adjusted Income for a Family which does not exceed 80 percent of the area median income.

(79)(75) “LURA” or “Land Use Restriction Agreement” means an agreement which sets forth the set-aside requirements and other Development requirements under a Corporation program.

(80)(76) “Match” means non-federal contributions to a HOME Development eligible pursuant to 24 CFR Part 92.

(81)(77) “Mortgage” means Mortgage as defined in Section 420.503, F.S.

(82) “Non-Joint Venture Application” means an Application other than a Joint Venture Application.

(83)(78) “Non-Profit” means a qualified non-profit entity as defined in Section 42(h)(5)(C), subsection 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) of the IRC and organized under Chapter 617, F.S., if a Florida Corporation, or organized under similar state law if organized in a jurisdiction other than Florida, to provide housing and other services on a not-for-profit basis, which owns at least 51 percent of the ownership interest in the Development held by the general partner or managing member entity and which entity is acceptable to federal and state agencies and financial institutions as a Sponsor for affordable housing, as further described in Rule 67-48.0075, F.A.C.

(84)(79) “Note” means a unilateral agreement containing an express and absolute promise to pay to the Corporation a principal sum of money on a specified date, which provides the interest rate and is secured by a Mortgage.

(85)(80) “PBRA” or “Project-Based Rental Assistance” means a rental subsidy through a contract with HUD or RD in a property that is 20 or more years of age.

(86) “Person with a Disability” means, pursuant to Section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which is incorporated by reference and available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 Universal Application link labeled Related References and Links, an individual to which both of the following applies: (i) the individual has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual, and (ii) the individual is currently or was formerly regarded as having an existing record of such an impairment.

(87) “Pool of Related Applications” means a group of Related Applications comprised of all Related Applications submitted in the same Funding Cycle that share among such Related Applications one or more Principals or Affiliates of an Applicant or Developer common to any or all such Related Applications.

(88)(81) “Portfolio Diversification” means a distribution of SAIL and HOME Program loans to Developments in varying geographic locations with varying design structures and sizes and with different types and identity of Sponsors.

(89)(82) “Preliminary Allocation” means a non-binding reservation of Housing Credits issued to a Housing Credit Development which has demonstrated a need for Housing Credits and received a positive recommendation from the Credit Underwriter.

(90)(83) “Preliminary Determination” means an initial determination by the Corporation of the amount of Housing Credits outside the Allocation Authority needed from the Treasury to make a Tax-Exempt Bond-Financed Development financially feasible and viable.

(91)(84) “Preservation” means, with respect to a Competitive HC Development, Rehabilitation of existing developments receiving PBRA.

(92)(85) “Principal” means (i) an Applicant, any general partner of an Applicant or Developer, any limited partner of an Applicant or Developer, any manager or member of an Applicant or Developer, any officer, director or shareholder of an Applicant or Developer, (ii) any officer, director, shareholder, manager, member, general partner or limited partner of any general partner and limited partner of an Applicant or Developer, (iii) any officer, director, shareholder, manager, member, general partner or limited partner of any manager or and member of an Applicant or Developer, and (iv) any officer, director, shareholder, manager, member, general partner or limited partner of any shareholder of an Applicant or Developer.

(93)(86) “Progress Report” or “Form Q/M Report” means, with respect to a Housing Credit Development, a report format that is required to be completed and submitted to the Corporation pursuant to Rule 67-48.028, F.A.C., and is adopted and incorporated herein by reference, effective January 2007. A copy of such form is available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related References Information and Links or by contacting the Housing Credit Program at 227 North Bronough Street, Suite 5000, Tallahassee, Florida 32301-1329.

(94)(87) “Project” or “Property” means Project as defined in Section 420.503, F.S.

(95)(88) “QAP” or “Qualified Allocation Plan” means, with respect to the HC Program, the 2009 2008 Qualified Allocation Plan which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference, effective upon approval by the Governor of the state of Florida, pursuant to Section 42(m)(1)(B) of the IRC and sets forth the selection criteria and the preferences of the Corporation for Developments which will receive Housing Credits. The QAP is available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related References information and Links or by contacting the Housing Credit Program at 227 North Bronough Street, Suite 5000, Tallahassee, Florida 32301-1329.

(96)(89) “QCT” or “Qualified Census Tract” means any census tract which is designated by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development as having either 50 percent or more of the households at an income which is less than 60 percent of the area median gross income, or a poverty rate of at least 25 percent, in accordance with Section 42(d)(5)(C) of the IRC.

(97)(90) “RD” or “Rural Development” means Rural Development Services (formerly the “Farmer’s Home Administration” or “FmHA”) of the United States Department of Agriculture.

(98)(91) “Received” as it relates to delivery of a document by a specified deadline means, unless otherwise indicated, delivery by hand, United States Postal Service or other courier service, in the office of the Corporation no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the deadline date.

(99)(92) “Rehabilitation” means, with respect to the HOME and Housing Credit Program(s), the alteration, improvement or modification of an existing structure where less than 50 percent of the proposed construction work consists of new construction, as further described in Rule 67-48.0075, F.A.C.

(100) “Related Application” means an Application submitted in the same Funding Cycle that shares one or more Principals or Affiliates of an Applicant or Developer common to any or all of the Principals or Affiliates of an Applicant or Developer in another Application in the same Funding Cycle. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Application shall not be deemed to be related to another Application if the only Principal or Affiliate of an Applicant or Developer that it shares with such other Application is (i) a Public Housing Authority or an entity created under Section 421.08(8), F.S., or (ii) a Non-Profit as defined in Rule 67-48.002, F.A.C., that is receiving at least 25 percent of the total Developer fee.

(101)(93) “Review Committee” means a committee established pursuant to Sections 420.5087 and 420.5089, F.S.

(102)(94) “RRLP” or “RRLP Program” means the Rental Recovery Loan Program which was created pursuant to Section 3, Chapter 2005-92, and Section 31, Chapter 2006-69, L.O.F., to facilitate the allocation of RRLP loans.

(103)(95) “SAIL” or “SAIL Program” means the State Apartment Incentive Loan Program created pursuant to Sections 420.507(22) and 420.5087, F.S.

(104)(96) “SAIL Development” means a residential development comprised of one (1) or more residential buildings, each containing five (5) or more dwelling units and functionally related facilities, proposed to be constructed or substantially rehabilitated with SAIL funds for Eligible Persons.

(105)(97) “SAIL Minimum Set-Aside Requirement” means the least number of set-aside units in a SAIL Development which must be held for Very Low-Income persons or households pursuant to the category (i.e., Family, Elderly, Homeless, or Farmworker and Commercial Fishing Worker) under which the Application has been made, as further described in Rule 67-48.009, F.A.C.

(106)(98) “Scattered Sites” for a single Development means a Development consisting of real property in the same county (i) any part of which is not contiguous (“non-contiguous parts”) or (ii) any part of which is divided by  a street or easement (“divided parts”) and (iii) it is readily apparent from the proximity of the non-contiguous parts or the divided parts of the real property, chain of title, or other information available to the Corporation that the non-contiguous parts or the divided parts of the real property are part of a common or related scheme of development.

(107)(99) “Section 8 Eligible” means a Family with an income which meets the income eligibility requirements of Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference and available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related References Information and Links.

(108)(100) “Single Room Occupancy” or “SRO” means housing, consisting of single room dwelling units, that is the primary residence of its occupant or occupants. An SRO does not include facilities for students.

(109) “Special Needs Household” means a household consisting of a Family that is considered to be Homeless, a survivor of Domestic Violence, a Person with a Disability, or Youth Aging Out of Foster Care. These households require initial, intermittent or on-going supportive services from one or more community based service providers to obtain and retain stable, adequate and safe housing in their communities.

(110) “Special Needs Household Referral Agency” means a participating organization that is included on the Special Needs Household Referral Agency Participation List, effective 1-12-09, incorporated by reference and available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 Universal Application link labeled Related References and Links.

(111)(101) “Sponsor” means Sponsor as defined in Section 420.503, F.S.

(112)(102) “State Office on Homelessness” means the office created within the Department of Children and Family Services under Section 420.622, F.S.

(113)(103) “Substantial Rehabilitation” means, with respect to the SAIL Program, to bring a Development back to its original state with added improvements, where the value of such repairs or improvements (excluding the costs of acquiring or moving a structure) exceeds 40 percent of the appraised as is value (excluding land) of such Development before repair and less than 50 percent of the proposed construction work consists of new construction. For purposes of this definition, the value of the repairs or improvements means the Development Cost. To be considered “Substantial Rehabilitation,” there must be at least the foundations remaining from the previous structures, suitable to support the proposed construction.

(114)(104) “Tax Exempt Bond-Financed Development” means a Development which has been financed by the issuance of tax-exempt bonds subject to applicable volume cap pursuant to Section 42(h)(4) of the IRC.

(115)(105) “Tie-Breaker Measurement Point” means a single point selected by the Applicant on the proposed Development site that is located within 100 feet of a residential building existing or to be constructed as part of the proposed Development. For a Development which consists of Scattered Sites, this means a single point on one of the Scattered Sites which comprise the Development site that is located within 100 feet of a residential building existing or to be constructed as part of the proposed Development. In addition, the Tie-Breaker Measurement Point must be located on the site with the most units if any of the Scattered Sites has more than four (4) units.

(116)(106) “Total Development Cost” means the total of all costs incurred in the completion of a Development, all of which shall be subject to the review and approval by the Credit Underwriter and the Corporation pursuant to this rule chapter, and as further described in Rule 67-48.0075, F.A.C.

(117)(107) “Treasury” means the United States Department of Treasury or other agency or instrumentality created or chartered by the United States to which the powers of the Department of Treasury have been transferred.

(118)(108) “Universal Cycle” means any Ffunding Ccycle provided for in this or previous versions of this rule chapter.

(119)(109) “Urban In-Fill Development” means a Development (i) in a site or area that is targeted for in-fill housing or neighborhood revitalization by the local, county, state or federal government as evidenced by its inclusion in a HUD Empowerment/Enterprise Zone, a HUD-approved Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy, Florida Enterprise Zone, area designated under a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), area designated as HOPE VI or Front Porch Florida Community, or a Community Redevelopment Area as described and defined in the Florida Community Redevelopment Act of 1969, or the proposed Development is located in a Qualified Census Tract and the development of which contributes to a concerted community revitalization plan, and (ii) in a site which is located in an area that is already developed and part of an incorporated area or existing urban service area.

(120)(110) “Very Low-Income” means:

(a) With respect to the SAIL Program,

1. If using tax-exempt bond financing for the first mortgage, income which meets the income eligibility requirements of Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as in effect on the date of this rule chapter; or

2. If using taxable financing for the first mortgage, total annual gross household income which does not exceed 50 percent of the median income adjusted for family size, or 50 percent of the median income adjusted for family size for households within the metropolitan statistical area (MSA), within the county in which the Family resides, or within the state of Florida, whichever is greater; or

3. If used in a Development using Housing Credits, income which meets the income eligibility requirements of Section 42 of the IRC; or

(b) With respect to the HOME Program, income which does not exceed 50 percent of the median income for the area, as determined by HUD, with adjustments for family size, except that HUD may establish income ceilings higher or lower than 50 percent of the median for the area on a basis of HUD findings that such variations are necessary because of prevailing levels of construction costs or fair market rents, or unusually high or low family incomes.

(121)(111) “Website” means the Florida Housing Finance Corporation’s website, the Universal Resource Locator (URL) for which is www.floridahousing.org.

(122) “Youth Aging Out of Foster Care” means youth or young adults participating in independent living transition services pursuant to Section 409.1451, F.S., and meeting the eligibility requirements pursuant to Section 409.1451(2)(b), F.S.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507 FS. Law Implemented 420.5087, 420.5089(2) FS. History–New 7-22-96, Amended 12-23-96, 7-10-97, 1-6-98, Formerly 9I-48.002, Amended 11-9-98, 2-24-00, 2-22-01, 3-17-02, 4-6-03, 3-21-04, 2-7-05, 1-29-06, 4-1-07, 3-30-08,________.

 

67-48.004 Application and Selection Procedures for Developments.

(1) When submitting an Application, Applicants must utilize the Universal Application in effect at the Application Deadline.

(a) The Universal Application Package or UA1016 (Rev. 5-09 3-08) is adopted and incorporated herein by reference and consists of the forms and instructions, obtained from the Corporation, for a fee, at 227 North Bronough Street, Suite 5000, Tallahassee, Florida 32301-1329, or available, without charge, on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Instructions and Application, which shall be completed and submitted to the Corporation in accordance with this rule chapter in order to apply for the SAIL, HOME, HC, or SAIL and HC Program(s).

(b) All Applications must be complete, legible and timely when submitted, except as described below. Corporation staff may not assist any Applicant by copying, collating, or adding documents to an Application nor shall any Applicant be permitted to use the Corporation’s facilities or equipment for purposes of compiling or completing an Application.

(2) Failure to submit an Application completed in accordance with the Application instructions and these rules will result in the failure to meet threshold, rejection of the Application, a score less than the maximum available, or a combination of these results in accordance with the instructions in the Application and this rule chapter.

(3) Each submitted Application shall be evaluated and preliminarily scored using the factors specified in the Universal Application Package and these rules. Preliminary scores shall be transmitted to all Applicants.

(4) Applicants who wish to notify the Corporation of possible scoring errors relative to another Applicant’s Application will be provided a time period for filing a written Notice of Possible Scoring Error (NOPSE). Such time period will be no fewer than three (3) must file with the Corporation, within eight (8) Calendar Days from of the date the preliminary scores are sent by overnight delivery by the Corporation, a written Notice of Possible Scoring Error (NOPSE). The deadline for filing a NOPSE will be provided at the time the preliminary scores are issued. Each NOPSE must specify the assigned Application number of the Applicant submitting the NOPSE, the assigned Application number of the Application in question and the scores in question, as well as describe the alleged deficiencies in detail. Each NOPSE is limited to the review of only one Application’s score. Any NOPSE that seeks the review of more than one Application’s score will be considered improperly filed and ineligible for review. There is no limit to the number of NOPSEs that may be submitted. The Corporation’s staff will review each written NOPSE Received timely. To be considered Received timely, the Applicant must submit one (1) original hard copy and three (3) photocopies of each NOPSE. The Corporation will not consider any NOPSE submitted via facsimile or other electronic transmission.

(5) The Corporation shall transmit to each Applicant the NOPSEs submitted by other Applicants with regard to its Application. The notice shall also include the Corporation’s decision regarding the NOPSE, along with any other items identified by the Corporation to be addressed by the Applicant, which may include financial obligations for which an Applicant or Developer or Principal, Affiliate or Financial Beneficiary of an Applicant or a Developer is in arrears to the Corporation or any agent or assignee of the Corporation as of the due date for NOPSE filing as set forth in subsection (4) above.

(6) Within 11 Calendar Days of the date the notice set forth in subsection (5) above is sent by overnight delivery by the Corporation, Eeach Applicant shall be allowed to cure its Application by submitting additional documentation, revised pages and such other information as the Applicant deems appropriate (“cures”) to address the issues raised pursuant to subsections (3) and (5) above that could result in failure to meet threshold or a score less than the maximum available. The time period for submitting the “cures” will be no fewer than three (3) Calendar Days from the date the notice set forth in subsection (5) above is sent by overnight delivery by the Corporation. Such notice will provide the deadline for submitting the “cures.” A new form, page or exhibit provided to the Corporation during this period shall be considered a replacement of that form, page or exhibit if such form, page or  exhibit was previously submitted in the Applicant’s Application. Pages of the Application that are not revised or otherwise changed may not be resubmitted, except that documents executed by third parties must be submitted in their entirety, including all attachments and exhibits referenced therein, even if only a portion of the original document was revised. Where revised or additional information submitted by the Applicant creates an inconsistency with another item in that Application, the Applicant shall also be required in its submittal to make such other changes as necessary to keep the Application consistent as revised. To be considered by the Corporation, the Applicant must submit one (1) an original hard copy and three (3) photocopies of all additional documentation and revisions, and such revisions, changes and other information must be Received by the deadline set forth herein. Any subsequent revision submitted prior to the deadline shall include a written request from the Applicant for withdrawal of any previously submitted revision(s).

(7) Within seven (7) Calendar Days of the deadline for receipt by the Corporation of the documentation set forth in subsection (6) above, Aall Applicants may submit to the Corporation a Notice of Alleged Deficiencies (NOAD) in any other Application. The time period for submitting each NOAD will be no fewer than three (3) Calendar Days from the deadline for receipt by the Corporation of the documentation set forth in subsection (6) above. The notice set forth in subsection (5) above will provide the deadline for submitting the NOAD. Each NOAD is limited only to issues created by document revisions, additions, or both, by the Applicant submitting the Application pursuant to subsection (6) above. Each NOAD must specify the assigned Application number of the Applicant submitting the NOAD, the assigned Application number of the Application in question, the pages and the documents in question, as well as describe the alleged deficiencies in detail. Each NOAD is limited to the review of only one Applicant’s submission. However, there is no limit to the number of NOADs which may be submitted. NOADs which seek the review of more than one Applicant’s submission will be considered improperly filed and ineligible for review. The Corporation will only review each written NOAD Received timely. To be considered Received timely, the Applicant must submit one (1) original hard copy and three (3) photocopies of each NOAD. The Corporation will not consider any NOAD submitted via facsimile or other electronic transmission.

(8) The Corporation shall transmit a copy of all NOADs to the affected Applicant.

(9) Following the receipt and review by the Corporation of the documentation described in subsections (5), (6) and (7) above, the Corporation shall then prepare final scores. In determining such final scores, no Application shall fail threshold or receive a point reduction as a result of any issues not previously identified in the notices described in subsections (3), (4) and (5) above. However, inconsistencies created by the Applicant as a result of information provided pursuant to subsections (6) and (7) above will still be justification for rejection of the Application, threshold failure, or reduction of points, as appropriate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any deficiencies in the mandatory elements set forth in subsection (14) below can be identified at any time prior to sending the final scores to Applicants and will result in rejection of the Application. The Corporation shall then transmit final scores to all Applicants.

