CR 94-71 App MHFA Program
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March 30, 1994 o P K \ ~ Council Report 94-71
APPLICATION FOR THE MHFA MINNESOTA CITY PARTICIPATION PROGRAM
Proposed Action
Staff recommends approval of the following motion: Approve submission of an application for
the Minnesota City Participation Program (MCPP).
With approval of this action the application will be submitted to the Minnesota Housing Finance
Agency for their review and approval.
Overview
The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHF A) is soliciting applications for participation in the
Minnesota City Participation Program, a mortgage program for first time home buyers. This
program allows the MHF A to sell mortgage revenue bonds on behalf of participating cities. The
proceeds of these bonds are used to provide below market interest rate home mortgage loans to
low and moderate income first time homebuyers.
. The City is required to submit a 1 % refundable deposit with its application. The deposit will be
refunded upon the sale of the mortgage revenue bonds, estimated to occur sometime this
spring/summer. Additionally, the City must pay a nonrefundable processing fee of $200.00 (based
on an allocation of$I,OOO,OOO.).
The City has participated in this program in 1992 and 1993 with moderate success. A total of
$513,932 has been expended through this program over the past two years. Staff is
recommending that the City apply for $1,000,000 in 1994 MCPP funds with the likelihood that
the final allocation will be less that this amount.
Primary Issues to Consider:
o What is the purpose of the program?
o What services will be performed on behalf of the City?
o What is the cost to the City for participating in program?
o What are the requirements of the program?
o What is the basis for the amount of the City's request?
o Who will serve as the City's lender?
Supportin2 Information:
6 Applicatio"n for thl:;.Minnesota City Participation Program
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Kersten Elverum, .Housing Coordinator
. MCPP Application
Rpt. 94-71
page 2
Primary Issues to Consider
o What is the purpose of the program?
The primary objective of the MCPP is to provide affordable mortgage financing for low and
moderate income homebuyers through the issuance of mortgage revenue bonds. Through the
MCPP, the City receives a "set-asidell of funds to be used to make loans in Hopkins. The lower
interest rate of these funds attracts home buyers to Hopkins and makes their housing more
affordable.
o What services will be performed on behalf of the City?
The following are the benefits of participating in the Minnesota City Participation Program:
o MHF A will incur the expenses associated with the issuance of the bond
o MHF A will provide administrative support for both the bond sale and the operation of
. the program
o MHF A will assist in marketing each City's program
o Locallender(s) take the applications for the originate the mortgage loans
o Mortgage loan funds are available to eligible homebuyers at an interest rate
approximately 1 % below market mortgage interest rates
o Only participating cities will have access to Homeownership Assistance Fund which
provides downpayment or monthly payment assistance to lower income applicants.
o What is the cost to the City for participating in the program?
To apply for the funds, a refundable deposit equal to 1 % of its requested allocation must be
submitted along with the application. Based on a requested amount of $1 million, the required
deposit would be $10,000. The deposit must accompany the application but will be refunded
upon the sale of the mortgage revenue bonds.
Additionally, a processing fee must be paid prior to the bonds being sold. The fee is based on the
final allocation and is anticipated to be $200. The 1% deposit and processing fee would be taken
from the Economic Development Fund.
o What are the requirements of the program?
Borrower Eligibility:
e o Must be a first time home buyer defined as not having had an ownership interest in a
principal residence for the past 3 years
o Must occupy home within 60 days
. MCPP Application
Rpt. 94- 71
Page 3
o"Adjusted" gross income must not exceed $39,680 per year. The most common
adjustment for income would be $1000 per family member so that a family offour
could actually gross $43,680 and still qualify for the loan funds
Property Requirements:
o Properties must be existing one family homes, townhomes or condominiums (some
duplexes may also be eligible)
o Residence must be in good repair and meet usual mortgage underwriting requirements
o Property must not exceed the MHFA Acquisition Cost Limits of$85,000 for a single
family home
These are the minimum requirements for eligible properties. The City has the ability to further
"targd' properties or eligible participants by incorporating additional restrictions such as targeted
population groups (i.e. minorities, handicapped, elderly), specific program boundaries, etc... Staff
recommends that the City propose to use the minimum requirements (and the maximum income
limits) allowed by MHF A to make the funds available to as many individuals or families as
. possible.
o What is the basis for the amount of the City's request?
