Developer Tips for Success: Clarence Ball | Alabama Housing Finance Authority

https://www.ncsha.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Pennsylvania-Housing-Finance-Agency-6.png Funding priority will be given to proposals from third-class cities HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency today is issuing a Request for Proposals for new construction, or the rehabilitation, of mixed-use projects seeking financial support. Funding will be provided through the Community Revitalization Fund Program. Mixed-use projects combine residential and retail/commercial space in…

https://www.ncsha.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Louisiana-Housing-Corporation.jpg Opelousas, LA — The Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) celebrated alongside housing partners to open the doors to the Gilliam Apartments which established additional safe, affordable, and energy-efficient housing for individuals and families in Opelousas. The Gilliam Apartments is a total of 14 units within two buildings. The apartment complex sits in an old community…

March 03, 2021
Joel Gardner began his career in the accounting field, but says, “I always enjoyed working with numbers, but wanted to work in a capacity where I could have more day-to-day interaction with people.” After entering the mortgage industry as a processor, he worked his way up to a loan officer assistant and is now a senior loan officer and assistant vice president at Renasant Bank where he has worked for nearly 8 years. In 2017, 2019, and 2020, he was the bank’s top CRA lender. Last year, he helped 204 families obtain their mortgage, bringing in more than $37.7 million in mortgage loans to the bank. 
Q: How did you hear about AHFA’s homebuyer financing programs?
A: Part of being a good community banker requires me to know about down payment grants and resources so that I can best help my customers who trust me to help guide them to the closing table with minimum resources. I work heavily in a market that requires down payment assistance. AHFA’s products have been a staple in my lending portfolio for quite some time. The loan itself has changed throughout the years, but it has always been a go-to for families looking to obtain homeownership within an affordable budget. 
Q: What do you think is the greatest benefit of Step Up for homebuyers?
A: I always compare mortgage loans to a carpenter’s tools. Depending on your personal situation, one loan might be better for your financing than another. The loan you choose should complement your upfront and long-term needs. The Step Up loan allows us to meet the financing goals of customers who look to obtain homeownership at a minimum upfront cost, while allowing more affordability in a home purchase than he or she might realize when renting.
Also, in today’s housing market, it takes a very competitive bid to actually “win” a completed sales contract. Sometimes to get an offer, a seller might not want to pay as much closing costs as they normally would, which leaves a buyer’s upfront cash stretched. I’ve been able to utilize Step Up for customers who might not have a lot upfront and between down payment, closing costs, and moving, they need to save their funds. This product really helps in those situations. 
Q: What is the best advice you can give to first-time homebuyers?
A: Talk with a banker 3-4 months prior to the date you wish to purchase. You can use this time to plan for any debt you might have to pay off, credit you might have to repair, or to better financially define what your mortgage might look like. 
Q: What do you enjoy most/find most rewarding about your job? 
A: I love the problem solving. I enjoy assisting my community obtain the benefits of homeownership when historically, it might not have always been available. Finding solutions or putting strategies together to help people achieve their short- and long-term goals and watching them execute and win is amazing. If I can assist anyone with their Step Up loan, they can find me at https://linktr.ee/JoelDGardner. 

https://www.ncsha.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/North-Dakota-Housing-Finance-Agency.png BISMARCK, ND – North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA) was ranked a Tier 1 Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan servicer for FY 2021 by the U.S. Department of Housing and […]Read More… from Housing Finance Agency Ranked a Tier 1 FHA Loan Servicer

December 01, 2020
Malea Benjamin received a 2020 resident scholarship award from the Alabama Affordable Housing Association (AAHA). She went on to later receive a scholarship from the national Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH) organization.
Education:
Benjamin is a 2020 graduate of Pell City High School and currently attends the University of Alabama. She is majoring in political science with a minor in communications or criminal justice. Ultimately, she plans to continue on to law school.
Career Goals:
“I have been intrigued by politics since a very young age,” wrote Benjamin in her scholarship application. “I remember going to the polls in 2008 with my grandmother and when she asked me who she should vote for (as if she did not already know), I remember pointing to President Barack Obama. As I grew older, I was fascinated by the whole presidential election process, from the candidates, to the debates, to the general election. Since sixth grade, my career goal was to become a lawyer. It was only natural that I would choose the legal profession as the doorway to becoming a member of Congress. My dream is to become a lawyer and politician because my heart truly lies in public service.”
Impact of Scholarship:
Benjamin said, “There is limited family contribution toward the cost of college. This scholarship will ease the burden of college expenses, which will allow me to focus more on my studies. Being awarded this scholarship will bring me closer to making my dream a reality.”
Living in affordable housing:
“I know from personal experience how affordable housing can play a huge role in the outcome of a student’s education,” said Benjamin. “[In 2018], we were able to move into affordable housing that was less than a one-mile drive from my high school. Finally, I was able to have my own space to decorate as I pleased and a place where I could study without disruptions. The neighborhood was quiet, safe, and, most of all, affordable. A suitable home life is a very important factor in determining a child’s educational success. It is necessary that more affordable housing be made available in communities throughout the country, where children, like myself, can benefit from living in home environments suitable for learning, free from chaos and distractions, and provide stability needed to improve a child’s academic performance.”
In 2000, the Alabama Affordable Housing Association (AAHA) created an education scholarship program for residents of member-owned apartment properties in Alabama. The scholarship funds are donated by the owners, contractors, architects, accountants, property management companies, investors, lenders, developers, and various vendors that make up AAHA’s membership as well as other non-member individuals. Since its inception, the AAHA resident scholarship fund has awarded more than $750,000 in college and vocational scholarships. For more information about the resident scholarship program, please contact Arrice Faught, AAHA’s executive director, at [email protected] or 205.758.1158.