Bill Text: HI SB1244 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Affordable Housing.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-07-11 - Act 159, 07/10/2017 (Gov. Msg. No. 1260). [SB1244 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2017-SB1244-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
1244 |
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TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to affordable housing.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the shortage of safe, decent, and sanitary housing has been a persistent problem in Hawaii for decades. Almost 50 years ago, in 1970, the Hawaii state legislature recognized the need to address the severe shortfall of affordable housing and passed H.B. No. 397, as amended, which was enacted into law as Act 105, Session Laws of Hawaii 1970, and codified as chapter 359A, Hawaii Revised Statutes. This enabling legislation expanded the powers of the then Hawaii Housing Authority to provide for-sale affordable housing units to the general public, in addition to providing affordable rental housing units. This legislation was the predecessor to what is today known as the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation.
In Act 105, the legislature noted "a critical shortage of housing units for lower and middle income residents" and emphasized the importance of affordable housing to the fabric of society. Act 105 also cited studies indicating that the high cost of housing is the result of multiple factors, including "the cost and availability of land, the cost of development, the cost and availability of financing, the cost added by government regulation, the cost and availability of labor and materials, the inflationary state of the economy", and "conflicting priorities in our pluralistic society".
The legislature further finds that, almost a half century after Act 105, the shortage of affordable housing still exists and has grown to crisis proportions. With the limited amount of developable land and the lack of needed infrastructure, we find median prices for single family homes on Oahu hovering at around $750,000. Recent studies show a need for 60,000 housing units by the year 2020. It is necessary, therefore, for the legislature to take steps to preserve existing affordable housing units for as long as possible. This has not been the case in recent years relative to government-assisted or mandated affordable housing units. Because of the lack of financial or other resources, government agencies have often opted to waive their right of first refusal to repurchase housing units that are sold within the designated restriction period.
The purpose of this Act is to authorize a qualified nonprofit housing trust to repurchase affordable units developed with government assistance when a government entity elects to waive its first right of refusal to repurchase the unit. The intent is to create a pool of affordable housing units that will remain permanently affordable through the purchase and management of the units by the housing trust.
SECTION 2. Chapter 206E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§206E- Reserved and workforce housing units; transfer to qualified nonprofit housing trust. Any law to the contrary notwithstanding, the authority may authorize a designated qualified nonprofit housing trust to administer the covenants and rules related to the reserved housing and workforce housing programs. Additionally, the authority may waive its right to repurchase a reserved or workforce housing unit during the restriction period and may transfer that right of repurchase to a qualified nonprofit housing trust for the purpose of maintaining the reserved or workforce housing unit as an affordable housing unit. If the repurchase rights are transferred to a qualified nonprofit housing trust, the restrictions prescribed in this chapter or in rules adopted by the authority shall be automatically extinguished and shall not attach in subsequent transfers of title; provided further that the qualified nonprofit housing trust shall have the right to establish new restrictions in order to effectuate the long-term affordability of a housing unit."
SECTION 3. Section 201H-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:
""Qualified nonprofit housing trust" means a corporation, association, or other duly chartered organization that is registered and in good standing with the State; has received charitable status under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; and has been established to maintain the affordability of rental or for-sale units for as long as practicable."
SECTION 4. Section 201H-47, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§201H-47 Real property; restrictions on transfer; waiver of restrictions. (a) The following restrictions shall apply to the transfer of real property developed and sold under this chapter, whether in fee simple or leasehold:
(1) For a period of ten years after the purchase, whether by lease, assignment of lease, deed, or agreement of sale, if the purchaser wishes to transfer title to the real property, the corporation shall have the first option to purchase the real property at a price that shall not exceed the sum of:
(A) The original cost to the purchaser, as defined in rules adopted by the corporation;
(B) The cost of any improvements added by the purchaser, as defined in rules adopted by the corporation; and
(C) Simple interest on the original cost and capital improvements to the purchaser at the rate of one per cent a year;
(2) The corporation may purchase the real property either:
(A) By conveyance free and clear of all mortgages and liens; or
(B) By conveyance subject to existing mortgages and liens.
If the real property is conveyed in the manner provided in subparagraph (A), it shall be conveyed to the corporation only after all mortgages and liens are released. If the real property is conveyed in the manner provided in subparagraph (B), the corporation shall acquire the property subject to any first mortgage created for the purpose of securing the payment of a loan of funds expended solely for the purchase of the real property by the seller; and any mortgage or lien created for any other purpose provided that the corporation has previously consented to it in writing.