(10) The availability of any remaining funds or Allocation Authority shall be noticed or offered to a Development as approved by the Board of Directors. With respect to the HC Program, in the event there remains Allocation Authority after the Corporation has exhausted its waiting list of Applications during a Funding Cycle and time requirements preclude an Application Period and notice thereof, the Corporation shall allocate any unused Allocation Authority to any eligible Development meeting the requirements of Section 42 of the IRC and in accordance with the Qualified Allocation Plan.

(11) Except for Local Government-issued Tax-Exempt Bond-Financed Developments that submit a separate Application for non-competitive Housing Credits, Applications shall be limited to one submission per subject property. Two or more Applications, submitted in the same Funding Cycle, that have the same demographic commitment and one or more of the same Financial Beneficiaries, will be considered submissions for the same Development if any of the following is true: (i) any part of any of the property sites is contiguous with any part of any of the other property sites, or (ii) any of the property sites are divided by a street or easement, or (iii) it is readily apparent from the Applications, proximity, chain of title, or other information available to the Corporation that the properties are part of a common or related scheme of development. If two or more Applications are considered to be submissions for the same Development, the Corporation will reject all such Applications except the Application with the highest (worst) lottery number. The Application(s) with the lowest lottery number(s) will still be rejected even if the Applicant withdraws the Application with the highest (worst) lottery number.

(12) If the Board determines that any Applicant or any Affiliate of an Applicant:

(a) Has engaged in fraudulent actions;

(b) Has materially misrepresented information to the Corporation regarding any past or present Application or Development;

(c) Has been convicted of fraud, theft or misappropriation of funds;

(d) Has been excluded from federal or Florida procurement programs; or

(e) Has been convicted of a felony;

And that such action substantially increases the likelihood that the Applicant will not be able to produce quality affordable housing, Tthe Applicant and any of the Applicant’s Affiliates will be ineligible for funding or allocation in any program administered by the Corporation for a period of up to two (2) years, which will begin from the date the Board makes such determination. Such determination shall be either pursuant to a proceeding conducted pursuant to Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S., or as a result of a finding by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(13) The Corporation shall reject an Application if, following the submission of the additional documentation, revised pages and other information as the Applicant deems appropriate as described in subsection (6) above:

(a) The Development is inconsistent with the purposes of the SAIL, HOME, or HC Program(s) or does not conform to the Application requirements specified in this rule chapter;

(b) The Applicant fails to achieve the threshold requirements as detailed in these rules, the applicable Application, and Application instructions;

(c) The Applicant fails to file all applicable Application pages and exhibits which are provided by the Corporation and adopted under this rule chapter;

(d) The Applicant fails to satisfy any arrearages described in subsection (5) above. For purposes of the SAIL and HOME Programs, this rule subsection does not include permissible deferral of SAIL or HOME interest.

(14) Notwithstanding any other provision of these rules, there are certain items that must be included in the Application and cannot be revised, corrected or supplemented after the Application Deadline. Failure to submit these items in the Application at the time of the Application Deadline shall result in rejection of the Application without opportunity to submit additional information. Any attempted changes to these items will not be accepted. Those items are as follows:

(a) Name of Applicant; notwithstanding the foregoing, the name of the Applicant may be changed only by written request of an Applicant to Corporation staff and approval of the Board after the Applicant has been invited to enter credit underwriting;

(b) Identity of each Developer, including all co-Developers; notwithstanding the foregoing, the identity of the Developer(s) may be changed only by written request of an Applicant to Corporation staff and approval of the Board after the Applicant has been invited to enter credit underwriting;

(c) Program(s) applied for;

(d) Applicant applying as a Non-Profit or for-profit organization;

(e) Site for the Development; notwithstanding the foregoing, after the Applicant has been invited to enter credit underwriting and subject to written request of an Applicant to Corporation staff and approval of the Corporation, the site for the Development may be increased or decreased, provided the Tie Breaker Measurement Point is on the site and the total proximity points awarded during scoring are not reduced;

(f) Development Category;

(g) Development Type;

(h) Designation selection;

(i) Total number of units; notwithstanding the foregoing, for the SAIL and HC Programs the total number of units may be increased after the Applicant has been invited to enter credit underwriting, subject to written request of an Applicant to Corporation staff and approval of the Corporation;

(j) With regard to the SAIL and HC Programs, the ELI Set-Aside commitment on the total set-aside breakdown chart for the program(s) applied for in the Set-Aside Commitment section of the Application;

(k) With regard to the SAIL and HC Programs, the Total Set-Aside Percentage as stated in the last row of the total set-aside breakdown chart for the program(s) applied for in the Set-Aside Commitment section of the Application. With regard to the HOME Program, the Total Set-Aside Percentage as stated in the Set-Aside Commitment section of the Application, unless the change results from the revision allowed under paragraph (m) below;

(l) CHDO election for the HOME Program;

(m) Funding Request (except for Taxable Bonds) amount; notwithstanding the foregoing, requested amounts can be changed only as follows:

1. Reduced by the Applicant to reflect the maximum request amount allowed in those instances where an Applicant requested more than its request limit, or

2. When the county in which the Development is located is newly designated by HUD as a Difficult Development Area (DDA) after the Application Deadline but prior to the end of the cure period outlined in Rule 67-48.004, F.A.C.: (i) an Applicant, who has not failed threshold for exceeding its Competitive HC request limit, may increase its Competitive HC request by an amount equaling 30 percent, rounded to whole dollars, of the remainder of the Applicant’s initial request amount, or (ii) an Applicant, that failed threshold during preliminary scoring for requesting more than its Competitive HC request limit because the Development was not then designated as being in a DDA, may increase its Competitive HC request amount to the maximum allowable amount for the Development.

(n) Submission of one original hard copy with the required number of photocopies of the Application by the Application Deadline;

(o) Payment of the required Application fee by the Application Deadline;

(p) The Application labeled “Original Hard Copy” must include a properly completed Applicant Certification and Acknowledgement form reflecting an original signature.

All other items may be submitted as cures pursuant to subsection (6) above.

With regard to paragraphs (a) and (b) above, the Board shall consider the facts and circumstances of each Applicant’s request and any credit underwriting report, if available, prior to determining whether to grant the requested change.

(15) A Development will be withdrawn from funding and any outstanding commitments for funds or HC will be rescinded if, at any time, the Board determines that the Applicant’s Development or Development team is no longer the Development or Development team described in the Application, and the changes made are prejudicial to the Development or to the market to be served by the Development.

(16) If an Applicant or Developer or any Principal, Affiliate or Financial Beneficiary of an Applicant or a Developer has any existing Developments participating in any Corporation programs that remain in non-compliance with Section 42 of the IRC, Title 67, F.A.C. this rule chapter, or applicable loan documents, and any applicable cure period granted for correcting such non-compliance has ended as of the time of submission of the Application or at the time of issuance of a credit underwriting report, the requested allocation will, upon a determination by the Board that such non-compliance substantially increases the likelihood that such Applicant or Developer will not be able to produce quality affordable housing, be denied and the Applicant or Developer and the Affiliates of the Applicant or Developer will be prohibited from new participation in any of the Corporation’s programs for the subsequent cycle and continuing until such time as all of their existing Developments participating in any Corporation programs are in compliance.

(17) With respect to the SAIL, HOME and HC Program Applications, when two or more Applications receive the same numerical score, the Applications will be ranked as outlined in the Application instructions.

(18) At no time during the Application, scoring and appeal process may Applicants or their representatives contact Board members concerning their own Development or any other Applicant’s Development. At no time from the Application Deadline until the issuance of the final scores as set forth in subsection (9) above, may Applicants or their representatives verbally contact Corporation staff concerning their own Application or any other Applicant’s Application. If an Applicant or its representative does contact a Board member in violation of this section, the Board shall, upon a determination that such contact was deliberate, disqualify such Applicant’s Application.

(19) Applicants may withdraw an Application from consideration only by submitting a written notice of withdrawal to the Corporation Clerk. Applicants may not rescind any notice of withdrawal that was submitted to the Corporation Clerk. For ranking purposes, the Corporation shall disregard any withdrawal that is submitted after 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, 14 Calendar Days prior to the date the Board is scheduled to convene to consider approval of the final ranking of the Applications and such Application shall be included in the ranking as if no notice of withdrawal had been submitted. After the Board has approved the final ranking, any notice of withdrawal submitted during the time period prohibited above and before the Board approves the final ranking, shall be deemed withdrawn immediately after Board approval of the final ranking. If an Applicant has applied for or been awarded funding from two or more programs, the withdrawal by the Applicant from any one program will be deemed by the Corporation to be a withdrawal of the Application from all programs.

(20) The name of the Development provided in the Application may not be changed or altered after submission of the Application during the history of the Development with the Corporation unless the change is requested in writing and approved in writing by the Corporation. The Corporation shall consider the facts and circumstances of each Applicant’s request and any credit underwriting report, if available, prior to determining whether to grant such request.

(21) If an Applicant or any Affiliate of an Applicant has offered or given consideration, other than the consideration to provide affordable housing, with respect to a local contribution and this is discovered prior to Board approval of the final ranking, the Corporation shall reject the Application and any other Application submitted by the same Applicant and any Affiliate of the Applicant. If discovered after the Board approves final ranking, any tentative funding or allocation for the Application and any other Application submitted in the same cycle by the same Applicant and any Affiliate of the Applicant will be withdrawn. Such Applicant and any of such Applicant’s Affiliates will be ineligible for funding or allocation in any program administered by the Corporation for a period of up to two (2) years, which will begin the date the Board issues a final order on such matter, in a proceeding conducted pursuant to Sections 120.569 and 120.57, F.S.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507, 420.507(22)(f) FS. Law Implemented 420.5087, 420.5087(6)(c), 420.5089, 420.5089(6), 420.5099, 420.5099(2) FS. History–New 7-22-96, Amended 12-23-96, 7-10-97, 1-6-98, Formerly 9I-48.004, Amended 4-7-98, 11-9-98, 2-24-00, 2-22-01, 3-17-02, 4-6-03, 3-21-04, 2-7-05, 1-29-06, 4-1-07, 3-30-08, ________.

 

67-48.005 Applicant Administrative Appeal Procedures.

(1) At the conclusion of the review and scoring process established by Rule 67-48.004, F.A.C., each Applicant will be provided with its final score and notice of rights, which shall constitute the point of entry to contest any issue related to the Applicant’s Application for the SAIL Program, the HOME Program or the HC Program.

(2) Each Applicant that wishes to contest its final score must file a petition with the Corporation within 21 Calendar Days after the date the Applicant receives its notice of rights. The petition must conform to subsection 28-106.201(2) or 28-106.301(2), and subsection 67-52.002(3), F.A.C., and specify in detail each issue and score sought to be challenged. If the petition does not raise a disputed issue of material fact, the challenge will be conducted pursuant to Section 120.57(2), F.S. If the petition raises one or more disputed issues of material fact, a formal administrative hearing will be conducted pursuant to Section 120.57(1), F.S. At the conclusion of any administrative hearing, a recommended order shall be entered by the designated hearing officer which will then be considered by the Board.

(3) Any Applicant who wishes to challenge the findings and conclusions of the recommended order entered pursuant to a Section 120.57(2), F.S., proceeding concerning its own Application shall be allowed the opportunity to submit written arguments to the Board. Any written argument should be typed and double-spaced with margins no less than one inch in either Times New Roman 14-point or Courier New 12-point font and may not exceed five (5) pages, excluding the caption and certificate of service. Written arguments must be filed with Florida Housing Finance Corporation’s Clerk at 227 North Bronough Street, Suite 5000, Tallahassee, Florida 32301-1329, no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, no later than five (5) Calendar Days from the date of issuance of the recommended order. Failure to timely file a written argument shall constitute a waiver of the right to have a written argument considered by the Board. Parties will not be permitted to make oral presentations to the Board in response to recommended orders.

(4) Following the entry of final orders in all petitions filed pursuant to Section 120.57(2), F.S., and in accordance with the prioritization of the QAP and Rule Chapter 67-48, F.A.C., the Corporation shall issue final rankings. For an Applicant that filed a petition pursuant to Section 120.57(1), F.S., which challenged the scoring of its own Application but has not had a final order entered as of the date the final rankings are approved by the Board, the Corporation shall, if any such Applicant ultimately obtains a final order that modifies the score so that its Application would have been in the funding range of the applicable final ranking had it been entered prior to the date the final rankings were presented to the Board, provide the requested funding, allocation, or both, from the next available funding, allocation, or both, whether in the current year or a subsequent year. For HC, iIf the final order is executed on or before the Corporation issues the current year’s final scores, the funding, allocation, or both, will come from the current year or. iIf the final order is executed after the Corporation issues the current year’s final scores, the funding, allocation, or both, will come from the subsequent year. Funding refers to SAIL or HOME and allocation refers to HC. Nothing contained herein shall affect any applicable credit underwriting requirements.

(5) Each Applicant will be provided with a final ranking of all Applications and notice of rights, which shall constitute the point of entry to contest any ranking or scoring issue related to any other Applications for the SAIL Program, the HOME Program or the HC Program. An Applicant that wishes to contest the final ranking or score of another Applicant may do so only if:

(a) The competing Applicant files a petition on or before the 21st Calendar Day after the receipt of the notice of rights pursuant to this subsection (5). The petition must conform to subsection 28-106.201(2) or 28-106.301(2), and subsection 67-52.002(3), F.A.C., and specify in detail each issue, score or ranking sought to be challenged.

(b) For any Application cycle closing after January 1, 2002, if the contested issue involves an error in scoring, the contested issue must (i) be one that could not have been cured pursuant to subsection 67-48.004(14), F.A.C., or (ii) be one that could have been cured, if the ability to cure was not solely within the Applicant’s control. The contested issue cannot be one that was both curable and within the Applicant’s sole control to cure. With regard to curable issues, a petitioner must prove that the contested issue was not feasibly curable within the time allowed for cures in subsection 67-48.004(6), F.A.C.

(c) The competing Applicant alleges facts in its petition sufficient to demonstrate that, but for the specifically identified threshold, scoring or ranking errors in the challenged Application, its Application would have been in the funding range at the time the Corporation provided the Applicant with its final ranking.

(d) If the petition does not raise a disputed issue of material fact, the appeal will be conducted pursuant to Section 120.57(2), F.S. If the petition raises one or more disputed issues of material fact, a formal administrative hearing will be conducted pursuant to Section 120.57(1), F.S. At the conclusion of any administrative hearing, a recommended order shall be entered which will then be considered by the Board.

(6) Any Applicant who wishes to challenge the findings and conclusions of the recommended order entered pursuant to a Section 120.57(2), F.S., proceeding as described in subsection (5) above concerning the final ranking of another Application, shall be allowed the opportunity to submit written arguments to the Board. Any written arguments should be typed and double-spaced with margins no less than one inch in either Times New Roman 14-point or Courier New 12-point font and may not exceed five (5) pages, excluding the caption and certificate of service. Written arguments must be filed with Florida Housing Finance Corporation’s Clerk at 227 North Bronough Street, Suite 5000, Tallahassee, Florida 32301-1329, no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, no later than five (5) Calendar Days from the date of issuance of the recommended order. Failure to timely file a written argument shall constitute  a waiver of the right to have a written argument considered by the Board. Parties will not be permitted to make oral presentations to the Board in response to recommended orders.

(7) For those Applicants that have filed a petition pursuant to subsection (5) above, the Corporation shall, if any such Applicant ultimately obtains a final order that demonstrates that its Application would have been in the funding range of the applicable final ranking, provide the requested funding, allocation, or both from the next available funding, allocation, or both, whether in the current year or a subsequent year. For HC, iIf the final order is executed on or before the Corporation issues the current year’s final scores, the funding, allocation, or both, will come from the current year or. iIf the final order is executed after the Corporation issues the current year’s final scores, the funding, allocation, or both, will come from the subsequent year. Funding refers to SAIL or HOME and allocation refers to HC. Nothing contained herein shall affect any applicable credit underwriting requirements. The filing of a petition pursuant to subsection (5) above shall not stay the Corporation’s provision of funding to Applicants per the final rankings referenced in subsection (4) above.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507 FS. Law Implemented 120.569, 120.57, 420.5087, 420.5089, 420.5099 FS. History–New 7-22-96, Amended 12-23-96, 1-6-98, Formerly 9I-48.005, Amended 4-7-98, 11-9-98, 2-24-00, 2-22-01, 3-17-02, 10-8-02, 12-4-02, 4-6-03, 3-21-04, 2-7-05, 1-29-06, 4-1-07, 3-30-08,________.

 

67-48.007 Fees.

The Corporation, the Credit Underwriter or the environmental provider shall collect via check or money order the following fees and charges in conjunction with the SAIL, HOME and/or HC Programs, as outlined in the Universal Application instructions:

(1) Universal Application Package fee, if applicable.

(2) Application fee.

(3) Credit Underwriting fees.

(4) Administrative fees.

(5) Commitment fees.

(6) Compliance monitoring fees.

(7) Loan servicing fees.

(8) Construction inspection fees.

(9) Financial monitoring fees.

(10) Tax-exempt mortgage financing fees.

(11) HUD environmental fees.

(12) Qualified Contract Package fees.

(13) Assumption/Renegotiation fees.

(14) Loan closing extension fees.

(15) Processing fees.

All of the fees set forth above with respect to the SAIL Program are part of Development Cost and can be included in the Development Cost pro forma and paid with SAIL loan proceeds. Failure to pay any fee shall cause the firm loan commitment under any program to be terminated or shall constitute a default on the respective loan documents.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507 FS. Law Implemented 420.5087, 420.5099 FS. History–New 7-22-96, Amended 12-23-96, 1-6-98, Formerly 9I-48.007, Amended 11-9-98, 2-24-00, 2-22-01, 3-17-02, 4-6-03, Repromulgated 3-21-04, Amended 2-7-05, 1-29-06, 4-1-07, Repromulgated 3-30-08, Amended_________.

 

67-48.0072 Credit Underwriting and Loan Procedures.

