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INCREASED BLACK HOMEOWNERSHIP FOCUS OF NAREB CONVENTION IN NEW ORLEANS
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National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) to enlist support from Black clergy, civil rights organizations and financial services sector to grow Black wealth through homeownership.
Washington, DC – July 24, 2017 – The National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) at its 70th Anniversary Convention is issuing a call to Black real estate industry professionals, leaders of Black church denominations, financial services executives, social, and civic engagement organizations to come together to increase Black homeownership. Meeting under the banner, “Building Black Wealth through Homeownership,” July 28-August 1, 2017, at the Intercontinental Hotel, 444 St. Charles Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, NAREBexpects to draw more than 600 attendees committed to a multi-pronged action agenda designed to re-boot and support Black America’s pursuit of the American dream of homeownership.
“Homeownership is a key indicator of our nation’s economic strength and the prosperity of its people.
Black Americans occupy the lowest rung on the homeownership ladder, and therefore, the prosperity ladder. Not because we want to be there, but Black Americans never recovered from the economic devastation we experienced during, and after the nation’s 2008 economic tsunami. NAREB is committed to reversing this homeownership trend and prosperity prospects for Black Americans,” said Ron Cooper, president of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), the 70-year old minority trade group formed to ensure Democracy in Housing.
The call for collaboration comes at a time when Black homeownership hovers nationally at 42.7% compared to 71.8% for Non-Hispanic Whites. Latest available Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data for New Orleans analyzed by LendingPatterns™, an online HMDA data analysis software program, indicates that of the 6,592 mortgage loans originated in 2015 where race was known, only 1,425, or 22% of those loans were granted to Black Americans; even though they represented 60% of the city’s population of 343,829. Moreover, Black Americans were denied mortgage loans at a rate of just over 36%compared to a denial rate of 13.5% for whites. In May 2017, Zillow reported, that the average loan amount in the New Orleans metro area was $293,000. “These concerning statistics are the reasons why NAREB has implemented its “2 Million New Black Homeowners in 5 Years” program and is reaching out to create a national community of concern and action to Building Black Wealth through Homeownership,” Cooper added.
Keynoting the convention’s opening session, scheduled for Sunday, July 30 at 11:00 a.m. is Marc Morial, current president of the National Urban League (NUL) and former mayor of New Orleans. Other prominentconfirmed speakers presenting at different times throughout the convention include U.S. Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-LA), current chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), U.S. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), amember of the House Financial Services Committee, Mel Watt, Director, Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), the independent agency charged with oversight and regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, among other housing finance responsibilities. Reverend Dr. Jerry Young, president of the National Baptist Convention, USA is scheduled to keynote the Community, Civic and Faith-Based Leaders Luncheon as part of NAREB’s efforts to engender broader support to increase Black homeownership. All presenters are expected to give their unique perspectives on Black homeownership and the pathways forward to re-instill hope among Black Americans that homeownership is possible and desirable.
NAREB is also devoting a day to connect with New Orleans residents about the long-term benefits of homeownership. NAREB’s free Community Wealth Building Day is a consumer education event scheduled for Saturday, July 29, 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO), Memorial Library, 6400 Press Dr., New Orleans, LA 70126. Residents can get answers about the home-buying process, learn how to purchase a home, low down payment mortgage financing, and available down payment assistance programs that make homeownership affordable and sustainable.
For Convention registration and Community Wealth Building Day information visit: www.nareb.com.
The National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) was formed in 1947 to secure the right to equal housing opportunities for all regardless of race, creed, or color. NAREB has 90 chapters located nationwide and publishes annually The State of Housing in Black America (SHIBA) Report. Visit www.nareb.com for more information. or call 301-552-9340.
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What You Need to Know About Flood Insurance
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Property owners or renters who receive Federal financial flood disaster assistance after a Presidentially declared disaster may be required to obtain and maintain flood insurance on the property. The recipient of disaster relief funding who fails to “obtain and maintain” flood insurance may be ineligible for future disaster assistance as well as be required to repay disaster assistance previously received.
To determine if these “Obtain and Maintain” requirements apply, a property owner or renter should ask the following questions:
1. Have the owners of the property received Federal disaster assistance? FEMA, SBA, and HUD offer programs which provide individuals, households, businesses, and private nonprofits financial assistance after a disaster. These programs may include residential and commercial property.
2. Is the property being sold or rented located in a Special Flood Hazard Area? FEMA defines “Special Flood Hazard Area” as “The land area covered by the floodwaters of the base flood is the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) on NFIP maps. The SFHA is the area where the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP’s) floodplain management regulations must be enforced and the area where the mandatory purchase of flood insurance applies. The SFHA includes Zones A, AO, AH, A1-30, AE, A99, AR, AR/A1-30, AR/AE, AR/AO, AR/AH, AR/A, VO, V1-30, VE, and V.”
IF THE ANSWER IS “YES” TO BOTH OF THESE QUESTIONS, THE PROPERTY IS SUBJECT TO THE “OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN” REQUIREMENTS.
The “Obtain” Requirement. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) allows Federal agencies to only provide financial assistance (including disaster assistance loans [1]) for acquisition or construction purposes in an SFHA where NFIP insurance is available, if the property for which assistance is being provided is covered by flood insurance. The amount of flood insurance must be the lesser of the following: (1) the maximum limit of coverage available under NFIP; or (2) the development or project cost (less estimated land cost).
[2] If the disaster assistance is in the form of a loan, the amount of insurance need not exceed the outstanding principal balance of the loan.
The “Maintain” Requirement. The insurance must be continuously maintained regardless of a change in ownership. For owners, this requirement runs with the property address and applies to subsequent owners. For renters, this requirement only applies for as long as the applicant for disaster assistance or the insured contents remains at the flood-damaged rental property. For loans, the insurance must be maintained during the life of the loan.
3. Failure to “obtain and maintain” flood insurance results in ineligibility for future disaster assistance for flood-damaged items.
FAILURE TO NOTIFY COULD BE COSTLY.
If the following events occur: (1) the seller fails to provide this notice and the buyer does not obtain and maintain flood insurance as required; (2) the property is damaged by a flood disaster; and (3) Federal disaster assistance is provided to repair, replace, or restore the damage, then the seller may be required to reimburse the Federal government for the amount of the assistance previously received by the seller. The failure to provide the notice could be a very costly error to the former owner of the property.
[1] The requirement does not apply to “small loans,” defined as having (1) an original outstanding principal balance of $5,000 or less and a repayment term of one year or less, or (2) “detached structures” that are not part of the primary residential structure on residential property. 42 U.S.C.A. § 4012a(c)(2)-(3).
[2] 42 U.S.C.A. § 4012a.
[3] Under the FEMA Public Assistance Program (applicable to state, local, tribal governments, and eligible private non-profits), the “obtain and maintain” requirement applies more broadly. Applicants are required to obtain and maintain insurance for any hazard that results in FEMA-funded assistance and the failure to do so renders the applicant ineligible for any future disaster assistance, regardless of the type hazard.
[4] 42 U.S.C.A. § 5154a.
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