The corporation's interest created by this section shall constitute a statutory lien on the real property and shall be superior to any other mortgage or lien except for:
(i) Any first mortgage created for the purpose of securing the payment of a loan of funds expended solely for the purchase of the real property by the seller;
(ii) Any mortgage insured or held by a federal housing agency; and
(iii) Any mortgage or lien created for any other purpose; provided that the corporation has previously consented to it in writing.
The amount paid by the corporation to the seller shall be the difference, if any, between the purchase price determined by paragraph (1)(A) to (C), and the total of the outstanding principal balances of the mortgages and liens assumed by the corporation;
(3) A purchaser may refinance real property developed and sold under this chapter; provided that the purchaser shall not refinance the real property within ten years from the date of purchase for an amount in excess of the purchase price as determined by paragraph (1)(A) to (C); provided further that the purchaser shall obtain the corporation's written consent if any restriction on the transfer of the real property remains applicable;
(4) After the end of the tenth year from the date of initial purchase or execution of an agreement of sale, the purchaser may sell the real property and sell or assign the property free from any price restrictions; provided that the purchaser shall be required to pay to the corporation the sum of:
(A) The balance of any mortgage note, agreement of sale, or other amount owing to the corporation;
(B) Any subsidy or deferred sales price made by the corporation in the acquisition, development, construction, and sale of the real property, and any other amount expended by the corporation not counted as costs under section 201H-45 but charged to the real property by good accounting practice as determined by the corporation whose books shall be prima facie evidence of the correctness of the costs;
(C) Interest on the subsidy or deferred sales price, if applicable, and any other amount expended at the rate of seven per cent a year computed as to the subsidy or deferred sales price, if applicable, from the date of purchase or execution of the agreement of sale, and as to any amount expended, from the date of expenditure; provided that the computed interest shall not extend beyond thirty years from the date of purchase or execution of the agreement of sale of the real property. If any proposed sale or transfer will not generate an amount sufficient to pay the corporation the sum as computed under this paragraph, the corporation shall have the first option to purchase the real property at a price that shall not exceed the sum as computed under paragraphs (1) and (2); and
(D) The corporation's share of appreciation in the real property as determined under rules adopted pursuant to chapter 91, when applicable;
(5) Notwithstanding any provision in this section to the contrary, pursuant to rules adopted by the corporation, the subsidy or deferred sales price described in paragraph (4)(B) and any interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (4)(C) may be paid, in part or in full, at any time; and
(6) Notwithstanding any provision in this section to the contrary, the corporation's share of appreciation in the real property described in paragraph (4)(D):
(A) Shall apply when the sales price of the real property that is developed and sold under this chapter is less than the then-current, unencumbered, fair market value of the real property as determined by a real property appraisal obtained prior to the closing of the sale;
(B) Shall be a restriction that runs with the land until it is paid in full and released by the corporation, or extinguished pursuant to subsection (e); and
(C) May be paid, in part or in full, at any time after recordation of the sale.
(b) If the corporation waives its first option to repurchase the unit as provided in subsection (a), a qualified nonprofit housing trust shall have the option to purchase the unit at the price and in the manner set forth in subsection (a).
[(b)] (c) For a period of ten
years after the purchase, whether by lease, assignment of lease, deed, or
agreement of sale, if the purchaser wishes to transfer title to the real
property, and if the corporation or the qualified nonprofit housing trust
does not exercise the option to purchase the real property as provided in subsection
(a), then the corporation shall require the purchaser to sell the real property
to a "qualified resident" as defined in section 201H-32, and upon the
terms that preserve the intent of this section and sections 201H-49 and
201H-50, and in accordance with rules adopted by the corporation.
[(c)] (d) The corporation may
waive the restrictions prescribed in subsection (a) or (b) if:
(1) The purchaser wishes to transfer title to the real property by devise or through the laws of descent to a family member who would otherwise qualify under rules established by the corporation;
(2) The sale or transfer of the real property would be at a price and upon terms that preserve the intent of this section without the necessity of the State repurchasing the real property; provided that, in this case, the purchaser shall sell the real property and sell or assign the real property to a person who is a "qualified resident" as defined in section 201H-32; and provided further that the purchaser shall pay to the corporation its share of appreciation in the real property as determined in rules adopted pursuant to chapter 91, when applicable; or
(3) The sale or transfer is of real property subject to a sustainable affordable lease as defined in section 516-1.