The credit underwriting review shall include a comprehensive analysis of the Applicant, the real estate, the economics of the Development, the ability of the Applicant and the Development team to proceed, the evidence of need for affordable housing in order to determine that the Development meets the program requirements and determine a recommended SAIL or HOME loan amount, Housing Credit allocation amount or a combined SAIL loan amount and Housing Credit Allocation amount, if any. Corporation funding will be based on appraisals of comparable developments, cost benefit analysis, and other documents evidencing justification of costs. As part of the credit underwriting review, the Credit Underwriter will consider the applicable provisions of Rule Chapter 67-48, F.A.C.

(1) Within 10 business days aAfter the final rankings are approved by the Board, the Corporation shall offer all Applicants within the funding range an invitation to enter credit underwriting. The Corporation shall select the Credit Underwriter for each Development.

(2) For SAIL and HOME Applicants and Applicants eligible for a supplemental loan, the invitation to enter credit underwriting constitutes a preliminary commitment.

(3) A response to the invitation to enter credit underwriting must be received by the Corporation and the Credit Underwriter not later than seven (7) Calendar Days after the date of the letter of invitation.

(4) If the credit underwriting invitation is accepted:

(a) The Applicant shall submit the credit underwriting fee to the Credit Underwriter within seven (7) Calendar Days of the date of the letter of invitation. In addition, SAIL Applicants shall submit the administrative fee to the Corporation within seven (7) Calendar Days of the date of the letter of invitation.

(b) Failure to submit the required credit underwriting fee or SAIL administrative fee, if applicable, by the specified deadline shall result in withdrawal of the invitation and issuance of an invitation to the next eligible Applicant as outlined in the Universal Application instructions. For HOME Applicants that apply and qualify as a Non-Profit entity, the Corporation shall bear the cost of the credit underwriting review and environmental review. However, if the HOME commitment is canceled for failure to adhere to rule deadlines or for reasons within the Applicant’s control, the Development  will be responsible for reimbursing the Corporation for fees incurred for credit underwriting and environmental review processing.

(c) For SAIL and HOME Applicants and Applicants eligible for a supplemental loan, the loan(s) must close on or before October 15, 2010 within 14 months of the issuance of the preliminary commitment. Applicants may request one (1) extension of up to 12 10 months. All extension requests must be submitted in writing to the program administrator and contain the specific reasons for requesting an extension and shall detail the time frame to close the loan. The written request will then be submitted to the Corporation’s Board for consideration. The Board shall consider the facts and circumstances of each Applicant’s request and any credit underwriting report, if available, prior to determining whether to grant the requested extension. The Corporation shall charge a non-refundable extension fee of 1 percent of each loan amount if the Board approves the request to extend the commitment beyond October 15, 2010 the initial 14 month period. In the event the loan does not close by October 15, 2011 within 24 months of the issuance of the preliminary commitment, the preliminary commitment or firm commitment, as applicable, will be deemed void and the funds will be deobligated.

(5) The Credit Underwriter shall verify all information in the Application, including information relative to the Applicant, Developer, Housing Credit Syndicator, General Contractor, and, if an ALF, the service provider(s), as well as other members of the Development team.

(6) If an Applicant or Developer or Housing Credit Syndicator or any Financial Beneficiary of an Applicant or Developer has been a party of any Development which has been or is in the process of being foreclosed upon or is in arrears to the Corporation or any agent or assignee of the Corporation, the Credit Underwriter will consider this and other past performance issues in determining whether or not to provide a positive recommendation.

(7) The Credit Underwriter shall report any inconsistencies or discrepancies or changes made to the Applicant’s Application during credit underwriting.

(8) The Applicant will be responsible for all fees in connection with the documentation submitted to the Credit Underwriter.

(9) If the Credit Underwriter determines that special expertise is required to review information submitted to the Credit Underwriter which is beyond the scope of the Credit Underwriter’s expertise, the fee for such services shall be borne by the Applicant.

(10) A full or self-contained appraisal as defined by the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and a separate market study shall be ordered by the Credit Underwriter, at the Applicant’s expense, from an appraiser qualified for the geographic area and product type not later than completion of credit underwriting. The Credit Underwriter shall review the appraisal to properly evaluate the proposed property’s financial feasibility. Appraisals which have been ordered and submitted by third party credit enhancers, first mortgagors or Housing Credit Syndicators and which meet the above requirements and are acceptable to the Credit Underwriter may be used instead of the appraisal referenced above. The market study must be completed by a disinterested party who is approved by the Credit Underwriter. The Credit Underwriter shall consider the market study, the Development’s financial impact on Developments in the area previously funded by the Corporation, and other documentation when making its recommendation of whether to approve or disapprove a SAIL or HOME loan, a Housing Credit Allocation, or a combined SAIL loan and Housing Credit Allocation, or a Housing Credit Allocation and HOME supplemental loan. The Credit Underwriter must review and determine whether there will be a negative impact to Guarantee Fund Developments within the primary market area or five (5) miles of the proposed Development, whichever is greater. The Credit Underwriter shall also review the appraisal and other market documentation to determine if the market exists to support both the demographic and income restriction set-asides committed to within the Application. For the Credit Underwriter to make a favorable recommendation, the submarket of the proposed Development must have an average occupancy rate of 90 percent or greater.

(11) The proposed Development must demonstrate, based on current rates, that it can meet minimum 1.10 debt service coverage (DSC) requirements with all first and second mortgages for Housing Credits. For HOME Applications, the minimum debt service coverage shall be 1.10 for the HOME loan, including all superior mortgages. For SAIL Applications, the minimum debt service coverage shall be 1.10 for the SAIL loan, including all superior mortgages. However, if the Applicant defers at least 35 percent of its developer fee for at least six (6) months following construction completion, the minimum debt service coverage shall be 1.00 for the SAIL loan, including all superior mortgages. For SAIL and HOME Applications, the maximum debt service coverage shall be 1.50 for the SAIL or HOME loan, including all superior mortgages. In extenuating circumstances, such as when the Development has deep or short term subsidy, the debt service coverage may exceed 1.50 if the Credit Underwriter’s favorable recommendation is supported by the projected cash flow analysis. Developments receiving first mortgage funding from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development (RD) are not required to meet the debt service coverage standards if RD is providing rental assistance and has acknowledged that rents will be set at an amount sufficient to pay all operating expenses, replacement reserve requirements and debt service on the first and second mortgages.

(12) The Corporation’s assigned Credit Underwriter shall require a guaranteed maximum price or stipulated sum construction contract, which may include change orders for changes in cost or changes in the scope of work, or both, if all parties agree, and shall order, at the Applicant’s sole expense, and review a pre-construction analysis for all new construction or a physical needs assessment for Rehabilitation or Substantial Rehabilitation and review the Development’s costs.

(13) In addition to operating expenses, the Credit Underwriter must include an estimate for replacement reserves and operating expense reserves deemed appropriate by the Credit Underwriter when calculating the final net operating income available to service the debt. A minimum amount of $250 per unit must be used for all Developments. However, the amount may be increased based on a physical needs assessment. An Applicant may choose to fund a portion of the replacement reserves at closing. The amount cannot exceed 50 percent of the required replacement reserves for two (2) years and must be placed in escrow at closing.

(14) For SAIL, HOME, and HC Applications, the underwriters may request additional information, but at a minimum for SAIL and HOME, the following will be required during the underwriting process:

(a) For credit enhancers, audited financial statements for their most recent fiscal year ended, if published; otherwise the previous year’s audited statements will be provided until the current statements are published or credit underwriting is complete. The audited statements may be waived if the credit enhancer is rated at least “A-” by Moody’s, Standard and Poor’s or Fitch.

(b) For the Applicant, general partner(s), and guarantors, audited financial statements or financial statements compiled or reviewed by a licensed Certified Public Accountant for the most recent fiscal year ended, credit check, banking and trade references, and deposit verifications. If audited financial statements or financial statements compiled or reviewed by a licensed Certified Public Accountant are not available, unaudited financial statements prepared within the last 90 days and reviewed by the Credit Underwriter in accordance with Part III, Sections 604 through 607, of the Fannie Mae Multifamily Delegated Underwriting and Servicing (DUS) Guide, effective November 6, 2003, which is incorporated by reference and available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related References Information and Links, and the two most recent years’ tax returns. If the entities are newly formed (less than 18 months in existence as of the date that credit underwriting information is requested), a copy of any and all tax returns with related supporting notes and schedules.

(c) For the General Contractor, audited financial statements or financial statements compiled or reviewed by a licensed Certified Public Accountant for the most recent fiscal year ended, credit check, banking and trade references, and deposit verifications. The audited or compiled statements may be waived if a payment and performance bond equal to 100 percent of the total construction cost whose terms do not adversely affect the Corporation’s interest, and is issued in the name of the General Contractor by a company rated at least “A-” by AMBest & Co.

(15) The Credit Underwriter shall consider the following when determining the need for construction completion guarantees:

(a) Liquidity of the guarantor.

(b) Developer and General Contractor’s history in successfully completing Developments of similar nature.

(c) Problems encountered previously with Developer or contractor.

(d) Exposure of Corporation funds compared to Total Development Cost.

At a minimum, the Credit Underwriter shall require a personal guarantee for completion of construction from the principal individual or the corporate general partner of the borrowing entity. In addition, a letter of credit or payment and performance bond whose terms do not adversely affect the Corporation’s interest will be required if the Credit Underwriter determines after evaluation of paragraphs (a)-(d) in this subsection that additional surety is needed. However, a completion guarantee will not be required if SAIL funds are not drawn until evidence of lien free completion is provided.

(16) For all Developments, the Developer fee and General Contractor’s fee shall be limited to:

(a) The Developer fee shall be limited to 16 percent of Development Cost, with the following exceptions:

1. A Developer fee of 18 percent of Development Cost shall be allowed if the proposed Development is qualified for Housing Credits pursuant to Rule 67-48.027, F.A.C., pertaining to Tax-Exempt Bond-Financed Developments; and

2. A Developer fee of 21 percent of Development Cost shall be allowed if the proposed Development is qualified for Competitive Housing Credits with a demographic commitment of Homeless; however, an amount equal to the difference between the Developer fee and an amount equal to 16 percent of Development Cost must be placed in an operating subsidy reserve account to be held by the Corporation or its servicer. Any disbursements from said operating subsidy reserve account shall be reviewed and approved by the Corporation or its servicer. Upon the expiration of the Compliance Period, any remaining balance may be drawn to pay down any outstanding SAIL or HOME debt on the proposed Development or such other Corporation loan debt on the proposed Development. If there is no Corporation loan debt on the proposed Development at the end of the Compliance Period, then any remaining balance in said operating subsidy reserve account shall be placed in a replacement reserve account for the  proposed Development. In no event shall the remaining balance in said operating subsidy reserve account be paid to the Developer.

(b) The General Contractor’s fee shall be limited to a maximum of 14 percent of the actual construction cost.

(17) The General Contractor must meet the following conditions:

(a) Employ a Development superintendent and charge the costs of such employment to the general requirements line item of the General Contractor’s budget;

(b) Charge the costs of the Development construction trailer, if needed, and other overhead to the general requirements line item of the General Contractor’s budget;

(c) Secure building permits, issued in the name of the General Contractor;

(d) Secure a payment and performance bond whose terms do not adversely affect the Corporation’s interest (or approved alternate security for General Contractor’s performance, such as a letter of credit), issued in the name of the General Contractor, from a company rated at least “A-” by AMBest & Co.;

(e) Ensure that none of the General Contractor duties to manage and control the construction of the Development are subcontracted; and

(f) Ensure that not more than 20 percent of the construction cost is subcontracted to any one entity unless otherwise approved by the Board for a specific Development.

(18) For SAIL and HOME Applications, the Credit Underwriter shall require an operating deficit guarantee, to be released upon achievement of an average 1.15 1.10 debt service coverage for a minimum of 12 six (6) consecutive months for the combined permanent first mortgage and SAIL or HOME loan. An operating deficit guarantee, to be released upon achievement of 1.00 debt service coverage for a minimum of six (6) consecutive months for the combined permanent first mortgage and SAIL or HOME loan will be required for Developments receiving first mortgage funding from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development (RD) if RD is providing rental assistance and has acknowledged that rents will be set at an amount sufficient to pay all operating expenses, replacement reserve requirements and debt service on the SAIL or HOME loan and all superior mortgages.

(19) Contingency reserves which total no more than 5 percent of hard and soft costs for new construction and no more than 15 percent of hard and soft costs for Rehabilitation or Substantial Rehabilitation may be included within the Total Development Cost for Application and underwriting purposes. Contingency reserves shall not be paid from SAIL or HOME funds.

(20) The Credit Underwriter will review and determine if the number of loans and construction commitments of the Applicant and its Principals will impede its ability to proceed with the successful development of each proposed Corporation-funded Development.

(21) All Applicants must provide the items required by the Credit Underwriter within 10 months of the Applicant’s acceptance to enter credit underwriting. For HC Developments, all preliminary items required for the Credit Underwriter’s preliminary HC allocation recommendation must be provided to the Credit Underwriter within 21 Calendar Days of the date of the invitation to enter credit underwriting. Unless an extension is approved by the Corporation in writing, failure to submit the required credit underwriting information by the specified deadline(s) shall result in withdrawal of the preliminary commitment or, if applicable, the HC invitation to enter credit underwriting, or both, as applicable, and the funds will be distributed as outlined in the Universal Application instructions. The Board shall consider the facts and circumstances of each Applicant’s request and any credit underwriting report, if available, prior to determining whether to grant the requested extension.

(22) If the Credit Underwriter requires additional clarifying materials in the course of the underwriting process, the Credit Underwriter shall request same from the Applicant and shall specify deadlines for the submission of same. Failure to submit required information by the specified deadline, unless a written extension of time has been approved by the Corporation, shall result in withdrawal of the preliminary commitment or the HC invitation to enter credit underwriting, or both, as applicable, and the funds will be distributed as outlined in the Universal Application instructions. The Board shall consider the facts and circumstances of each Applicant’s request and any credit underwriting report, if available, prior to determining whether to grant the requested extension rejection of the Application. If the Application is rejected, the Corporation will select additional Application(s) as outlined in the Universal Application instructions.

(23) The Credit Underwriter shall complete its analysis and submit a written draft report and recommendation to the Corporation. Upon receipt, the Corporation shall provide to the Applicant the section of the written draft report consisting of supporting information and schedules. The Applicant shall review and provide written comments to the Corporation and Credit Underwriter within 48 hours of receipt. After the 48 hour period, the Corporation shall provide to the Credit Underwriter comments on the draft report and, as applicable, on the Applicant’s comments. Then, the Credit Underwriter shall review and incorporate, if deemed appropriate, the Corporation’s and Applicant’s comments and release the revised report to the Corporation and the Applicant. Any additional comments from the Applicant shall be received by the Corporation and the Credit Underwriter within 72 hours of  receipt of the revised report. Then, the Credit Underwriter will provide a final report, which will address comments made by the Applicant, to the Corporation.

(24) For SAIL and HOME Applications and HC Applications eligible for a supplemental loan, the Credit Underwriter’s loan recommendations will be sent to the Board for approval.

(25) After approval of the Credit Underwriter’s recommendation for funding by the Board, the Corporation shall issue a firm loan commitment.

(26) For SAIL and HOME Applications and HC Applications eligible for a supplemental loan, these loans and other mortgage loans related to the construction of the Development must close within 60 Calendar Days of the date of the firm loan commitment(s) unless an extension is approved by the Board. All extension requests must be submitted in writing to the program administrator and contain the specific reasons for requesting an extension and shall detail the time frame to close the loan. The Board shall consider the facts and circumstances of each Applicant’s request and any credit underwriting report, if available, prior to determining whether to grant the requested extension. For SAIL and HOME Applications, Tthe Corporation shall charge an extension fee of one-half of one percent of the SAIL or HOME loan amount if the Board approves the request to extend the SAIL or HOME commitment beyond the period outlined in this rule chapter.

(27) At least five (5) Calendar Days prior to any loan closing:

(a) The Applicant must provide evidence of all necessary consents or required signatures from first mortgagees or subordinate mortgagees to the Corporation and its counsel, and

(b) The Credit Underwriter must have received all items necessary to release its letter confirming that all closing contingencies have been met, including the finalized sources and uses of funds and Draw schedule.

(28) For Housing Credit Applications, the Credit Underwriter shall use the following procedures during the credit underwriting evaluation:

(a) The Credit Underwriter, in determining the amount of Housing Credits a Development is eligible for when using the qualified basis calculation, shall use a Housing Credit percentage of:

1. Thirty (30) basis points over the percentage as of the date of invitation to credit underwriting up to 9 percent for 9 percent credits for new construction and Rehabilitation Developments;

2. Fifteen (15) basis points over the percentage as of the date of invitation to credit underwriting up to 4 percent for 4 percent credits for acquisition and federally subsidized Developments. A percentage of 15 basis points over the percentage as of the date of invitation to final credit underwriting up to 4 percent will be used for Developments receiving tax-exempt bonds.

(b) Costs such as syndication fees and brokerage fees cannot be included in eligible basis. All consulting fees must be paid out of the Developer fee. Consulting fees cannot cause the Developer fee to exceed the maximum allowable fee as set forth in subsection 67-48.0072(16), F.A.C.

(c) All contracts for hard or soft Development Costs must be itemized for each cost component.

(d) The allocation amount for acquisition Housing Credits shall be limited to the lesser of the sale price or the appraised value of the building(s).

(e) If the Credit Underwriter is to recommend a Competitive Housing Credit allocation, the recommendation will be the lesser of (i) the qualified basis calculation result, (ii) the gap calculation result, or (iii) the Applicant’s request amount. In the event the Credit Underwriter is making a recommendation for non-competitive Housing Credits, the recommendation will be the lesser of the qualified basis calculation result or the gap calculation result.

