H.R. 5818 would authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make loans to States to acquire foreclosed housing and to make grants to States for related costs.
Detailed Summary
Neighborhood Stabilization Act of 2008 - Requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to make grants and loans to qualified states, in accordance with HUD-approved plans, to carry out eligible housing stimulus activities.
Allows such loans to be used by a state, a unit of local government or its entity, or a nonprofit organization.
Limits the use of such loans to: (1) purchasing or financing the purchase of qualified foreclosed housing for resale as housing for homeownership to families having incomes of up to 140% of the median income for the area in which the housing is located; (2) rental of such housing only by families whose incomes do not exceed 100% of such median income in the area; and (3) rehabilitation of such property for the purpose of reselling it within three months at a price as close as possible to its acquisition price.
Limits the use of grants to: (1) property holding and operating costs; (2) property-related acquisition costs; and (3) state-related administrative and planning costs.
Requires the Secretary, by regulation, to prohibit the use of such grants or loans for: (1) political activities; (2) advocacy; (3) lobbying, whether directly or through other parties; (4) counseling services; (5) travel expenses; and (6) preparing or providing advice on tax returns.
Requires the use of such grants to provide housing only for families with: (1) very low-income; and (2) extremely low-income.
Prohibits a loan or grant recipient from discriminating against a prospective tenant because the individual holds a voucher or certificate of eligibility under section 8 (public housing rental assistance) of the United States Housing Act of 1937.
Conditions the use of such loans or grants on a shared appreciation agreement between the federal government and the owner of such housing regarding the federal share of proceeds from its sale or disposition.
Directs the Secretary to require a state to reimburse the Treasury for amounts of any misused funds.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 5/12/2008: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
Mia
No, No and h*ll No! Washington better listen. Taxpayers do not want this.
David
Against.
You should sleep in the bed you make... not in mine.
Paula LeCates
No, why should I pay for the greed of lenders and the selfishness of buyers!
Richard
I am not in favor of bailing out those who caused the problem, nor those whose greed drove them to try to roll property. But I am concerned for the low- and moderate-income home buyers who find themselves hammered on the same anvil. This sounds like a less expensive option than letting foreclosures deteriorate and paying for it later. At the same time helping cities maintain livability and providing guaranteed opportunity for the low- and moderate-income (working poor).
Angry Renter
More borrowing and spending! Join the protest against the housing bailout at AngryRenter.com !
Frank
What Mia, David and Paula do not "get" is that the problem is not limited to those (lenders & Borrowers) who got hammered. The repercussions of this bubble are vast and deep. The energy and food (commodities) rise in prices - the devaluation of our formerly "mighty" dollar, its value dropping as our borrowing rises in order to finance the war - consumer borrowing maxing out - the squeeze on the middle class, and the drop in property values. All of those factors have placed our entire economic future in uncertain and dangerous ground. You have forgotten what brought financial regulation into existence. The great Depression was brought forth by an unregulated market. We need to brush up on our history, lest we be doomed to repeat it.
Anne
Against.
This is how our goverment reward the irresponsible. What are the goverment to do with the rest of us(guessing 90%+) that are faithfully paying our mortgage. Will all homeowners get a reduce mortgage too? What a joke.
Bill
As a person that has been very responsible and taken no risk, If I can arrange to get all of us who save to go to Las Vegas and bet our life savings on Red, would the government bail us out as well? These are people who bought more then they could afford and those of us that saw this coming are going to lose out on oppurtunities to by property at very low prices. Lets pass a bill that removes all aid to the oil companies. That would help the people more!