Affordable Housing News & Views - March 2021

In this month’s update, the discussion centers around optimism around what can be done by Congress in 2021, the 50% test and cost to lower and process challenges, the middle-income housing tax credit (MIHTC), Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) reform, and a bonus question. Listen in as two preeminent leaders from affordable housing’s efforts on The Hill, Bob Moss and David Gasson, both principals with MG Housing Strategies, join Beth Mullen, CohnReznick’s Affordable Housing practice leader, to discuss critical legislative updates for the low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) industry.

CohnReznick’s March 2021 Housing Tax Credit Monitor is now available. This edition features:

• Median pricing and blended IRR across multi-investor funds
• 26 current national and regional funds offered
• Median Housing Credit Pricing update
• 2020 Housing Credit Equity Volume

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) contained certain provisions offering relief from the requirements of certain generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP) for troubled debt restructurings (TDRs). Additionally, a group of banking agencies, in collaboration with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), issued a statement discussing practical expedients for evaluating whether loan modifications in response to COVID-19 are TDRs. The Interagency Statement, as revised, is important for lenders to understand because, under certain circumstances, it alleviates the burden of accounting for TDRs.

Technology continues to be underutilized by some industries, including housing development. Developers can unleash organizational gains in productivity and efficiencies by fully leveraging what they already have or add. This helpful dialogue includes a downloadable “discussion guide” to help your organization make decisions and develop an approach to positive internal changes. Beth Mullen and Mark Brown, CohnReznick’s Analytics, Data, and Digital Transformation Practice Leader, discuss real-life examples and approaches.