From the Director, November 2018

Jolene Kline, NDHFA executive director

Over the past seven years, NDHFA has leveraged the state’s Housing Incentive Fund, working with developers and non-profits across North Dakota to create affordable housing and permanent supportive housing units for low- to moderate-income households, persons with disabilities, the frail elderly, and individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

What we have learned along the way, as many of you already know, is that the need is greater than the available resources. During the last funding round, eight applicants requested more than $4.7 million, however, only $1.6 million from HIF re-balancing dollars was available. The applicants also requested Low Income Housing Tax Credits and Housing Trust Fund dollars because projects that serve extremely low-income households need to have minimal to zero debt after construction to be able to cover operational and maintenance costs.

With our HIF resources now depleted, NDHFA’s staff waits to see if the program will receive new funding during the 2019 North Dakota Legislative Session.

During a recent meeting with the state’s Office of Management and Budget and the Governor’s staff, NDHFA requested $50 million be included in Governor Burgum’s budget for HIF. We know this is a substantial request, but we also know that the demand is present across the state as housing affects every community, urban and rural. Numerous organizations have reached out to NDHFA offering support for HIF, and it is reassuring to know that we are not the only entity that believes in the program.

Fortunately, housing is a bi-partisan issue, and we look forward to working with all of our state legislators, either newly elected or those returning to the capitol in January, to come to an agreement on the program’s future funding level.

At the federal level, NDHFA also continues to express the importance of development programs to rural states, working to ensure our message is not muted by states with larger populations. This year, North Dakota was one of the first states in the country to successfully construct and lease up a project utilizing the Housing Trust Fund, which was created and implemented in 2016. Our close relationships with local communities and public and private entities expedited the planning and construction process, which is sometimes envied by other states.

Recently, after evaluating more ways to get people into homes without using state or federal funding, NDHFA modified our North Dakota Roots program, increasing the income limits to assist in communities where the housing market still presents challenges. Roots is a resource for local lenders to be able to offer affordable financing and down payment and closing cost assistance to households who may have previously owned a home or who are first-time buyers whose incomes exceed the limits of our FirstHome™ program.

And, while the market greatly impacts the ability of people to find housing, sometimes the challenges are created by the individual. Through our newly implemented and operational Opening Doors Program, landlords now have access to a risk mitigation fund that eases concerns about housing individuals and families who have had bad experiences in the past either as a renter or in the justice system. Funding for Opening Doors was made possible through a partnership with the ND Dept. of Human Services.

NDHFA continues to evaluate our existing programs and make modifications, responding to market and community needs. With the changes made recently, we anticipate increased business and we hope that 2019 will be another record-breaking year for the agency as we strive to ensure that everyone has a safe and affordable place to call home.

Roots Makes Homeownership Easier

The apartment life that made sense when they first moved in together had lost its charm for Jacob Kienzle and Brita Bostad. They wanted a quiet place of their own where the monthly payment could be an investment into their future.

“At first, the process was daunting. There were so many factors to consider and the buying market was really competitive,” said Kienzle.

It wasn’t helping that the combined salaries of the couple, both teachers in their mid-twenties, put them over the $72,100 program income limit in Cass County for the purchase assistance available through North Dakota Housing Finance Agency’s (NDHFA) FirstHome™ program.

Peter Johnson of Western State Bank with Jacob and Brita.

After 10 years as a mortgage lender, Peter Johnson of Western State Bank has had more and more encounters with borrowers like Kienzle and Bostad who are eager to become homeowners, but who have limited resources. He encourages these buyers to learn about home financing and credit reports so they are ready when a suitable home in their price range becomes available.

Kienzle and Bostad were prepared, but after searching for a couple months, they were getting a bit frustrated. A phone call from Johnson changed everything. Thanks to new eligibility rules for NDHFA’s North Dakota Roots program, now Kienzle and Bostad could receive a reduced interest rate mortgage loan, and down payment and closing cost assistance.

In July 2014, the North Dakota Industrial Commission approved a change to the North Dakota Roots program that allowed any North Dakota household earning up to 140 percent of the area median income, $97,440 to $110,600 depending on the county where a financed home is located, to qualify for purchase assistance from NDHFA.

“Jacob and Brita were ecstatic,” Johnson said. “It was a lot of pressure to come up with the standard down payment and closing costs. The Roots program helped tremendously.”

Helping more families was exactly the point of the changes.

“Income levels and home prices in North Dakota have increased faster than our standard program limit calculations which are based on five-year and statewide averages,” said Dave Flohr, NDHFA homeownership division director. “The result is that many interested homebuyers, despite a need for assistance, couldn’t qualify because the program limits weren’t reflective of the state’s reality.”

Kienzle and Bostad just appreciate the little bit of help they needed to achieve their goal.

“We were really excited. It definitely made the purchase easier for us,” said Kienzle. “This program helped us buy our home and gave us room to breathe. Now we have a place to invest in and enjoy.”