(29) If the Credit Underwriter recommends that Housing Credits be allocated to the Development, the Corporation shall determine the credit amount, if any, necessary to make the Development financially feasible and viable throughout the Housing Credit Extended Use Period and shall issue a Preliminary Allocation certificate or a Preliminary Determination of Housing Credits in the case of Tax-Exempt Bond-Financed Developments. If the Credit Underwriter recommends that no credits be allocated to the Development and the Executive Director accepts the recommendation, the Applicant shall be notified that no Housing Credits will be allocated to the Development. No Preliminary Allocation certificate shall be issued on an RD (formerly FmHA) Development which competed for Housing Credits within the RD set-aside and has not received an Obligation of Funding (Form RD 3560-51, Rev. 02-05), an Assumption Agreement (Form RD 3560-21, Rev. 02-05), a Reamortization Agreement (Form RD 3560-16, Rev. 02-05), or a combination of these RD forms by November October 1st of the year the Applicant is invited into credit underwriting. The RD Forms 3560-51, 3560-21 and 3560-16 are adopted and incorporated herein by reference and available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related References Information and Links. All contingencies required in the Preliminary Allocation shall be met or satisfied by the Applicant within 45 Calendar Days from the date of issuance or as otherwise indicated on the certificate unless an extension of this deadline is requested in writing by the Applicant and is granted by the Corporation in writing for good cause.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507 FS. Law Implemented 420.5087, 420.5089, 420.5099 FS. History–New 2-7-05, Amended 1-29-06, 4-1-07, 3-30-08,_________.

 

67-48.0075 Miscellaneous Criteria.

(1) In addition to the alteration, improvement or modification of an existing structure, Rehabilitation with respect to the HOME Program and Rehabilitation or Preservation with respect to the Housing Credit Program also includes:

(a) For HOME Developments, moving an existing structure to a foundation constructed with HOME funds. Rehabilitation may include adding rooms outside the existing walls of a structure, but adding a housing unit is considered new construction.

(b) For Housing Credit Developments, what is stated in Section 42(e) of the IRC, with the exception of Section 42(e)(3)(A)(ii)(II), which, for the purposes of Competitive HC, is changed to read: “II. The requirement of this subclause is met if the qualified basis attributable to such amount, when divided by the number of low-income units, in the building, is $20,000 or more,” and, for the purposes of all other HC, is changed to read: “II. The requirement of this subclause is met if the qualified basis attributable to such amount, when divided by the number of low-income units, in the building, is $10,000 or more.”

(2) For purposes of this rule chapter, in accordance with Section 42 of the IRC, a for-profit entity wholly owned by one or more qualified non-profit organizations will constitute a Non-Profit entity. The purpose of the Non-Profit must be, in part, to foster low-income housing and such purpose must be reflected in the Articles of Incorporation of the Non-Profit entity. To evidence its qualification as a Non-Profit entity, the Applicant must provide within its Application a written opinion from legal counsel. The total cost of securing this written legal opinion will be borne entirely by the Applicant. A Non-Profit entity shall own an interest in the Development, either directly or indirectly; shall not be affiliated with or controlled by a for-profit Corporation; and shall materially participate in the development and operation of the Development throughout the total affordability period as stated in the Land Use Restriction Agreement and the Extended Use Agreement. If an Applicant applies to the Corporation as a Non-Profit entity but does not qualify as such, the Application will fail threshold.

(3) Total Development Cost includes the following:

(a) The cost of acquiring real property and any buildings thereon, including payment for options, deposits, or contracts to purchase properties.

(b) The cost of site preparation, demolition, and development.

(c) Any expenses relating to the issuance of tax-exempt bonds or taxable bonds, if any, related to the particular Development.

(d) Fees in connection with the planning, execution, and financing of the Development, such as those of architects, engineers, attorneys, accountants, Developer fee, and the Corporation.

(e) The cost of studies, surveys, plans, permits, insurance, interest, financing, tax and assessment costs, and other operating and carrying costs during construction, rehabilitation, or reconstruction of the Development.

(f) The cost of the construction, rehabilitation, and equipping of the Development.

(g) The cost of land improvements, such as landscaping and offsite improvements related to the Development, whether such costs are paid in cash, property, or services. However, offsite improvements are not eligible to be paid with HOME funds.

(h) Expenses in connection with initial occupancy of the Development.

(i) Allowances for contingency reserves and reserves for any anticipated operating deficits during the first two (2) years after completion of the Development.

(j) The cost of such other items, including relocation costs, indemnity and surety bonds, premiums on insurance, and fees and expenses of trustees, depositories, and paying agents for the Corporation’s bonds, for the construction or Rehabilitation/Substantial Rehabilitation of the Development.

(4) In determining the income standards of Eligible Persons for its various programs, the Corporation shall take into account the following factors:

(a) Requirements mandated by federal law.

(b) Variations in circumstances in the different areas of the state.

(c) Whether the determination is for rental housing.

(d) The need for family size adjustments to accomplish the purposes set forth in this rule chapter.

With respect to the HC Program, an Eligible Person shall mean a Family having a combined income which meets the income eligibility requirements of the HC Program and Section 42 of the IRC.

(5) Financial Beneficiary and Affiliate, as defined in Rule 67-48.002, F.A.C., do does not include third party lenders, third party management agents or companies, third party service providers, Housing Credit Syndicators, credit enhancers who are regulated by a state or federal agency, and who do not share in the profits of the Development or contractors whose total fees are within the limit described in Rule 67-48.0072, F.A.C., provided such parties do not share in the profits of the Development.

(6) For computing any period of time allowed by this rule chapter, the day of the event from which the designated period of time begins to run shall not be included. The last day of the period so computed shall be included unless it is a Saturday,  Sunday or legal holiday, in which event the period shall run until the end of the next day which is neither a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday.

(7) Supplemental loans will be subject to the credit underwriting provisions outlined in Rule 67-48.0072, F.A.C., and the loan provisions outlined below:

(a) The terms and conditions of the supplemental loan shall be as follows:

1. The supplemental loan shall be (i) based on each ELI Set-Aside unit above the minimum ELI Set-Aside threshold requirement in the Universal Application instructions; and (ii) non-amortizing at 0 percent simple interest per annum over the life of the loan, with the principal forgivable provided the units for which the supplemental loan amount is awarded are targeted to ELI Households for at least 15 years.

2. Any sale, conveyance, assignment, or other transfer of interest or the grant of a security interest in all or any part of the title to the Development other than a superior mortgage shall be subject to the Corporation’s prior written approval. The Board shall consider the facts and circumstances of each Applicant’s request and any credit underwriting report, if available, prior to determining whether to grant such request.

3. The supplemental loan shall be serviced either directly by the Corporation or by the servicer on behalf of the Corporation.

4. The Corporation shall monitor compliance of all terms and conditions of the supplemental loan and shall require that certain terms and conditions be embodied in the Land Use Restriction Agreement and recorded in the public records of the county wherein the Development is located. Violation of any material term or condition of the documents evidencing or securing the supplemental loan shall constitute a default during the term of the supplemental loan. The Corporation shall take appropriate legal action to effect compliance if a violation of any material term or condition relative to the set-aside of units for ELI Households is discovered during the course of compliance monitoring or by any other means.

5. The Corporation shall require adequate insurance to be maintained on the Development as determined by the first mortgage lender or the Corporation’s servicer, but which shall, in any case, include fire, hazard and other insurance sufficient to meet the standards established in Part V, Section 106 of the Fannie Mae DUS Guide, effective August 10, 2006, which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference and available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related Information and Links.

6. All supplemental loans shall be in conformance with applicable federal and state statutes, including the Fair Housing Act as implemented by 24 CFR Part 100, which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference, and Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as implemented by 28 CFR Part 35, which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference. These provisions are available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related Information and Links. The Corporation shall allow units dedicated to occupancy by the Elderly in a Development designed for occupancy by elderly households pursuant to authorization by HUD under the Fair Housing Amendments of 1988 as implemented by 24 CFR Part 100.

7. Rent controls for the ELI Set-Aside units for which the supplemental loan is issued shall be restricted at the level applicable for federal Housing Credits.

8. The documents creating, evidencing or securing each supplemental loan must provide that any violation of the terms and conditions described in Rule Chapter 67-48, F.A.C., constitutes a default under the supplemental loan documents allowing the Corporation to accelerate its loan and to seek foreclosure as well as any other remedies legally available to it.

(b) The supplemental loan shall be assumable upon sale or transfer of the Development if the following conditions are met:

1. The proposed transferee meets all specific Applicant identity criteria which were required as conditions of the original loan;

2. The proposed transferee agrees to maintain all ELI Set-Asides and other requirements of the supplemental loan for the period originally specified or longer; and

3. The proposed transferee and release of transferor receives a favorable recommendation from the Credit Underwriter and approval by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

All assumption requests must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Assets and contain the specific details of the transfer and assumption. In addition to any related professional fees, the Corporation shall charge a non-refundable assumption fee as outlined in the Universal Application instructions.

(c) Supplemental loan construction disbursements and permanent loan servicing shall be based on the following:

1. Supplemental loan proceeds shall be disbursed during the construction phase in an amount per Draw which does not exceed the ratio of the supplemental loan to the Total Development Cost, unless approved by the Credit Underwriter.

2. Ten (10) business days prior to each Draw, the Applicant shall supply the Corporation’s servicer, as agent for the Corporation, with a written request executed by the Applicant for a Draw. The request shall set forth the amount to be paid and shall be accompanied by documentation specified by the Corporation’s servicer including claims for labor and materials to date of the last inspection.

3. The Corporation and its servicer shall review the request for a Draw, and the servicer shall provide the Corporation with approval of the request or an alternative recommendation, after the title insurer provides an endorsement to the policy of title insurance updating the policy to the date of the current Draw and increasing the insurance  coverage to an amount equal to the sum of all prior Draws and the current Draw, without additional exceptions, except those specifically approved in writing by the Corporation.

4. The Corporation shall disburse construction Draws through Automated Clearing House (ACH). The Applicant may request disbursement of construction Draws via a wire transfer. The Applicant will be charged a fee of $10 for each wire transfer requested. This charge will be netted against the Draw amount.

5. The Corporation shall elect to withhold any Draw or portion of any Draw, notwithstanding any documentation submitted by the Applicant in connection with the request for a Draw, if

a. The Corporation or the Corporation’s servicer determines at any time that the actual cost budget or progress of construction differs from that as shown on the loan documents; or

b. The percentage of progress of construction of the improvements differs from that shown on the request for a Draw.

6. The servicer may request submission of revised construction budgets.

7. Based on the Applicant’s progress of construction, if the Corporation determines that further analysis by the Credit Underwriter is required prior to the release of the final Draw, the Applicant shall pay to the Credit Underwriter a fee based on an hourly rate determined pursuant to the contract between the Corporation and the Credit Underwriter.

8. Retainage in the amount of 10 percent per Draw shall be held by the servicer during construction until the Development is 50 percent complete. At 50 percent completion, no additional retainage shall be held from the remaining Draws. Release of funds held by the Corporation’s servicer as retainage shall occur pursuant to the supplemental loan agreement.

(7)(8) For purposes of this rule chapter, rent controls for ELI Households shall consist of the Gross Rent Floor, as defined in Section 42(g)(2)(A) of the IRC and in accordance with IRS Revenue Procedure 94-57, minus the lesser of (i) the utility allowance in effect by the applicable local Public Housing Authority (PHA) at the date the last building in the Development is placed-in-service or (ii) the current utility allowance applicable to the building (as outlined in 26 CFR 1.42-10, this may include either the local utility company estimate or the applicable PHA utility allowance). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the rent charged to any ELI Household may not exceed the maximum rent level permitted under Section 42(g)(2)(A) IRC for the applicable unit occupied by such household. IRS Revenue Procedure 94-57 and 26 CFR 1.42-10 are incorporated by reference and are available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related References Information and Links.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507 FS. Law Implemented 420.5087, 420.5089, 420.5099 FS. History–New 2-7-05, Amended 1-29-06, 4-1-07, 3-30-08,________.

 

67-48.009 SAIL General Program Procedures and Restrictions.

(1) Loans shall be in an amount not to exceed 25 percent of the Total Development Cost except as described in subsections (2) and (3) below, or the minimum amount required to make the Development economically feasible, whichever is less, as determined by the Credit Underwriter.

(2) The following types of Sponsors are eligible to apply for loans in excess of 25 percent of Total Development Cost pursuant to Section 420.507(22), F.S.:

(a) Non-Profit and public Sponsors which are able to secure grants, donations of land, or contributions from other sources collectively totaling at least 10 percent of Total Development Cost; and

(b) Sponsors that set aside at least 80 percent of their total units for residents qualifying as Farmworkers as defined in Section 420.503(18), F.S., Commercial Fishing Workers as defined in Section 420.503(5), F.S., or the Homeless as defined in Section 420.621(4), F.S., over the life of the loan.

(3) The following types of Sponsors are eligible to apply for loans that do not exceed 35 percent of Total Development Cost:

(a) Applicants requesting both SAIL and Competitive HC that commit to set aside more than 10 percent of the total units for ELI Households; and

(b) Applicants requesting SAIL without Competitive HC that commit to set aside at least 5 percent of the total units for ELI Households.

(4) At a minimum, the percentage of set-aside units committed to in the Application must be held for Very Low-Income persons or households for a period of time equal to the greater of the following:

(a) The term of the SAIL loan; or

(b) 12 years; or

(c) Such longer term agreed to by the Applicant in the Application.

(5) Unless the Board approves a competitive allocation process outside the Universal Cycle, an Applicant is not eligible to apply for SAIL Program funding if any of the following pertain to the proposed Development:

(a) Construction or construction-permanent financing of the costs associated with construction or Substantial Rehabilitation of the Development, including tax-exempt bonds or conventional financing with conversion clauses, has closed as of January 1, 2007 2006.

(b) The proposed Development Applicant has received an allocation of Housing Credits or a Competitive Housing Credit commitment for the proposed Development, unless (i) the Applicant is also applying for Corporation-issued tax exempt  bonds in the current Application cycle or provides evidence of a Local Government-issued tax exempt bond commitment as stated in the Universal Application Instructions, or (ii) the Applicant has provided written notice has been provided to the Corporation prior to the Application Deadline for the current cycle that it is withdrawing its acceptance of such allocation or commitment and returning the its HC funding from the prior cycle.

(c) The Applicant has already accepted Aa preliminary commitment of funding for the proposed Development through the SAIL Program has already been accepted, unless the Applicant has provided written notice has been provided to the Corporation prior to the Application Deadline for the current cycle that it is withdrawing such its acceptance and returning the its prior SAIL funding.

(d) The Applicant has already accepted Aa preliminary commitment of funding for the proposed Development through the 2005 or 2006 RRLP Program has already been accepted, unless the Applicant has provided written notice has been provided to the Corporation prior to the Application Deadline for the current cycle that it is withdrawing such its acceptance and returning the its RRLP funding from such prior cycle.

(e) The proposed Development site or any part thereof is subject to any Land Use Restriction Agreement or Extended Use Agreement, or both, in conjunction with any Corporation affordable housing financing intended to foster the development or maintenance of affordable housing, with the following two exceptions. Those exceptions being (i) a LURA recorded in conjunction with the Predevelopment Loan Program, and (ii) a LURA recorded in conjunction with a Multifamily Mortgage Revenue Bond Program loan closed after January 1, 2007 2006, and (iii) a LURA or EUA, or both, for an existing building or buildings, originally constructed at least 25 years prior to the Application Deadline for the current Funding Cycle, where, in the current Application, the Applicant has selected and qualified for the Homeless demographic commitment with a Development category of Rehabilitation/Substantial Rehabilitation or Acquisition and Rehabilitation/Substantial Rehabilitation.

(6) The SAIL Minimum Set-Aside Requirement is:

(a) 20 percent of the SAIL Development’s units set-aside for residents with annual household incomes at or below 50 percent of the area, metropolitan statistical area (“MSA”) or state or county median income, whichever is higher, adjusted for family size, or

(b) 40 percent of the SAIL Development’s units set-aside for residents with annual household incomes at or below 60 percent of the area, MSA or state or county median income, whichever is higher, adjusted for family size. Sponsors of SAIL-funded Developments shall have the option of selecting this minimum set-aside only if the SAIL Development is scheduled to be assisted with Housing Credits, in addition to the SAIL loan, or

(c) 100 percent of the SAIL Development’s units set aside for residents with annual household incomes below 120 percent of the state or local median income, whichever is higher, adjusted for family size. Sponsors of SAIL-funded Developments shall have the option of selecting this minimum set aside only if the SAIL Development is located in the Florida Keys Area. This paragraph is derived from 420.5087(2)(d), F.S., and is scheduled to expire July 1, 2008.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507 FS. Law Implemented 420.5087 FS. History–New 7-22-96, Amended 12-23-96, 7-10-97, 1-6-98, Formerly 9I-48.009, Amended 11-9-98, 2-24-00, 2-22-01, 3-17-02, 4-6-03, 3-21-04, 2-7-05, 1-29-06, 4-1-07, 3-30-08,_______.

 

67-48.0095 Additional SAIL Application Ranking and Selection Procedures.

(1) During the first six (6) months following the publication date of the first Notice of Funding Availability published each year within the state of Florida, SAIL funds shall be allocated in accordance with the ranking and selection process set forth in the Universal Application Package and based upon the requirements specified in Section 420.5087(3), F.S., which specifies the required funding within the four demographic categories of:

(a) Family;

(b) Elderly;

(c) Homeless; and

(d) Commercial Fishing Workers and Farmworkers.

(2) 10 percent of the funds reserved for Applicants in the Elderly category shall be reserved to provide loans to Sponsors of housing for the Elderly for the purpose of making life-safety or security-related repairs or improvements to such housing which are required by federal, state or local regulation, as further specified in Section 420.5087, F.S.

(3) Program funds designated for Commercial Fishing Workers and Farmworkers will be allocated through a request for proposal (RFP), the Universal Application Package, or both.

(4) The Corporation shall assign, in order of ranking, tentative loan amounts to the Applications in each demographic and geographic category, up to the total amount available. However, the Corporation shall make adjustments to ensure that minimum funding distribution levels by geographic category are met, as required by Section 420.5087(1), F.S., and further described in the SAIL Notice of Funding Availability.

(5) In the event that the 10 percent of program funds required to be allocated to counties with a population of 100,000 or less remains unallocated at the conclusion of a successive three-year cycle, the unallocated funds shall be equitably distributed pursuant to the instructions included in the Universal Application Package.

