Feature

Feature

Use Tracking Sheets to Organize and Guide Fraud Investigations

January 30, 2013    

In these economic times, you may have experienced an uptick in qualified applicants applying for units at your tax credit site. Unfortunately, a small subset of these applicants is probably reporting false income in an attempt to take advantage of subsidized rent rates. Recently, the Worcester...

How to Survey Move-Outs for Tips on Improving Site Management

December 21, 2012    

In the November 2012 Special Issue, we covered move-in procedures that make good first impressions on new residents. In this issue, we’ll cover an important step to perform when good residents move out, so you can assess the effectiveness of your management practices.

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Five Tips for Finding Qualified Applicants for Your Low-Income Units

November 19, 2012    

Finding enough qualified applicants to occupy your low-income units can be a tough task. And you’ll want to attract enough qualified applicants to be able to choose those who will respect your rules and pay the rent on time.

If you don’t find enough qualified applicants for...

How to Respond to Three Objections When Leasing Units at Tax Credit Sites

November 18, 2012    

Getting top-quality renters through your tax credit site’s office door is tough. But dealing with their worries about living at a tax credit site is even tougher. Some applicants think twice about renting a unit at a tax credit site. They have preconceptions that the tax credit program...

How to Respond to Unfavorable, False Reviews on Apartment-Rating Web Sites

November 17, 2012    

The Internet has proven to be very beneficial for apartment communities, as it gives prospects the opportunity to shop for apartments 24 hours a day in the comfort of their homes. As prospects continue to do more of their research online, user review and ratings Web sites such as yelp.com and...

Set Strong Anti-Fraud Policy to Encourage Disclosure of All Assets

November 5, 2012    

Applicants and residents who lie about their income or student status cause big problems for tax credit owners and managers. Many applicants lie about their qualifications for the tax credit program because they think this will increase the chances that they'll appear eligible to occupy a...

How to Certify Applicants or Households with Pregnant Members

September 28, 2012    

As a tax credit manager, you must be aware of households' composition and be aware of how life changes such as pregnancies among your households or applicants can invoke specific HUD rules when it comes to eligibility, income, and unit size. For example, suppose a married couple applies for...

Gather Necessary Administrative Documents for Key Compliance Information

August 30, 2012    

Unless you get the right documents from the owner, you may not be able to manage your tax credit site effectively. Part of keeping your site in compliance is making sure your staff knows all the requirements and restrictions that affect it. The most authoritative sources for much of this...

How to Avoid Tax Credit Recapture After Site Suffers Casualty Loss

August 1, 2012    

A tornado hits and wipes out three of the 10 buildings at your site. A flood leaves the ground-floor units at your site uninhabitable. A fire roars through two floors of your high-rise and severely damages 10 units. If one of these or a similar disaster occurs at your tax credit site, you’...

Boost Lease-Up with Well-Timed Press Releases

August 1, 2012    

Press releases are a great and inexpensive way to get your site’s name recognized in the community and attract qualified applicants, says communications consultant Rose Reichman. You can send press releases with newsworthy information about a new or existing site to local newspapers and...

Insider's 2012 Survey Results: Tackling the Top Compliance and Management Challenges

July 15, 2012    

In today's economy, providing affordable housing to low-income families is more important than ever. There may be plenty of applicants, but there are also considerable challenges in verifying that they're qualified for the LIHTC program and in keeping up with rising operational costs....