The North Dakota Roots program was originally launched in 2002 to encourage new state residents to establish themselves in North Dakota. To qualify for the program, borrowers were required to have lived out of the state at least one year before establishing residency; to work at least 20 hours per week; and purchase a home within the first year of employment in the state.

Unfortunately, with the economy depressed in other parts of the United States, many families moving to North Dakota aren’t able to make a purchase right away even if they want to be homeowners.

Western State Bank’s Kristy Brink has worked in mortgage lending for more than 30 years and sympathizes with all the changes that households must adjust to when they move across the country for work – new schools, doctors, churches… everything – and often with no local support from family or friends.

Kristy Brink of Western State Bank.

“People come to me because they want to buy a home, and it’s great if I can pre-qualify them right away,” says Brink. “But sometimes it’s just not possible if the customer has had to leave an economically depressed area and had to ‘short sale’ their home, so we make a plan.”

Brink makes sure the buyers understand the guidelines and programs that are in place for their particular situation, and she lets them know when they can actively shop for a home. She also advises them to get to know the area, the neighborhoods, and try to decide what their preferences will be when they are able to buy.

While it may not sound like it at first, James and Dana Butler are among the more fortunate new state residents. According to Brink, many households in a depressed market can’t afford to move or if they do, they end up spending all their money to relocate and don’t have anything left for a down payment on a new home.

When the economic downturn found the Butlers struggling to afford the mortgage on their home in Washington state, they tried to sell the house. Six months in, James found work in North Dakota. He packed his bags shortly before Christmas and left Dana and their two children behind to continue the home sale battle. In June, after the house was on the market for a year, the Butlers relented and leased it out. Dana, eight-year old Simon and five-year old Penny were able to join James in North Dakota.

Because James is a veteran, the Butlers were able to get purchase assistance from the Veterans Administration. Coupled with a North Dakota Roots loan, they ended up paying nothing out of pocket.

The Butler family is now settled in a home in north Fargo, and according to Dana Butler, they are enjoying their new life.

“Although very different from the west coast, my family and I enjoy the many qualities the state of North Dakota has to offer,” says Butler. “It’s a very clean, friendly and safe state that has given us opportunities we wouldn’t have had in Washington state.”

The Butler family and the Kienzle/Bostad household aren’t the only households that have taken advantage of the updated Roots program. The less restrictive program policies increased interest more than fifteen fold over the final five months of 2014.

“I can’t say enough about how fortunate our state is to have NDHFA and the programs they provide,” said Brink. “From the first-time homebuyer programs, to renovation programs, to North Dakota Roots, NDHFA helps me help my customers and for that I am grateful.”

Through a network of lending and real estate partners, NDHFA provides low-cost financing, down payment and closing cost assistance, and supports homebuyer education. Western State Bank is one of approximately 40 lenders that originate loans on behalf of NDHFA. Once the loans are closed, they are sold to the agency. To date, almost 40,000 North Dakota households have achieved their homeownership dreams with the agency’s support.

The homeownership program limits quoted in this article are for fiscal year 2014. See www.ndhfa.org for the current program limits.

Industrial Commission Expands Homeownership Opportunities

BISMARCK – The North Dakota Industrial Commission today approved changes in the North Dakota Roots Program (Roots) to help more state residents become homeowners.  The program is administered by the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA).

The Industrial Commission voted in favor of changing the Roots program’s eligibility rules.   This change allows any North Dakota household earning up to 140 percent of the area median income to access NDHFA’s affordable interest rate loans, and down payment and closing cost assistance.

“Removing the Roots program restrictions allows more individuals and families to qualify for home purchase assistance from the North Dakota Housing Financing Agency,” Commission members said in a joint statement.   “Increased homeownership helps growing North Dakota communities become more stable.”

The commission, consisting of Gov. Jack Dalrymple, as chairman, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, oversees NDHFA.

“The commission’s actions make more prospective home buyers eligible for our homeownership programs,” said Jolene Kline, NDHFA executive director. “We anticipate the new Roots program will be popular with moderate-income households that need down payment assistance to move from renting to homeownership.”

The Roots program’s maximum income limits are $97,440 to $110,600 depending on the county where a financed home is located. The maximum Roots loan amount must comply with the current Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac conforming loan amount or the limits of the applicable loan insurer/guarantor.

At current interest rates, a household earning $90,000 per year could qualify for a $300,000 mortgage loan that includes purchase assistance said Kline.

Roots has been available since 2002. Previously borrowers were required to have lived out of the state at least one year before establishing residency in North Dakota; work at least 20 hours per week, and purchase a home within the first year of employment in the state.   Borrowers must still occupy the property as their principal residence.

NDHFA’s FirstHome™ program has helped 40,000 households become homeowners. Approximately 70 percent of the agency’s first-time homebuyers utilize down payment and closing cost assistance.

More information on the agency’s homeownership programs is available from NDHFA participating lenders or online at www.ndhfa.org.

A self-supporting state agency, NDHFA helps low- to moderate-income North Dakotans by offering homebuyer education, down payment and closing cost assistance, and affordable mortgage loans programs. Agency revenues earned through its homeownership programs sustain its outreach efforts and grant programs.