(6) Selection for SAIL Program participation is contingent upon fund availability at the conclusion of the appeals process as set forth in Rule 67-48.005, F.A.C.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507 FS. Law Implemented 420.5087 FS. History–New 12-23-96, Amended 1-6-98, Formerly 9I-48.0095, Amended 11-9-98, 2-24-00, 2-22-01, 3-17-02, 4-6-03, 3-21-04, 2-7-05, 1-29-06, 4-1-07, Repromulgated 3-30-08,________.

 

67-48.010 Terms and Conditions of SAIL Loans.

(1) The proceeds of all SAIL loans shall be used for new construction or Substantial Rehabilitation of affordable, safe and sanitary multifamily rental housing units.

(2) The SAIL loan may be in a first, second, or other subordinated lien position. For purposes of this rule, mortgages securing a letter of credit as credit enhancement for the bonds financing the first mortgage shall be considered a contingent liability and part of the first mortgage lien, provided that the Applicant’s counsel furnishes an opinion regarding the contingent nature of such mortgage satisfactory to the Corporation and its counsel.

(3) The loans shall be non-amortizing and shall have interest rates as follows:

(a) 0 percent simple interest per annum on loans to Developments that set aside at least 80 percent of their total units for residents qualifying as Farmworkers, Commercial Fishing Workers or Homeless, over the life of the loan;

(b) 0 percent simple interest per annum on loans based on the pro rata share of units set aside for Homeless residents if the total of such units is less than 80 percent of the units and 1 percent simple interest per annum on the remaining units;

(c) 1 percent simple interest per annum on loans to Developments other than those identified in paragraphs (a) and (b) above;

(4) Except as provided in Section 420.5087(5), F.S., the amount of any superior mortgages combined with the SAIL mortgage shall be less than the appraised value of the Development. Any debt service reserve requirement associated with a superior mortgage shall be excluded from the amount of the superior mortgage for purposes of this calculation.

(5) Payment on the loans shall be based upon the Development Cash Flow, as determined pursuant to the Financial SAIL Cash Flow Reporting Form SR-1, or shall be due annually as determined by the Corporation’s Board of Directors. Such determination by the Board shall be based upon a written recommendation by the Credit Underwriter which has considered the economic and financial viability of the Development as well as the protection of the Corporation’s repayment of principal and interest. Any distribution or payment to the Principal(s) of the Applicant or Developer or any Affiliate of the Principal of the Applicant or to the Developer or any Affiliate of the Applicant or Developer, whether paid directly or indirectly, which was not expressly disclosed in determining debt service coverage in the Board approved final credit underwriting report, will be added back to the amount of cash available for the SAIL loan interest payment, as calculated in the Financial SAIL Cash Flow Reporting Form SR-1, for the purpose of determining interest due. Interest may be deferred as set forth in subsection 67-48.010(8), F.A.C., without constituting a default on the loan.

(6) The loans described in subsection 67-48.010(3), F.A.C., above shall be repaid from all Development Cash Flow, and if the SAIL loan is not a first mortgage loan, each year, subject to the provisions of subsection (8) below, Development Cash Flow shall be applied to pay the following items in order of priority:

(a) All superior mortgage fees and debt service;

(b) Development Expenses on the SAIL loan, including up to 20 percent of total Developer fees per year;

(c) Interest payment on SAIL loan balance equal to 1 percent as stated in paragraphs (3)(b) and (c) above over the life of the SAIL loan;

(d) Interest payments on the SAIL loan deferred from previous years;

(e) Mandatory payment on subordinate mortgages.

After the full SAIL loan interest has been paid, the Applicant shall retain all remaining monies, unless the Applicant chooses to prepay a portion of the loan balance.

(7) If the SAIL loan is secured by a first mortgage lien, each year, subject to the provisions of subsection (8) below, Development Cash Flow shall be applied to pay the following items in order of priority:

(a) First mortgage fees and interest payment on the SAIL loan balance equal to the percentages stated in paragraph (3) above over the life of the SAIL loan;

(b) Development Expenses on the SAIL loan including up to 20 percent of total Developer fees per year;

(c) Interest payments on the SAIL loan deferred from previous years;

(d) Mandatory payment on subordinate mortgages.

After the full SAIL loan interest has been paid, the Applicant shall retain all remaining monies, unless the Applicant chooses to prepay a portion of the loan balance.

(8) The determination of Development Cash Flow, determination of payment priorities, and payment of interest on SAIL loans shall occur annually. Any payments of accrued and unpaid interest due annually on SAIL loans shall be deferred to the extent that Development Cash Flow is insufficient to make said payments pursuant to the payment priority schedule established in this rule chapter. If Development Cash Flow is under-reported and such report causes a deferral of SAIL interest, such under-reporting shall constitute an event of default on the SAIL loan. A penalty of 5 percent of any required payment shall be assessed.

(a) By May 31 of each year of the SAIL loan term, the Applicant shall provide the Corporation with audited financial statements and a certification detailing the information needed to determine the annual payment to be made. However, this certification requirement will be waived until May 31  following the calendar year within which the first unit is occupied. The certification shall require submission of audited financial statements and the SAIL annual reporting form, Financial Cash Flow Reporting Form SR-1, Rev. 9/05, which is incorporated by reference in Rule Chapter 67-53, F.A.C. Form SR-1 can be obtained from the Credit Underwriter acting as the assigned servicer or on the Corporation’s Website under the 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related Information and Links. The audited financial statements are to be prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and audited in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America accounting principles for the 12 months ended December 31 and shall include:

1. Comparative Balance Sheet with prior year and current year balances;

2. Statement of revenue and expenses;

3. Statement of changes in fund balances or equity;

4. Statement of cash flows; and

5. Notes.

The financial statements referenced above should also be accompanied by a certification of the Applicant as to the accuracy of such financial statements. A late fee of $500 will be assessed by the Corporation for failure to submit the required audited financial statements and certification by May 31 of each year of the SAIL loan term. If the Applicant has not submitted the required audited financial statements, the Corporation servicer shall deem the Development Cash Flow sufficient and issue a billing for interest due on the SAIL loan for the immediately preceding calendar year by July 31. After receipt of the audited financial statements, the Corporation servicer shall issue revised billing, if necessary. Failure to submit the required audited financial statements and certification by May 31 of each year of the SAIL loan term shall constitute an event of default on the SAIL loan. The Applicant shall furnish to the Corporation or its servicer, unaudited statements, certified by the Applicant’s principal financial or accounting officer, covering such financial matters as the Corporation or its servicer may reasonably request, including without limitation, monthly statements with respect to the Development.

For SAIL loans applied for prior to February 22, 2001, the Corporation will extend the annual filing deadline for submission of the audited financial statements and certification detailing the information needed to determine the annual payment to be made, pursuant to subsection 67-48.010(8), F.A.C., to May 31 of each year of the SAIL loan term. The Corporation servicer shall issue a billing for interest due on the SAIL loan for the immediately preceding calendar year by July 31 of each calendar year of the SAIL loan. In addition, for SAIL loans applied for prior to December 23, 1996, so long as the executed loan agreements contain a provision to assess a late fee for failure to provide the audited financial statement and certification detailing the information needed to determine the annual payment due, such fee will be assessed by the Corporation as outlined above.

(b) The Corporation servicer shall issue a billing for interest due on the SAIL loan for the immediately preceding calendar year by July 31 of each calendar year of the SAIL loan.

(c) The Applicant shall remit the interest due to the Corporation servicer no later than August 31 of each year of the SAIL loan term. The first payment of SAIL interest will be due no later than August 31 following the calendar year within which the first unit is occupied. The first payment of interest shall include all interest for the period which begins accruing on the date of the first Draw and ends on December 31 of the calendar year during which the first unit is occupied.

(9) After maturity or acceleration, the Note shall bear interest at the Default Interest Rate from the due date until paid. Unless the Corporation has accelerated the SAIL loan, the Applicant shall pay the Corporation a late charge of 5 percent of any required payment that is not received by the Corporation within 15 days of the due date.

(10) The final billing for the purpose of payoff of the SAIL loan shall also include a billing for compliance fees to cover monitoring of SAIL Program requirements beyond the maturity date of the Note. Such fees shall be computed by determining the present value of the annual compliance monitoring fee and multiplying that by the number of years for which the Development will have a set-aside for Very Low-Income persons or households beyond the repayment date. The present value discount rate shall be 2 2.75 percent per annum. Such amount shall be reduced by the amount of any compliance monitoring fees for other programs collected by the Corporation for the Development provided:

(a) The compliance monitoring fee covers some or all of the period following the anticipated SAIL loan repayment date; and

(b) The Development has substantially equivalent set-asides for Very Low-Income persons or households mandated through another Corporation program for which the compliance monitoring fee was collected.

(11) The SAIL loans shall be serviced either directly by the Corporation or by the servicer on behalf of the Corporation.

(12) The Corporation shall monitor compliance of all terms and conditions of the SAIL loan and shall require that certain terms and conditions be embodied in the Land Use Restriction Agreement and recorded in the public records of the county wherein the Development is located. Violation of any material term or condition of the documents evidencing or securing the SAIL loan shall constitute a default during the term of the SAIL loan. The Corporation shall take appropriate legal action to effect compliance if a violation of any material  term or condition relative to the set-asides of units for Very Low-Income persons or households is discovered during the course of compliance monitoring or by any other means.

(13) The Corporation shall require adequate insurance to be maintained on the Development as determined by the first mortgage lender or the Corporation’s servicer, but which shall, in any case, include fire, hazard and other insurance sufficient to meet the standards established in Part V, Section 106 of the Fannie Mae DUS Guide, effective August 16, 2007 10, 2006, which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference and available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related References Information and Links.

(14) The SAIL loan term shall be for a period of not more than 15 years. However, if both a SAIL loan and federal Housing Credits are to be used to assist a Development, the Corporation may set the SAIL loan term for a period commensurate with the investment requirements associated with the Housing Credit syndication. The term of the loan may also exceed 15 years if the lien of the Corporation’s encumbrance is subordinate to the lien of another mortgagee, in which case the term may be made coterminous with the longest term of the superior loan.

(15) After accepting a preliminary commitment, the Applicant shall not refinance, increase the principal amount, or alter any terms or conditions of any mortgage superior or inferior to the SAIL mortgage without prior approval of the Corporation’s Board of Directors. However, an Applicant may reduce the interest rate on any superior or inferior mortgage loan without the Board’s permission, provided that no other terms of the loan are changed. The Corporation must be notified in writing of any such change.

Following construction completion, the Board shall deny requests to increase the amount of any superior mortgage, unless the criteria outlined in subsection 67-48.0105(5), F.A.C., are met, the original combined loan to value ratio for the superior mortgage and the SAIL mortgage is maintained or improved, and a proportionate amount of the increase in the superior mortgage is used to reduce the outstanding SAIL loan balance. To calculate the proportionate amount of the increase in the superior mortgage which must be paid toward the reduction of the SAIL loan balance, the following calculation shall be used: divide the amount of the original SAIL mortgage by the combined amount of the original SAIL mortgage and the original superior mortgage; then multiply the quotient by the amount of the increase in the superior mortgage from the current balance after deducting refinancing costs. For example, if the amount of the original SAIL mortgage is $2,000,000, the original superior mortgage is $4,000,000, with a current balance of $3,000,000, a proposed new superior mortgage of $5,000,000, and refinancing costs of $200,000, then the amount of the increase in the superior mortgage after deducting refinancing costs would be $1,800,000, and the proportionate amount of the increase in the superior mortgage which must be paid toward the reduction of the SAIL loan balance would be $594,000. This $594,000 would be applied first to accrued interest and then to principal.

(16) All SAIL loans shall be in conformance with applicable federal and state statutes, including the Fair Housing Act as implemented by 24 CFR Part 100, which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference, and Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as implemented by 28 CFR Part 35, which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference. These provisions are available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related References Information and Links. The Corporation shall allow units dedicated to occupancy by the Elderly in a Development designed for occupancy by elderly households pursuant to authorization by HUD under the Fair Housing Amendments of 1988 as implemented by 24 CFR Part 100.

(17) Rent controls shall not be allowed on any Development except (i) as required in conjunction with the issuance of tax-exempt bonds or federal Housing Credits and (ii) when the Sponsor has committed to set aside units for ELI Persons, in which case rents for such units shall be restricted at the level applicable for federal Housing Credits.

(18) The documents creating, evidencing or securing each SAIL loan must provide that any violation of the terms and conditions described in Rule Chapter 67-48, F.A.C., constitutes a default under the SAIL loan documents allowing the Corporation to accelerate its loan and to seek foreclosure as well as any other remedies legally available to it.

(19) A failure to pay any principal or interest due under the terms of this section shall constitute a default on the SAIL loan.

(20) If, after a four-month rent-up period commencing after issuance of the last certificate of occupancy on the units, an Applicant is unable to meet the agreed-upon demographic commitment for Elderly, Homeless, Farmworker or Commercial Fishing Worker, the Applicant may request to rent such units to Very Low-Income persons or households without demographic restriction.

(a) The written request must provide documentation of marketing efforts implemented over the past four-month period which demonstrate the inclusion of sources of potential residents, advertising to be used, other means of encouraging residents to rent at the Development, and priority to the original targeted group of residents. If the Corporation determines that prior marketing efforts were insufficient, a revised plan which is satisfactory to the Corporation must be submitted and implemented for a four-month period prior to reconsideration.

(b) The Board will require Applicants to provide additional amenities or resident programs suitable for the proposed resident population.

(c) The Board will require Applicants with 0 percent loans, as described in paragraphs 67-48.010(3)(a) and (b), F.A.C., to modify loan documents to conform to the terms and conditions of 1 percent loans, as described in paragraphs 67-48.010(3)(b) and (c), F.A.C., or to accelerate payments of SAIL loan principal or interest.

(21) The Applicant shall provide to the Corporation an annual budget of income and expenses for the Development, certified as accurate by an officer of the Development, no later than 30 days prior to the beginning of the Development’s fiscal year.

(22) Failure to provide the Corporation and its servicer with the SAIL available Cash Flow Statement detailing the information needed to determine the annual payment to be made pursuant to this rule chapter shall constitute a default on the SAIL loan.

(23) For SAIL loans applied for prior to March 17, 2002, at the borrower’s request, the Corporation will include up to 20 percent of total Developer fees per year as a Development Expense when calculating the interest due on the SAIL loan for the 2003 calendar year for the billing issued in 2004 pursuant to paragraph 67-48.010(8)(b), F.A.C., and for the billing for interest due each calendar year thereafter. Development Expense will not include Developer fees for determination of payment of interest on SAIL loans applied for prior to March 17, 2002 for the 2002 calendar year or any previous calendar year. For purposes in this paragraph, Development Expense has the same meaning as Project Expense and Eligible Project Expense as those terms are used in SAIL loans applied for prior to March 17, 2002.

(24) The Compliance Period for a SAIL Development shall be, at a minimum, a period of 12 years from the date the first residential unit is occupied. For SAIL Developments that contain occupied units at the time of closing, the Compliance Period shall begin not later than the termination of the last lease executed prior to closing of the SAIL loan.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507 FS. Law Implemented 420.5087 FS. History–New 7-22-96, Amended 12-23-96, 7-10-97, 1-6-98, Formerly 9I-48.010, Amended 11-9-98, 2-24-00, 2-22-01, 3-17-02, 4-6-03, 3-21-04, 2-7-05, 1-29-06, 4-1-07, 3-30-08,________.

 

67-48.0105 Sale, Transfer or Refinancing of a SAIL Development.

(1) Any sale, conveyance, assignment, or other transfer of interest or the grant of a security interest in all or any part of the title to the Development other than a superior mortgage shall be subject to the Corporation’s prior written approval. The Board shall consider the facts and circumstances of each Applicant’s request and any credit underwriting report, if available, prior to determining whether to grant such request.

(2) The SAIL loan shall be assumable upon sale or transfer of the Development if the following conditions are met:

(a) The proposed transferee meets all specific Applicant identity criteria which were required as conditions of the original loan;

(b) The proposed transferee agrees to maintain all set-asides and other requirements of the SAIL loan for the period originally specified or longer; and

(c) The proposed transferee and release of transferor receives a favorable recommendation from the Credit Underwriter and approval by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

All assumption requests must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Assets and contain the specific details of the transfer and assumption. In addition to any related professional fees, the Corporation shall charge a non-refundable assumption fee as outlined in the Universal Application instructions.

(3) If the SAIL loan is not assumed since the buyer does not meet the criteria for assumption of the SAIL loan, the SAIL loan (principal and any outstanding interest) shall be repaid from the proceeds of the sale in the following order of priority:

(a) First mortgage debt service, first mortgage fees;

(b) SAIL compliance and loan servicing fees;

(c) An amount equal to the present value of the compliance monitoring fee, as computed by the Corporation and its servicer, times the number of payment periods for which the Development will have a set-aside for Very Low-Income persons or households beyond the repayment date. The present value discount rate shall be 2 2.75 percent per annum. Such amount shall be reduced by the amount of any compliance monitoring fees collected by the Corporation for the Development, provided:

1. The compliance monitoring fee covers some or all of the period following the anticipated SAIL repayment date; and

2. The Development has substantially equivalent set-asides for Very Low-Income persons or households mandated through another program of the Corporation for which the compliance monitoring fee was collected.

(d) Unpaid principal balance of the SAIL loan;

(e) Any interest due on the SAIL loan;

(f) Expenses of the sale;

(g) If there will be insufficient funds available from the proposed sale of the Development to satisfy paragraphs (3)(a)-(f) above, the SAIL loan shall not be satisfied until the Corporation has received:

1. An appraisal prepared by an appraiser selected by the Corporation or the Credit Underwriter indicating that the purchase price for the Development is reasonable and consistent with existing market conditions;

2. A certification from the Applicant that the purchase price reported is the actual price paid for the Development and that no other consideration passed between the parties and that the Development Cash Flow reported to the Corporation during the term of the SAIL loan was true and accurate;

3. A certification from the Applicant that there are no Development funds available to repay the SAIL loan, including any interest due, and the Applicant knows of no source from which funds could or would be forthcoming to pay the SAIL loan; and

4. A certification from the Applicant detailing the information needed to determine the final billing for SAIL loan interest. Such certification shall require submission of financial statements and other documents that may be required by the Corporation and its servicer.