[(d)] (e) The corporation may
release the restrictions prescribed in subsection (a) or (b) if the real
property is financed under a federally subsidized mortgage program and the
restrictions would jeopardize the federal government's ability to recapture any
interest credit subsidies provided to the homeowner.
[(e)] (f) The restrictions
prescribed in this section and sections 201H-49 to 201H-51 shall be
automatically extinguished and shall not attach in subsequent transfers of
title when a qualified nonprofit housing trust becomes the owner of the real
property pursuant to subsection (b); or a mortgage holder or other party
becomes the owner of the real property pursuant to a mortgage foreclosure, foreclosure
under power of sale, or a conveyance in lieu of foreclosure after a foreclosure
action is commenced; provided that the mortgage is the initial purchase money
mortgage, or that the corporation consented to and agreed to subordinate the
restrictions to the mortgage when originated, if the mortgage is not the initial
purchase money mortgage; or when a mortgage is assigned to a federal housing
agency. Any law to the contrary notwithstanding, a mortgagee under a mortgage
covering real property or leasehold interest encumbered by the first option to
purchase in favor of the corporation, prior to commencing mortgage foreclosure
proceedings, shall notify the corporation in writing of:
(1) Any default of the mortgagor under the mortgage within ninety days after the occurrence of the default; and
(2) Any intention of the mortgagee to foreclose the mortgage under chapter 667 forty-five days prior to commencing mortgage foreclosure proceedings;
provided that the mortgagee's failure to provide written notice to the corporation shall not affect the mortgage holder's rights under the mortgage. The corporation shall be a party to any foreclosure action, and shall be entitled to its share of appreciation in the real property as determined under this chapter in lien priority when the payment is applicable, and if foreclosure occurs within the ten-year period after the purchase, the corporation shall also be entitled to all proceeds remaining in excess of all customary and actual costs and expenses of transfer pursuant to default, including liens and encumbrances of record; provided that the person in default shall be entitled to an amount that shall not exceed the sum of amounts determined pursuant to subsection (a)(1)(B) and (C).
[(f)] (g) The provisions of this
section shall be incorporated in any deed, lease, agreement of sale, or any
other instrument of conveyance issued by the corporation. In any sale by the
corporation of real property for which a subsidy or deferred sales price was
made by the corporation, the amount of the subsidy or deferred sales price
described in subsection (a)(4)(B), a description of the cost items that
constitute the subsidy or deferred sales price, and the conditions of the
subsidy or deferred sales price shall be clearly stated at the beginning of the
contract document issued by the corporation. In any sale in which the
corporation's share of appreciation in real property is a restriction, the
terms of the shared appreciation equity program shall be clearly stated and
included as an exhibit in any deed, lease, agreement of sale, or any other
instrument of conveyance.
[(g)] (h) This section need not
apply to market-priced units in an economically integrated housing project,
except as otherwise determined by the developer of the units; provided that
preference shall be given to qualified residents in the initial sale of
market-priced units.
[(h)] (i) The corporation is
authorized to waive any of the restrictions set forth in this section in order
to comply with or conform to requirements set forth in federal law or
regulations governing mortgage insurance or guarantee programs or requirements
set forth by federally chartered secondary mortgage market participants.
(j) Any law to the contrary notwithstanding, if a housing unit is purchased by a qualified nonprofit housing trust, the housing trust shall have the right to establish new restrictions in order to effectuate the long-term affordability of a housing unit."
SECTION 5. Section 206E-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding three new definitions to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:
""Qualified nonprofit housing trust" means a corporation, association, or other duly chartered organization that is registered and in good standing with the State; has received charitable status under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; and has the capacity and resources as determined by the authority to carry out the requirements of the reserved housing and workforce housing programs.
"Reserved housing" means housing designated for residents in the low-income or moderate-income ranges who meet such eligibility requirements as the authority may adopt by rule.
"Workforce housing" means new residential projects where at least seventy-five per cent of the residential units are set aside for purchase or rent by households earning no more than one hundred forty per cent of the area median income and which do not require financial assistance for design and construction from federal, state or county government agencies."
SECTION 6. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 7. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Affordable Housing Units; Transfer
Description:
Authorizes qualified nonprofit housing trusts to repurchase affordable units developed with government assistance when a government entity waives its first right of refusal to repurchase the unit.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