Staff is recommending that the City apply for I million in mortgage funds, based on past years
usage of program funds and the certainty that the actual allocation will be reduced due to limited
bond funds. Under the guidelines of the program, a city must apply for at least $250,000 and not
more than $4 million.
o Who will serve as the City lender?
Under the guidelines of the program, cities may select one or more specific lenders to deliver their
program or may specify all lenders within their area that are under contract with .MHF A to
provide program delivery. However, the application must identify one lender and include a letter
of intent from that lending institution. FBS Mortgage has supplied a letter of intent to participate
which will be included in the application but staff is recommending to also allow any participating
lender to make loans under our program.
Alternatives
The Council has the following alternatives regarding this issue:
o Approve the application as recommended by staff
. o Amend the application to further "target" the program, to request more or less funds, or make
other eligible changes to the application.
o Decide that they do not wish to participate in the Minnesota City Participation Program.
. APPLICATION FOR FUNDING
MINNESOTA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY
1994
MINNESOTA CITY P ARTICIP A TION PROGRAM (MCPP)
I. ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATION
Name and address of organization:
City of Hopkins 1010 First Street South Hopkins, Minnesota 55343
Name and phone number of contact person:
Kersten Elverum, Housing Coordinator #935-8474
Representative at Bond Allocation Meeting:
Kersten Elverurn
. Type of Organization: City
Amount of funds requested and estimated number of loans to be provided:
1,000,000.00; 13 loans
Balance of unused Mortgage Revenue Bond or Mortgage Credit Certificate
resources still available in Hopkins (nonMHFA): None
II. ORIGINATING LENDER
FBS Mortgage
7025 France Avenue South
Edina,:MN 55435
III. HOUSING PLAN
See Attached
IV. PROGRAM SPECIFICS
How the program fits into the comprehensive housing plan:
. The City of Hopkins, through the MCPP will provide assistance to low to moderate
income first time homebuyers to purchase a home in Hopkins. This will help meet the
. need for such assistance, as identified in the comprehensive housing plan. The program
will also help to keep the overall housing market strong in Hopkins by linking eligible
properties to interested buyers and then making the purchase of those homes possible.
Borrower income limits:
80% ofHUD median family income for the Twin Cities MSA, currently at $39,680.
Home purchase price limits:
The home purchase price limit for the Hopkins' program may not exceed the MHF A price
limit, currently set at 85,000.
Targeting of specific population groups:
The City of Hopkins will not target any specific population group for the Minnesota City
Participation funds.
Targeting of area or housing stock:
. The City of Hopkins will not target an area or specific housing stock for inclusion in the
Minnesota City Participation Program.
Optional program enhancements: None.
Schedule for release of funds: Immediate.
V. ECONOMIC VIABILITY
Demand for the MCPP in the Hopkins Housing Market:
The Minnesota City Participation Program is designed to assist low to moderate income
first time homebuyers in the purchase of their first home. Hopkins is an ideal community
for this type of program due to several factors.
First, the single family housing stock is largely made up of II starter homes" which by value
are the types of properties which qualify for financing through this program. The City also
has a significant number of condominiums and townhomes (over 15% of the housing
stock).
Secondly, the City of Hopkins has a lower than average median income which indicates a
greater number of residents who would qualify for the loan program.
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. Additionally, the City has the highest percentage of residents in the 1929 year old age
group, according to the 1990 Hennepin County census. Typically, this is the age group
which contains the most first time homebuyers.
Real estate sales over the Dast year:
In 1993, there were 59 single family homes sold in Hopkins for $85,000 or less. There
were an additional 56 condominium and townhomes which sold for $85,000 or less.
Combined there were a total of 115 homes sold which would potentially qualify for
the proposed program.
U.S. Census Data:
According to the 1990 census, the median value of single family homes in Hopkins is
$86,700, just slightly above the maximum purchase price allowed under the proposed
program. This data indicates that there is an ample supply of properties which would be
eligible under the proposed program.
VI. NEW CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
. There will be no new construction under the City of Hopkins program.
VII. SIGNATURES
The information herein is true and correct based on normal and prudent business inquiry.
Charles D. Redepenning Phone #
Mayor
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