(4) The Corporation may renegotiate and extend the loan in order to extend or retain the availability of housing for the target population. Such renegotiations shall be based upon:

(a) Performance of the Applicant during the SAIL loan term;

(b) Availability of similar housing stock for the target population in the area;

(c) Documentation and certification by the Applicant that funds are not available to repay the Note upon maturity;

(d) A plan for the repayment of the loan at the new maturity date;

(e) Assurance that the security interest of the Corporation will not be jeopardized by the new term(s); and

(f) Industry standard terms which may include amortizing loans requiring regularly scheduled payments of principal and interest.

All loan renegotiation requests, including requests for extension, must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Assets and contain the specific details of the renegotiation. In addition to any related professional fees, the Corporation shall charge a non-refundable renegotiation fee as outlined in the Universal Application instructions.

(5) The Board shall approve requests for mortgage loan refinancing only if Development Cash Flow is improved, the Development’s economic viability is maintained, the security interest of the Corporation is not adversely affected, and the Credit Underwriter provides a positive recommendation.

(6) The Board shall deny requests for mortgage loan refinancing which require extension of the SAIL loan term or otherwise adversely affect the security interest of the Corporation, unless the criteria outlined in subsection 67-48.0105(5), F.A.C., are met, the Credit Underwriter recommends that the approval of such a request is crucial to the economic survival of the Development, or unless the Board determines that public policy will be better served by the extension as a result of the Applicant agreeing to further extend the Compliance Period or provide additional amenities or resident programs suitable for the resident population. Further, the Board shall limit any approved extension to a minimum term which makes the Development feasible and which does not exceed an industry standard term.

The Board shall deny requests to increase the amount of any superior mortgage, unless the criteria outlined in subsection 67-48.010(15), F.A.C., are met, the original combined loan to value ratio for the superior mortgage and the SAIL mortgage is maintained or improved, and a proportionate amount of the increase in the superior mortgage is used to reduce the outstanding SAIL loan balance.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507 FS. Law Implemented 420.5087 FS. History–New 12-23-96, Amended 1-6-98, Formerly 9I-48.0105, Amended 11-9-98, Repromulgated 2-24-00, Amended 2-22-01, 3-17-02, Repromulgated 4-6-03, Amended 3-21-04, Repromulgated 2-7-05, Amended 1-29-06, 4-1-07, Repromulgated 3-30-08,________.

 

67-48.013 SAIL Construction Disbursements and Permanent Loan Servicing.

(1) SAIL loan proceeds shall be disbursed during the construction phase in an amount per Draw which does not exceed the ratio of the SAIL loan to the Total Development Cost, unless approved by the Credit Underwriter.

(2) Ten (10) business days prior to each Draw, the Applicant shall supply the Corporation’s servicer, as agent for the Corporation, with a written request executed by the Applicant for a Draw. The request shall set forth the amount to be paid and shall be accompanied by documentation specified by the Corporation’s servicer including claims for labor and materials to date of the last inspection.

(3) The Corporation and its servicer shall review the request for a Draw, and the servicer shall provide the Corporation with approval of the request or an alternative recommendation, after the title insurer provides an endorsement to the policy of title insurance updating the policy to the date of the current Draw and increasing the insurance coverage to an amount equal to the sum of all prior Draws and the current Draw, without additional exceptions, except those specifically approved in writing by the Corporation.

(4) The Corporation shall disburse construction Draws through Automated Clearing House (ACH). The Applicant may request disbursement of construction Draws via a wire transfer. The Applicant will be charged a fee of $10 for each wire transfer requested. This charge will be netted against the Draw amount.

(5) The Corporation shall elect to withhold any Draw or portion of any Draw, notwithstanding any documentation submitted by the Applicant in connection with the request for a Draw, if

(a) The Corporation or the Corporation’s servicer determines at any time that the actual cost budget or progress of construction differs from that as shown on the loan documents; or

(b) The percentage of progress of construction of the improvements differs from that shown on the request for a Draw.

(6) The servicer may request submission of revised construction budgets.

(7) Based on the Applicant’s progress of construction, if the Corporation determines that further analysis by the Credit Underwriter is required prior to the release of the final Draw, the Applicant shall pay to the Credit Underwriter a fee based on an hourly rate determined pursuant to the contract between the Corporation and the Credit Underwriter.

(8) Retainage in the amount of 10 percent per Draw shall be held by the servicer during construction until the Development is 50 percent complete. At 50 percent completion, no additional retainage shall be held from the remaining Draws. Release of funds held by the Corporation’s servicer as retainage shall occur pursuant to the SAIL loan agreement.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507 FS. Law Implemented 420.5087 FS. History–New 7-22-96, Amended 12-23-96, 7-10-97, 1-6-98, Formerly 9I-48.013, Amended 11-9-98, 2-24-00, 2-22-01, 3-17-02, Repromulgated 4-6-03, 3-21-04, 2-7-05, 1-29-06, Amended 4-1-07, Repromulgated 3-30-08,________.

 

67-48.014 HOME General Program Procedures and Restrictions.

(1) Unless otherwise provided in the Application instructions, the Corporation shall utilize up to 10 percent of the HOME allocation for administrative costs pursuant to 24 CFR Part 92.

(2) The Corporation shall utilize at least 15 percent of the HOME allocation for CHDOs pursuant to 24 CFR Part 92. In order to apply under the CHDO set-aside, the CHDO must have at least 51 percent ownership interest in the Development held by the General Partner entity and meet all other CHDO requirements as defined by HUD in 24 CFR Part 92 and other Corporation requirements identified in the CHDO Checklist. The CHDO Checklist is adopted and incorporated herein by reference, effective 10-17-06, and is available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related References Information and Links or by contacting the HOME-Rental Program at 227 North Bronough Street, Suite 5000, Tallahassee, Florida 32301-1329.

(3) Within the rental cycle administered pursuant to Rule Chapter 67-48, F.A.C., the Corporation will distribute funds as provided in the Universal Application instructions, through a competitive request for proposal (RFP) process, or both.

(4) The maximum per-unit subsidy amount of HOME funds that the Corporation shall invest on a per-unit basis in affordable housing shall not exceed the per-unit dollar limits established by the Corporation as identified in the current Application instructions and included on the HOME Rental FHFC Subsidy Limits chart, which is adopted and incorporated by reference, effective 10-1-2007. A copy of such chart is available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related References Information and Links or by contacting the HOME-Rental Program at 227 North Bronough Street, Suite 5000, Tallahassee, Florida 32301-1329.

(5) The minimum amount of HOME funds that must be invested in a Rental Development is $1,000 times the number of HOME-Assisted Units in the Development.

(6) A Development qualifies as affordable housing and for HOME funds if, with respect to income and occupancy:

(a) 80 percent of the HOME-Assisted Units are occupied by families whose annual income does not exceed 60 percent of the median family income for the area, as determined by HUD, with adjustments for family size, and

(b) 20 percent of the HOME-Assisted Units are occupied by families whose annual income does not exceed 50 percent of the median family income for the area, as determined by HUD, with adjustments for family size.

(c) When the income of a resident increases above 80 percent of area median income, the next unit that becomes available in the Development must be rented to a HOME income-eligible resident. If the income of a Very Low-Income household increases above the limits for a Very Low-Income household, then the Developer must rent the next available unit to a Very Low-Income household. The amount of rent the resident whose income has increased must pay is the lesser of the amount payable by resident under state or local law or 30 percent of the adjusted monthly income for rent and utilities.

(d) High HOME rent means 80 percent of the HOME-Assisted Units in a Development must have rents set at no more than the lesser of the Section 8 Fair Market Rent (FMRs) or rents that are 30 percent for a Family at 65 percent of median income limit, minus resident-paid utilities. Low HOME rent means 20 percent of the HOME-Assisted Units in a Development must have rents set at no more than the lesser of the Section 8 Fair Market Rent (FMRs), or 30 percent of the gross income of a Family at 50 percent of the area median income, minus resident-paid utilities. With respect to rent limits, the HOME Rent Chart at 65 percent or 50 percent, or the Fair Market Rent, less the applicable utility allowance, is the maximum rent that can be charged for a HOME Rent-Restricted Unit. HOME-Assisted Units with Section 8 subsidy must compare the Section 8 gross rent (resident rent, subsidy amount, and utility allowance) to the maximum applicable HOME high or low rent limit minus utilities. However, Developments with project-based rental assistance may utilize the project-based rents as compared to the HOME High and Low rents. Compliance with the HOME rent restrictions will take precedence over the Developer’s acceptance of a full Section 8 (resident-based) subsidy for the HOME-Assisted Units.

(e) The minimum Compliance Period for Rehabilitation Developments is 15 years from the date the first residential unit is occupied. For Developments that contain occupied units at the time of closing, the Compliance Period shall begin the earlier of (i) the termination of the last lease executed prior to closing of the HOME loan or (ii) at project completion as defined in 24 CRF § 92.2. The Compliance Period will be extended until the loan is repaid as enumerated in subsection 67-48.020(1), F.A.C.

(f) The minimum Compliance Period for newly-constructed rental housing is 20 years from the date the first residential unit is occupied. The Compliance Period will be extended until the loan is repaid as enumerated in subsection 67-48.020(1), F.A.C.

(g) The minimum percentage of HOME-Assisted Units within a Development must be at least equal to the percentage (ratio) calculated by dividing the HOME loan amount by the Total Development Cost. This percentage will be utilized to determine the minimum number of HOME-Assisted Units required within a Development. HOME-Assisted Units must be identified at the time of Application. For purposes of meeting affordable housing requirements for a Development, the HOME-Assisted Units counted may be changed over the Compliance Period, so long as the total number of HOME-Assisted Units remains the same, and the substituted units are, at a minimum, comparable in terms of size, features, and number of bedrooms to the original HOME-Assisted Units.

(h) The Development will remain affordable, pursuant to commitments documented within the executed Land Use Restriction Agreement without regard to the term of the mortgage or to transfer of ownership.

(7) The Development must comply with all applicable provisions of 24 CFR Part 92 and Rule Chapter 67-48, F.A.C.

(8) A Development that is under construction may be eligible to apply for HOME funds only if the final building permit is dated no earlier than six (6) months prior to the Application Deadline, the Development is able to provide evidence of compliance with federal labor standards (if 12 or more HOME-Assisted Units are developed under a single contract) for any work already completed, and the Development is able to provide evidence of compliance with HUD environmental requirements as well as all other federal HOME regulations as listed in Rule 67-48.014, F.A.C., and 24 CFR Part 92. The federal requirements may require completion of activities prior to submission of an Application for HOME funding.

(9) Any single contract for the development (rehabilitation or new construction) of affordable housing with 12 or more HOME-Assisted Units under the HOME Program must contain a provision requiring that not less than the wages prevailing in the locality, as predetermined by the United States Secretary of Labor pursuant to the Davis-Bacon Act, 40 U.S.C. §§ 3142 – 3144, 3146 and 3147 (2002), which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference, 24 CFR § 92.354, 24 CFR Part 70 (volunteers), which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference, and 40 U.S.C. § 3145 (2002), which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference, will be paid to all laborers and mechanics employed for the construction or rehabilitation of the Development, and such contracts must also be subject to the overtime provisions of the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, 40 U.S.C. §§ 3701 – 3706 and 3708 (2002), which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference, the Copeland Act (Anti-Kickback Act), 40 U.S.C. § 3145 (2002), and the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended (29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq.), which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing provisions are available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related References Information and Links.

(10) All HOME Developments must conform to the following federal requirements which are available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related References Information and Links:

(a) Equal Opportunity and Fair Housing as enumerated in 24 CFR § 92.202 and 92.250, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq.), which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference, Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. §§3601-3620), which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference, Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended (42 U.S.C. §6101), which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference, Executive Order 11063 (amended by Executive Order 12259), which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference, and 24 CFR § 5.105(a), which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference.

(b) Affirmative Marketing as enumerated in 24 CFR § 92.351.

(c) Environmental Review as enumerated in 24 CFR § 92.352, 24 CFR Part 58, which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference, and National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference.

(d) Displacement, Relocation, and Acquisition as enumerated in 24 CFR § 92.353, Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. §§ 4201-4655), which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference, 49 CFR Part 24, which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference, 24 CFR Part 42 (Subpart C), which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference, and Section 104(d) “Barney Frank Amendments,” which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference.

(e) Lead-based Paint as enumerated in 24 CFR § 92.355, and 24 CFR Part 35, which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference.

(f) Conflict of Interest as enumerated in 24 CFR § 92.356, 24 CFR §§ 85.36 and 84.42, which are adopted and incorporated herein by reference.

(g) Debarment and Suspension as enumerated in 24 CFR Part 24, which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference.

(h) Flood Insurance as enumerated in Section 202 of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. § 4106), which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference.

(i) Handicapped Accessibility as enumerated in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (implemented in 24 CFR Part 8) and 24 CFR § 100.205, which are adopted and incorporated herein by reference.

(j) Americans with Disabilities Act as enumerated in 42 U.S.C. § 12131; and 47 U.S.C. §§ 155, 201, 218 and 225, which are adopted and incorporated herein by reference.

(k) Equal Opportunity Employment as enumerated in Executive Order 11246 (implemented in 41 CFR Part 60), which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference.

(l) Economic Opportunity as implemented in 24 CFR Part 135, which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference.

(m) Minority/Women Employment as enumerated in 24 CFR § 85.36(e) and Executive Orders 11625, 12432, and 12138, which are adopted and incorporated herein by reference.

(n) Site and Neighborhood Standards as enumerated in 24 CFR § 983.6(b), which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507(12) FS. Law Implemented 420.5089(2) FS. History–New 7-22-96, Amended 12-23-96, 1-6-98, Formerly 9I-48.014, Amended 11-9-98, Repromulgated 2-24-00, Amended 2-22-01, 3-17-02, 4-6-03, 3-21-04, 2-7-05, 1-29-06, 4-1-07, 3-30-08,________.

 

67-48.015 Match Contribution Requirement for HOME Allocation.

(1) The Corporation is required by HUD to match non-federal funds to the HOME allocation as specified in 24 CFR Part 92.

(2) A Match Credit Fund funded by the state of Florida has been appropriated to the Corporation. The funds are to be used for demonstration Developments, pilot programs, or other Developments selected and approved by the Corporation’s Board of Directors. Such pilot programs or Developments shall be counted as the Corporation’s required match for HUD purposes and may be any eligible activity acceptable to 24 CFR Part 92 and approved by the Corporation’s Board of Directors.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507(12) FS. Law Implemented 420.5089(4) FS. History–New 7-22-96, Amended 12-23-96, 1-6-98, Formerly 9I-48.015, Amended 11-9-98, Repromulgated 2-24-00, Amended 2-22-01, 3-17-02, 4-6-03, Repromulgated 3-21-04, Amended 2-7-05, Repromulgated 1-29-06, 4-1-07, 3-30-08,________.

 

67-48.017 Eligible HOME Activities.

HOME funds may be used for acquisition (must include new construction and/or Rehabilitation), new construction, reconstruction, or moderate or substantial rehabilitation of non-luxury housing with suitable amenities or for tenant based rental assistance pursuant to 24 CFR Part 92.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507(12) FS. Law Implemented 420.5089(3) FS. History–New 7-22-96, Repromulgated 12-23-96, 1-6-98, Formerly 9I-48.017, Amended 11-9-98, Repromulgated 2-24-00, 2-22-01, 3-17-02, Amended 4-6-03, Repromulgated 3-21-04, Amended 2-7-05, Repromulgated 1-29-06, 4-1-07, 3-30-08,________.

 

67-48.018 Eligible HOME Applicants.

(1) Unless the Board approves a competitive allocation process outside the Universal Cycle, an Applicant is not eligible to apply for HOME Program funding if any of the following pertain to the proposed Development:

(a) The proposed Development Applicant has received an allocation of Housing Credits or a Competitive Housing Credit commitment for the proposed Development, unless the Applicant has provided written notice has been provided to the Corporation prior to the Application Deadline for the current cycle that it is withdrawing its acceptance of such allocation or commitment and returning the HC funding from a prior cycle;

(b) The Applicant has already accepted Aa preliminary commitment of funding for the proposed Development through the HOME Program, the SAIL Program, or the RRLP Program has already been accepted, unless the Applicant has provided written notice has been provided to the Corporation prior to the Application Deadline for the current cycle that it is withdrawing such its acceptance and returning the its prior HOME Program, SAIL Program, or RRLP Program funding.

(c) The proposed Development site or any part thereof is subject to any Land Use Restriction Agreement or Extended Use Agreement, or both, in conjunction with any Corporation affordable housing financing intended to foster the development or maintenance of affordable housing, with the following exceptions. Those exceptions being (i) a LURA recorded in conjunction with the excluding Predevelopment Loan Program funds, intended to foster the development or maintenance of affordable housing and (ii) a LURA or EUA, or both, for an existing building or buildings, originally constructed at least 25 years prior to the Application Deadline for the current Funding Cycle, where, in the current Application, the Applicant has selected and qualified for the Homeless demographic commitment with a Development category of Rehabilitation or Acquisition and Rehabilitation.

(2) Applicants for HOME loans may include CHDOs, public housing authorities, local governments, Non-Profit organizations, and private for-profit organizations. The Applicant must be a legally-formed, existing entity at the time of Application Deadline. Pursuant to 24 CFR Part 92, Applicants may not request additional HOME funding during the period of affordability.

(3) For tenant based rental assistance, eligible public housing authorities shall be limited to those public housing authorities that provide a copy of their most recent Section Eight Management Assessment Program (SEMAP) and can demonstrate compliance with 24 CFR § 982.401, which is incorporated by reference and available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related References Information and Links.

(a) Eligible public housing authorities shall use the HOME Investment Partnership Program, state of Florida, TBRA Agreement (Rev. 09/06), which is incorporated herein by reference and available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related References Information and Links.

(b) An eligible public housing authority’s request for funding shall be based upon demonstration of recipient need.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507(12) FS. Law Implemented 420.5089(3) FS. History–New 7-22-96, Amended 12-23-96, 1-6-98, Formerly 9I-48.018, Amended 11-9-98, Repromulgated 2-24-00, 2-22-01, Amended 3-17-02, 4-6-03, Repromulgated 3-21-04, Amended 2-7-05, 1-29-06, 4-1-07, 3-30-08,________.

 

67-48.019 Eligible and Ineligible HOME Development Costs.

(1) HOME funds may be used to pay for the following eligible costs as enumerated in 24 CFR Part 92:

(a) Development hard costs as they directly relate to the identified HOME Assisted Units only for:

1. New construction, the costs necessary to meet local and state of Florida building codes and the Model Energy Code referred to in 24 CFR Part 92;

2. Rehabilitation, the costs necessary to meet local and state of Florida rehabilitation building codes and at a minimum, the Section 8 Housing Quality Standards under 24 CFR Part 92;

3. Both new construction and rehabilitation, costs to demolish existing structures, improvements to the Development site and utility connections;

(b) The cost of acquiring improved or unimproved real property. A HOME Development and HOME loan that involves acquisition must include Rehabilitation or new construction in order to be an eligible Development.

(c) Soft costs as they relate to the identified HOME-Assisted Units. The costs must be reasonable, as determined by the Corporation and the Credit Underwriter, and associated with the financing, development, or both. These costs may include:

1. Architectural, engineering or related professional services required to prepare plans, drawings, specifications or work write-ups;

2. Costs to process and settle the HOME financing for a Development, such as credit reports, fees for evidence of title, recordation, building permits, attorney fees, cost certifications, and estimates;

3. Developer’s and General Contractor’s fees as described in Rule 67-48.0072, F.A.C.;

4. Impact fees;

5. Costs of Development audits required by the Corporation;

6. Affirmative marketing and fair housing costs;

7. Temporary relocation costs as required under 24 CFR Part 92;

(2) HOME funds shall not be used to pay for the following ineligible costs:

(a) Development reserve accounts for replacements, unanticipated increases in operating costs, or operating subsidies, except as described in 24 CFR § 92.206(d)(5);

(b) Public housing;

(c) Administrative costs;

(d) Developer fees unless the HOME funds include Rehabilitation or new construction; or

(e) Any other expenses not allowed under 24 CFR Part 92.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507(12) FS. Law Implemented 420.5089(3) FS. History–New 7-22-96, Amended 12-23-96, 7-10-97, 1-6-98, Formerly 9I-48.019, Amended 11-9-98, 2-24-00, Repromulgated 2-22-01, Amended 3-17-02, 4-6-03, Repromulgated 3-21-04, Amended 2-7-05, Repromulgated 1-29-06, 4-1-07, 3-30-08,________.

 

67-48.020 Terms and Conditions of Loans for HOME Rental Developments.

All HOME Rental Development loans shall be in compliance with the Act, 24 CFR Part 92 and, at a minimum, contain the following terms and conditions:

(1) The HOME loan may be in a first, second, or subordinated lien position. The term of the loan shall be for a minimum period of 15 years for Rehabilitation Developments and 20 years for new construction Developments. The term of the HOME loan may be extended to coterminate with the first mortgage term upon the recommendation of the Credit Underwriter and approval by the Corporation.

(2) The annual interest rate will be determined by the following:

(a) All for-profit Applicants that own 100 percent of the ownership interest in the Development held by the general partner or managing member entity will receive a 1.5 percent per annum interest rate loan.

(b) All qualified non-profit Applicants that own 100 percent of the ownership interest in the Development held by the general partner or managing member entity will receive a 0 percent interest rate loan. For purposes of determining the annual HOME interest rate, the definition of Non-Profit found at Rules 67-48.002 and 67-48.0075, F.A.C., shall not apply;  instead, qualified non-profit Applicants shall be those entities defined in 24 CFR Part 92, Section 42(h)(5)(c), subsection 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) of the IRC and organized under Chapter 617, F.S., if a Florida corporation, or organized under similar state law if organized in a jurisdiction other than Florida.

(c) All Applicants consisting of a non-profit and for-profit partnership will receive a 0 percent interest rate loan on the portion of the loan amount equal to the qualified non-profit’s ownership interest in the Development held by the general partner or managing member entity. A 1.5 percent interest rate shall be charged for loans on the portion of the loan amount equal to the for-profit’s interest in the Development held by the general partner or managing member entity. After closing, should the Applicant sell any portion of the Development ownership, the loan interest rate ratio will be adjusted to conform to the new percentage of ownership.

(3) The loans shall be non-amortizing and repayment of principal shall be deferred until maturity, unless otherwise recommended by the Credit Underwriter and approved by the Corporation. Interest payments on the loan shall be paid to the Corporation’s servicer annually on the date specified in the Note.

(4) As approved by the Board of Directors, loans which finance demonstration Developments or Developments located in a state or federally declared disaster area may be provided with forgivable terms.

(5) The accumulation of all Development financing, including the HOME loan and all existing debt within a Development, may not exceed the Total Development Cost, as determined and certified by the Credit Underwriter.

(6) Before disbursing any HOME funds, there must be a written agreement with the Applicant ensuring compliance with the requirements of the HOME Program pursuant to this rule chapter and 24 CFR Part 92.

(7) A representative of the Applicant and the managing agent of the Development must attend a Corporation-sponsored training session on income certification and compliance procedures.

(8) If the Development has 12 or more HOME-Assisted Units to be developed under a single contract, the General Contractor and all available subcontractors shall attend a Corporation-sponsored preconstruction conference regarding federal labor standards provisions.

(9) The Corporation shall require adequate insurance to be maintained on the Development as determined by the first mortgage lender or the Corporation’s servicer, but which shall, in any case, include fire, hazard and other insurance sufficient to meet the standards established in Part V, Section 106 of the Fannie Mae DUS Guide, effective August 16, 2007 10, 2006, which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference and available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related References Information and Links.

(10) All loans must provide that any violation of the terms and conditions described in this rule chapter or 24 CFR Part 92 constitute a default under the HOME loan documents allowing the Corporation to accelerate its loan and seek foreclosure as well as any other remedies legally available to it.

(11) If a default on a HOME loan occurs, the Corporation will commence legal action to protect the interest of the Corporation. The Corporation shall acquire real and personal property or any interest in the Development if that acquisition is necessary to protect any HOME loan; sell, transfer, and convey any such property to a buyer without regard to the provisions of Chapters 253 and 270, F.S.; and, if that sale, transfer, or conveyance cannot be consummated within a reasonable time, lease the Development for occupancy by Eligible Persons.

(12) The Corporation or its servicer shall monitor the compliance of each Development with all terms and conditions of the HOME loan and shall require that such terms and conditions be recorded in the public records of the county where the Development is located. Violation of any term or condition shall constitute a default during the term of the HOME loan.

(13) The Applicant shall not refinance, increase the principal amount, or alter any terms or conditions of any mortgage superior or inferior to the HOME mortgage without prior approval of the Corporation’s Board of Directors. However, an Applicant may reduce the interest rate on any superior or inferior mortgage loan without the Board’s permission, provided that no other terms of the loan are changed. The Corporation must be notified of any such change.

Following construction completion, the Board shall deny requests to increase the amount of any superior mortgage, unless the criteria outlined in subsection 67-48.0205(3), F.A.C., are met, the original combined loan to value ratio for the superior mortgage and the HOME mortgage is maintained or improved, and a proportionate amount of the increase in the superior mortgage is used to reduce the outstanding HOME loan balance. To calculate the proportionate amount of the increase in the superior mortgage which must be paid toward the reduction of the HOME loan balance, the following calculation shall be used: divide the amount of the original HOME mortgage by the combined amount of the original HOME mortgage and the original superior mortgage; then multiply the quotient by the amount of the increase in the superior mortgage from the current balance after deducting refinancing costs. For example, if the amount of the original HOME mortgage is $2,000,000, the original superior mortgage is $4,000,000, with a current balance of $3,000,000, a proposed new superior mortgage of $5,000,000, and refinancing costs of $200,000, then the amount of the increase in the superior mortgage after deducting refinancing costs would be $1,800,000, and the proportionate amount of the increase in the superior mortgage which must be paid toward  the reduction of the HOME loan balance would be $594,000. This $594,000 would be applied first to accrued interest and then to principal.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507(12) FS. Law Implemented 420.5089(7), (8), (9) FS. History–New 7-22-96, Amended 12-23-96, 7-10-97, 1-6-98, Formerly 9I-48.020, Amended 11-9-98, 2-24-00, 2-22-01, 3-17-02, 4-6-03, 3-21-04, 2-7-05, 1-29-06, 4-1-07, 3-30-08,________.

 

67-48.0205 Sale, Transfer or Refinancing of a HOME Development.

(1) The HOME loan shall be assumable upon Development sale, transfer or refinancing if the following conditions are met:

(a) The proposed transferee meets all specific Applicant identity criteria which were required as conditions of the original loan;

(b) The proposed transferee agrees to maintain all set-asides and other requirements of the HOME loan for the period originally specified; and

(c) The proposed transferee and Application receives a favorable recommendation from the Credit Underwriter and approval by the Corporation’s Board of Directors.

All assumption requests must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Assets and contain the specific details of the transfer and assumption. In addition to any related professional fees, the Corporation shall charge a non-refundable assumption fee as outlined in the Universal Application instructions.

(2) If the Development is sold and the proposed transferee does not meet the criteria for assumption of the loan, the HOME loan shall be repaid from the proceeds of the sale. If there will be insufficient funds available from the proposed sale of the Development, the HOME loan shall not be satisfied until the Corporation has received:

(a) An appraisal prepared by an appraiser selected by the Corporation indicating that the purchase price for the Development is reasonable and consistent with existing market conditions;

(b) A certification from the Applicant that the purchase price reported is the actual price paid for the Development and that no other consideration passed between the parties and that the income reported to the Corporation during the term of the loan was true and accurate; and

(c) A certification from the Applicant that there are no Development funds available to repay the loan and the Applicant knows of no source from which funds could or would be forthcoming to pay the loan.

(3) The Board shall approve requests for mortgage loan refinancing only if Development cash flow is improved, the Development’s economic viability is maintained, the security interest of the Corporation is not adversely affected, and the Credit Underwriter provides a positive recommendation.

(4) The Board shall deny requests for mortgage loan refinancing which require extension of the HOME loan term or otherwise adversely affect the security interest of the Corporation unless the criteria outlined in subsection 67-48.0205(3), F.A.C., are met, the Credit Underwriter recommends that the approval of such a request is crucial to the economic survival of the Development or unless the Board determines that public policy will be better served by the extension as a result of the Applicant agreeing to further extend the Compliance Period or provide additional amenities or resident programs suitable for the resident population. Further, the Board shall limit any approved extension to a minimum term which makes the Development feasible and which does not exceed an industry standard term.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507(12) FS. Law Implemented 420.5089(7), (8), (9) FS. History–New 12-23-96, Amended 1-6-98, Formerly 9I-48.0205, Amended 11-9-98, Repromulgated 2-24-00, Amended 2-22-01, Repromulgated 3-17-02, 4-6-03, 3-21-04, 2-7-05, 1-29-06, Amended 4-1-07, Repromulgated 3-30-08,________.

 

67-48.022 HOME Disbursements Procedures and Loan Servicing.

(1) HOME loan proceeds shall be disbursed during the construction/rehabilitation phase in an amount per Draw on a pro-rata basis with the other financing unless otherwise approved by the Corporation or the Credit Underwriter.

(2) Ten (10) business days prior to each Draw, the Applicant shall supply the Corporation’s servicer, as agent for the Corporation, with a written request executed by the Applicant for a Draw in a form and substance acceptable to the Corporation’s servicer.

(3) The request shall set forth the amount to be paid and shall be accompanied by documentation as specified by the Corporation’s servicer. Such documentation shall include invoices for labor and materials to date of the last inspection.

(4) The Corporation’s servicer and the Corporation shall review the request for Draw and the Corporation’s servicer shall provide the Corporation with approval of the request or an alternative recommendation of an amount to be paid after the title insurer provides an endorsement to the policy of title insurance updating the policy to the date of the current Draw and increasing the insurance coverage to an amount equal to the sum of all prior Draws and the current Draw, without additional exceptions, except those specifically approved in writing by the Corporation. For all Developments consisting of 12 or more HOME-Assisted Units to be developed under a single contract, the borrower shall submit weekly payrolls of the General Contractor and subcontractors in accordance with Federal Labor Standards as enumerated in 24 CFR § 92.354.

(5) Retainage in the amount of 10 percent per Draw shall be held by the servicer during construction until the Development is 50 percent complete. At 50 percent  completion, no additional retainage shall be held from the remaining draws. Release of funds held as retainage shall occur in accordance with the HOME loan documents.

(6) The Corporation or its servicer shall elect to withhold any Draw or portion of any Draw, in addition to the retainage, notwithstanding any documentation submitted by the borrower in connection with a request for a Draw, if:

(a) The Corporation or the servicer determines at any time that the actual cost budget or progress of construction differs from that shown on the loan documents.

(b) The percentage of progress of construction of improvements differs from that shown on the request for a Draw.

(c) Developments subject to and not in compliance with Federal Labor Standards.

(7) To the extent excess HOME funds in the budget remain unused, the Corporation has the right to reduce the HOME loan by that amount.

(8) If 100 percent of the loan proceeds have not been expended within six (6) months prior to the HUD deadline pursuant to 24 CFR § 92.500, the funds shall be recaptured by the Corporation.

(9) The request for final disbursement of HOME funds, excluding retainage, shall be submitted within 60 days of completion of construction as evidenced by certificates of occupancy.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507(12) FS. Law Implemented 420.5089(1) FS. History–New 7-22-96, Amended 12-23-96, 7-10-97, 1-6-98, Formerly 9I-48.022, Amended 11-9-98, 2-24-00, 2-22-01, 3-17-02, 4-6-03, Repromulgated 3-21-04, 2-7-05, 1-29-06, Amended 4-1-07, Repromulgated 3-30-08,________.

 

67-48.023 Housing Credits General Program Procedures and Requirements.

(1) Unless the Board approves a competitive allocation process outside the Universal Cycle, an Applicant is not eligible to apply for Competitive Housing Credits if any of the following pertain to the proposed Development:

(a) The proposed Development Applicant has received an allocation of Housing Credits or a Competitive Housing Credit commitment for the proposed Development, unless the Applicant has provided written notice has been provided to the Corporation prior to the Application Deadline for the current cycle that it is withdrawing its acceptance of such allocation or commitment and returning the HC funding from a prior cycle;

(b) The Applicant has already accepted Aa preliminary commitment of funding for the proposed Development through the SAIL Program, the HOME Program, or the RRLP Program has already been accepted, unless the Applicant has provided written notice has been provided to the Corporation prior to the Application Deadline for the current cycle that it is withdrawing such its acceptance and returning the prior SAIL Program, HOME Program, or RRLP Program funding.

(c) The proposed Development site or any part thereof is subject to any Land Use Restriction Agreement or Extended Use Agreement, or both, in conjunction with any Corporation affordable housing financing intended to foster the development or maintenance of affordable housing, with the following exceptions. Those exceptions being (i) a LURA recorded in conjunction with excluding Predevelopment Loan Program the and (ii) a LURA or EUA, or both, for an existing building or buildings, originally constructed at least 25 years prior to the Application Deadline for the current Funding Cycle, where, in the current Application, the Applicant has selected and qualified for the Homeless demographic commitment with a Development category of Rehabilitation or Acquisition and Rehabilitation funds, intended to foster the development or maintenance of affordable housing.

(2) Each Applicant shall comply with this rule chapter and with Section 42 of the IRC and federal regulations issued pursuant thereto and in effect at the time of the Funding Cycle. Noncompliance, outside of the compliance cure period, by an Applicant, or any Principal, Affiliate or Financial Beneficiary of an Applicant or Developer shall result in disqualification from participation in the current HC Funding Cycle and for a period of not less than one year. The Applicant and its Principals, Affiliates and Financial Beneficiaries will continue to be ineligible to participate in future HC Funding Cycles until such time as all noncompliance issues are cured.

(2)(3) Each Housing Credit Development shall comply with the minimum Housing Credit Set-Aside provisions, as specified in Section 42(g)(1) of the IRC, with respect to the reservation of 20 percent of the units for occupancy by persons or families whose income does not exceed 50 percent of the area median income, or the reservation of 40 percent of the units for occupancy by persons or families whose income does not exceed 60 percent of the area median income. Further, each Housing Credit Development shall comply with any additional Housing Credit Set-Aside chosen by the Applicant in the Application.

(3)(4) The Development shall provide safe, sanitary and decent residential rental housing and shall be developed, constructed and operated in accordance with the commitments made and the facilities and services described in the Application at the time of submission to the Corporation. Applications will not be considered approved to receive an allocation of Housing Credits until the Corporation issues a Preliminary Allocation/Preliminary Determination to the Applicant and all contingencies of such documents are satisfied. Allocations are further contingent on the Applicant complying with its Application commitments, Rule Chapter 67-48, F.A.C., and Section 42 of the IRC.

(4)(5) All of the dwelling units within a Development shall be rented or available for rent on a continuous basis to members of the general public. The owner of the Development shall not give preference to any particular class or group in  renting the dwelling units in the Development, except to the extent that dwelling units are required to be rented to Eligible Persons. All Developments must comply with the Fair Housing Act as implemented by 24 CFR Part 100, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as implemented by 28 CFR Part 35, which are adopted and incorporated herein by reference and available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related References Information and Links.

(5)(6) Each Competitive Housing Credit Development that receives a Carryover Allocation Agreement and each HC Development financed with tax-exempt bonds shall complete the Final Cost Certification Application within 75 Calendar Days after all the buildings in the Development have been placed in service. All other Developments shall complete the Final Cost Certification Application no later than the date that is 30 Calendar Days before the end of the calendar year for which the Final Housing Credit Allocation is requested. The Corporation may grant extensions for good cause upon written request.

(6) Prior to execution of the limited partnership agreement or limited liability company operating agreement between the Applicant and the limited partners/members, the Applicant must receive written approval from the Corporation or its Credit Underwriter that the Housing Credit Syndicator is in good standing with the Corporation. Proceeding with execution of a partnership agreement or operating agreement with a Housing Credit Syndicator that is not in good standing shall result in withdrawal of the Housing Credit Allocation.

(7) The Final Cost Certification Application (Form FCCA) shall be used by an Applicant to itemize all expenses incurred in association with construction or Rehabilitation of a Housing Credit Development, including Developer’s and General Contractor’s fees as described in Rule 67-48.0072, F.A.C. Such form shall be completed, executed and submitted to the Corporation, along with the executed Extended Use Agreement, IRS Forms 8821 for all Financial Beneficiaries, a copy of the syndication agreement disclosing the rate and all terms, the required certified public accountant opinion letter, an unqualified audit report prepared by an independent certified public accountant, photographs of the completed Development, the monitoring fee, and documentation of the placed-in-service date as specified in the Form FCCA instructions. The Final Housing Credit Allocation will not be issued until such time as all required items are received and processed by the Corporation. The Final Cost Certification Application is adopted and incorporated herein by reference, effective January 2007, and is available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related References Information and Links or by contacting the Housing Credit Program at 227 North Bronough Street, Suite 5000, Tallahassee, Florida 32301-1321. IRS Form 8821, Rev. August 2008 April 2004, is adopted and incorporated herein by reference and available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related References Information and Links.

(8) After the final evaluation and determination of the Housing Credit Allocation amount has been made by the Corporation and the Extended Use Agreement has been executed in accordance with Rule 67-48.029, F.A.C., the Forms 8609 are issued to the Applicant of the Housing Credit Development, as provided below. IRS Low-Income Housing Credit Allocation Certification Form 8609, Rev. December 2008 2006, is adopted and incorporated herein by reference and available on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related References Information and Links. The Corporation will issue only one complete set of Forms 8609 per Development which will be no earlier than total Development completion, the Corporation’s acceptance and approval of the Development’s Final Cost Certification Application, and determination by the Corporation that all financial obligations for which an Applicant or Developer, or Principal, Affiliate or Financial Beneficiary of an Applicant or Developer is in arrears to the Corporation or any agent or assignee of the Corporation have been satisfied.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507(12) FS. Law Implemented 420.5099 FS. History–New 7-22-96, Amended 12-23-96, 7-10-97, 1-6-98, Formerly 9I-48.023, Amended 11-9-98, 2-24-00, 2-22-01, 3-17-02, Repromulgated 4-6-03, Amended 3-21-04, 2-7-05, 1-29-06, 4-1-07, 3-30-08,________.

 

67-48.027 Tax-Exempt Bond-Financed Developments.

(1) Tax-Exempt Bond-Financed Developments, as defined in Section 42(h)(4)(B) of the IRC, which applied for 4 percent Housing Credits when applying for tax exempt bonds from the Corporation in calendar year 2000 or later shall:

(a) Have 50 percent or more of the aggregate basis of any building and the land on which the building is located financed by tax-exempt bonds;

(b) Be subject to the monitoring and credit underwriting fees as stated in Chapter 67-21, F.A.C.; however, when the regulatory period for the tax-exempt bonds terminates prior to the expiration of the Housing Credit Extended Use Period, a separate compliance monitoring fee is required for the remainder of the Housing Credit Extended Use Period;

(c) Be deemed to have met all HC Program scoring threshold requirements upon the closing of the bonds with the Corporation;

(d) Receive a Preliminary Determination upon the Corporation’s issuance of a loan commitment in reference to the tax-exempt bonds;

(e) Be subject to the provisions of this rule chapter, specifically the applicable provisions of Part I and Part IV, except for Rules 67-48.0072 and 67-48.028, F.A.C.;

(f) Receive Building Identification Numbers from the Corporation upon satisfying the requirements of this section and the Final Cost Certification Application requirements of Rule 67-48.023, F.A.C.;

(g) Provide an IRS Form 8821 for each Financial Beneficiary of the Development prior to Final Housing Credit Allocation; and

(h) Pay the assigned Credit Underwriter for a comprehensive market study of the housing needs of Low Income individuals in the area to be served by the Development. The market study must be completed by a disinterested third party and a copy of the completed market study must be on file with the Corporation prior to the Final Housing Credit Allocation.

(2) Tax-Exempt Bond-Financed Developments, as defined in Section 42(h)(4)(B) of the IRC, seeking to obtain Housing Credits from the Treasury receiving the bonds from the Corporation prior to calendar year 2000 or receiving bonds from another source other than the Corporation, and not competing for Housing Credits under the state of Florida Allocation Authority shall:

(a) Have 50 percent or more of the aggregate basis of any building and the land on which the building is located financed by tax-exempt bonds;

(b) Be subject to the Application fee specified in this rule chapter;

(c) Meet the HC Program threshold requirements pursuant to the Qualified Allocation Plan and shall have completed loan closings on all required financing;

(d) Participate in the credit underwriting process pursuant to this rule chapter, unless such Development has received its tax-exempt bond financing through the Corporation, in which case the Development must be underwritten to the extent necessary to determine Development feasibility and Housing Credit need;

(e) Be subject to the credit underwriting fees as set forth in this rule chapter;

(f) Be subject to the administrative fee specified in this rule chapter;

(g) Receive a Preliminary Determination from the Corporation upon satisfying the requirements of paragraphs (a) through (f) above. A Development may receive a Preliminary Determination prior to the bonds being issued and the submission of an Application, if the Corporation receives a credit underwriting report prepared by one of the Corporation’s contracted Credit Underwriters which recommends a Housing Credit Allocation and the issuance of tax-exempt bonds, and receives evidence of a loan commitment in reference to the tax-exempt bonds. The administrative fee must be paid within seven days of the date of the Preliminary Determination;

(h) Be subject to a Developer fee limitation as specified in this rule chapter;

(i) Be subject to the provisions of this rule chapter, specifically the applicable provisions of Part I and Part IV, except for Rule 67-48.028, F.A.C.;

(j) Provide an IRS Form 8821 for each Financial Beneficiary of the Development prior to Final Housing Credit Allocation;

(k) Be subject to the provisions in this rule chapter, pertaining to the required Extended Use Agreement;

(l) Be subject to the monitoring fee specified in this rule chapter, unless such Development has received tax-exempt bond financing through the Corporation; however, when the regulatory period for Corporation-issued tax-exempt bond financing terminates prior to the expiration of the Housing Credit Extended Use Period, a separate compliance monitoring fee is required for the remainder of the Housing Credit Extended Use Period;

(m) After bonds are issued to the Development, make Application to the Corporation as required in Rules 67-48.004 and 67-48.0072, F.A.C. Applicant shall submit its Application completed in accordance with the Universal Application Package instructions for receipt by the Corporation no later than July 1 of the year the Development is placed in service; and

(n) Receive Building Identification Numbers from the Corporation upon satisfying the requirements of this section and the Final Cost Certification Application requirements of Rule 67-48.023, F.A.C.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507(12) FS. Law Implemented 420.5099 FS. History–New 7-22-96, Amended 12-23-96, 1-6-98, Formerly 9I-48.027, Amended 11-9-98, 2-24-00, 2-22-01, 3-17-02, Repromulgated 4-6-03, 3-21-04, Amended 2-7-05, Repromulgated 1-29-06, Amended 4-1-07, 3-30-08,________.

 

67-48.028 Carryover Allocation Provisions.

(1) If an Applicant cannot complete its Development by the end of the year in which the Preliminary Allocation is issued, the Applicant must enter into a Carryover Allocation Agreement with the Corporation by December 31st 29th of the year in which the Preliminary Allocation is issued. The Carryover Allocation allows the Applicant up to the end of the second year following the Carryover Allocation to have the Development placed-in-service.

(2) An Applicant shall have tax basis in the Housing Credit Development which is greater than 10 percent of the reasonably expected basis in the Housing Credit Development within six (6) months of the date of the execution of the Carryover Allocation Agreement, unless extended as provided in the Carryover Allocation Agreement, or the Housing Credits will be deemed to be returned to the Corporation. Certification that the Applicant has met the greater than 10 percent basis requirement shall be signed by the Applicant’s attorney or certified public accountant.

(3) All supporting Carryover documentation and the signed certification evidencing the required basis must be submitted to the Corporation within six (6) months of the date of the execution of the Carryover Allocation Agreement, unless extended as provided in the Carryover Allocation Agreement, or the Housing Credits will be deemed to be returned.

(4) The Applicant for each Development for which a Carryover Allocation Agreement has been executed shall submit quarterly progress reports to the Corporation using Progress Report Form Q/M Report, which will be provided by the Corporation. If the Form Q/M Report does not demonstrate continuous and adequate development and construction progress, the Corporation will require monthly submission of Form Q/M Report until satisfactory progress is achieved, until the Development is placed in service, or until a determination is made by the Corporation that the Development cannot be placed in service by the Carryover deadline and the Housing Credits are returned to the Corporation in accordance with the terms of the Carryover Allocation Agreement. Form Q/M Report shall include a written statement describing the current status of the Development; the financing, construction and syndication activity since the last report; the reasons for any changes to the anticipated placed-in-service date; and any other information relating to the status of the Development which the Corporation may request. The first report shall be due to the Corporation by the first Monday in April of the calendar year following Carryover qualification.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507(12) FS. Law Implemented 420.5099 FS. History–New 7-22-96, Repromulgated 12-23-96, Amended 1-6-98, Formerly 9I-48.028, Amended 11-9-98, 2-24-00, 2-22-01, 3-17-02, 4-6-03, Repromulgated 3-21-04, Amended 2-7-05, Repromulgated 1-29-06, Amended 4-1-07, Repromulgated 3-30-08, Amended ________.

 

67-48.029 Extended Use Agreement.

(1) Pursuant to Section 42(h)(6) of the IRC, the Applicant and the Corporation shall enter into an Extended Use Agreement. The purpose of the Extended Use Agreement is to set forth the Housing Credit Extended Use Period, the Compliance Period, and to evidence commitments made by the Applicant in the Application. Such commitments, for example, include the Housing Credit Set-Aside commitment, resident programs, and Development amenities.

(2) The following provisions shall be included in the Extended Use Agreement:

(a) The Applicable Fraction for Housing Credit Set-Aside units for each taxable year in the Housing Credit Extended Use Period shall not be less than the Applicable Fraction;

(b) Eligible Persons occupying set-aside units shall have the right to enforce in any state of Florida court the extended use requirement for set-aside units;

(c) The Extended Use Agreement shall be binding on all successors and assigns of the Applicant; and

(d) The Extended Use Agreement shall be executed prior to the issuance of a Final Housing Credit Allocation to an Applicant. Following execution, the Extended Use Agreement shall be recorded pursuant to Florida law as a restrictive covenant.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507(12) FS. Law Implemented 420.5099 FS. History–New 7-22-96, Repromulgated 12-23-96, 1-6-98, Formerly 9I-48.029, Amended 11-9-98, 2-24-00, Repromulgated 2-22-01, 3-17-02, 4-6-03, Amended 3-21-04, 2-7-05, Repromulgated 1-29-06, 4-1-07, 3-30-08,________.

 

67-48.030 Sale or Transfer of a Housing Credit Development.

An owner of a Housing Credit Development, its successor or assigns which has been granted a Final Housing Credit Allocation shall not sell the Housing Credit Development without having first notified the Treasury of the impending sale and complying with the Treasury’s procedure or procedures for completing the transfer of ownership and utilizing the Housing Credit Allocation. The owner of a Housing Credit Development shall notify the Corporation in writing of an impending sale and of compliance with any requirements by the Treasury for the transfer of the Housing Credit Development. The owner of a Housing Credit Development shall notify the Corporation in writing of the name and address of the party or parties to whom the Housing Credit Development was sold within 14 Calendar Days of the transfer of the Housing Credit Development.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507(12) FS. Law Implemented 420.5099 FS. History–New 7-22-96, Repromulgated 12-23-96, Amended 1-6-98, Formerly 9I-48.030, Amended 11-9-98, Repromulgated 2-24-00, Amended 2-22-01, Repromulgated 3-17-02, 4-6-03, 3-21-04, 2-7-05, 1-29-06, 4-1-07, 3-30-08,________.

 

67-48.031 Termination of Extended Use Agreement and Disposition of Housing Credit Developments.

The Housing Credit Extended Use Period for any building shall terminate upon the date a building is acquired through foreclosure or instrument in lieu of foreclosure or if no buyer can be found who is willing to maintain the Housing Credit Set-Aside of the Development. In the event the Applicant is unable to locate a buyer willing to maintain the set-aside provisions of the Extended Use Agreement, the following steps shall be taken, as set forth in Section 42(h)(6) of the IRC, before a building is converted to market-rate use:

(1) After the fourteenth year of the Compliance Period, unless otherwise obligated under the Extended Use Agreement, a Land Use Restriction Agreement under another Corporation program, or if Applicant has already knowingly and voluntarily waived its right to request the Corporation find a buyer to acquire the Applicant’s interest in the Housing Credit Set-Aside portion of the building, an Applicant may submit a written request to the Corporation to find a buyer to acquire the Applicant’s interest in the Housing Credit Set-Aside portion of  the building. When submitting a written request, Applicants shall utilize the Qualified Contract Package in effect at the time of the written request and shall remit payment of the required Qualified Contract Package fee. The Qualified Contract Package consists of the forms and instructions, obtained from the Corporation at 227 North Bronough Street, Suite 5000, Tallahassee, Florida 32301-1329, or on the Corporation’s Website under the 2009 2008 Universal Application link labeled Related References Information and Links, which shall be completed and submitted to the Corporation in accordance with this rule chapter in order to request the Corporation find a buyer to acquire the Applicant’s interest in the Housing Credit Set-Aside portion of the building. The Qualified Contract Package, Rev. 09-07, is adopted and incorporated herein by reference.

(2) All information contained in a Qualified Contract Package request is subject to independent review, analysis and verification by the Corporation or its agents. The Corporation shall request additional information to document the qualified contract price calculation or other information submitted, if the submitted documentation does not support the price indicated by the certified public accountant (CPA) hired by the owner. The Corporation shall then engage its own CPA to perform a qualified contract price calculation. Cost of such service shall be paid for by the owner. Following the Corporation’s receipt and complete review of the completed Qualified Contract Package, the Corporation shall have one year to present a “qualified contract”, as defined in Section 42(h)(6)(F) of the IRC, for the Development. The one year time period shall commence upon the Corporation’s receipt and final review of all of the accompanying information required by the Qualified Contract Package and the Corporation and the owner have agreed to the qualified contract price in writing.

(3) The Corporation shall not agree to the qualified contract price in writing until the Applicant or Developer has satisfied any financial obligations for which the Applicant or Developer, or Principal, Affiliate or Financial Beneficiary of an Applicant or a Developer is in arrears to the Corporation or any agent or assignee of the Corporation.

(4) The Applicant is responsible for all real estate broker fees incurred from the sale of the Development.

(5) At the conclusion of the review process established by Rule 67-48.031, F.A.C., each Applicant will be provided with its qualified contract price calculation and notice of rights.

(6) Written arguments to any recommended order entered pursuant to a Section 120.57(2), F.S., proceeding concerning its qualified contract price calculation shall be typed and double-spaced with margins no less than one inch in either Times New Roman 14-point or Courier New 12-point font and may not exceed five (5) pages, excluding the caption and certificate of service. Written arguments must be filed with Florida Housing Finance Corporation’s Clerk at 227 North Bronough Street, Suite 5000, Tallahassee, Florida 32301-1329, no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, no later than five (5) Calendar Days from the date of issuance of the recommended order. Failure to timely file a written argument shall constitute a waiver of the right to have a written argument considered by the Board. The one year time period the Corporation has to present a “qualified contract” will toll upon the filing of a petition to contest a qualified contract price calculation and will recommence upon the issuance of the Board’s final order.

(7) The Applicant shall cooperate with the Corporation and its agents with respect to the Corporation’s efforts to present a “qualified contract” for the purchase of the Applicant’s interest in the Housing Credit Set-Aside portion of the Development and the Applicant’s failure to cooperate will toll the one year time period the Corporation has to present a “qualified contract”. The Corporation shall actively seek to obtain a qualified buyer for acquisition of the Housing Credit Set-Aside portion of the building for an amount not less than the Applicable Fraction as specified in the Extended Use Agreement of:

(a) The sum of the outstanding indebtedness secured by the building;

(b) The adjusted investor equity in the building; and

(c) Other capital contributions not reflected in the amounts above, and reduced by cash distributions from the Development.

(8) If the Corporation presents a “qualified contract” and the Applicant fails to enter into a bona fide contract to acquire the Development, as defined in Section 42(h)(6)(F) of the IRC, the Applicant shall irrevocably waive any right to further request that the Corporation present a “qualified contract” for the purchase of the Applicant’s interest in the Housing Credit Set-Aside portion of the Development and the Development will remain subject to the requirements of the Extended Use Agreement.

(9) In the event no buyer is found to acquire the Housing Credit Set-Aside portion of the building within one year as described herein, the Housing Credit Extended Use Period shall be terminated, and the units converted to market-rate.

(10) Pursuant to Section 42(h)(6)(E)(ii) of the IRC, the termination of an Extended Use Agreement shall not be construed to permit the termination of a tenancy, the eviction of any existing resident of any set-aside unit, or any increase in the gross rent with respect to any set-aside unit before the close of the three-year period following such termination. In no case shall any portion of a Housing Credit Development be disposed of prior to the expiration of the Extended Use Agreement.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 420.507(12) FS. Law Implemented 420.5099 FS. History–New 7-22-96, Repromulgated 12-23-96, 1-6-98, Formerly 9I-48.031, Amended 11-9-98, Repromulgated 2-24-00, 2-22-01, 3-17-02, 4-6-03, 3-21-04, Amended 2-7-05, 1-29-06, 4-1-07, 3-30-08,________.

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Deborah Dozier Blinderman, Florida Housing Finance Corporation, 227 North Bronough Street, Suite 5000, Tallahassee, Florida 32301-1329, [phone]
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: David Oellerich, Chairman of the Board, Florida Housing Finance Corporation, 227 North Bronough Street, Suite 5000, Tallahassee, Florida 32301-1329, [phone]
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: March 13, 2009
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: Vol. 34, No. 36, September 5, 2008