PropertyManagementMaven: January 2010

Under the Fair Housing Act, a resident or an applicant for housing makes a reasonable accommodation request whenever she makes clear to the housing provider that she is requesting an exception, change, or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice, or service because of her disability. She should explain what type of accommodation she is requesting and, if the need for the accommodation is not readily apparent or not known to the provider, explain the relationship between the requested accommodation and her disability.

Similarly, a resident or an applicant for housing makes a reasonable modification request whenever she makes clear to the housing provider that she is requesting permission to make a structural change to the premises because of her disability. She should explain that she has a disability, if not readily apparent or not known to the housing provider, the type of modification she is requesting, and the relationship between the requested modification and her disability.

An applicant or resident is not entitled to receive a reasonable accommodation or modification unless she requests one. However, the Fair Housing Act does not require that a request be made in a particular manner or at a particular time. A person with a disability need not personally make the reasonable accommodation request; the request can be made by a family member or someone else who is acting on her behalf. An individual making a reasonable accommodation or modification request does not need to mention the Act or use the words “reasonable accommodation” or “reasonable modification.” However, the requester must make the request in a manner that a reasonable person would understand to be a request for an exception, change, or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice, or service because of a disability or that a reasonable person would understand to be a request for permission to make a structural change because of a disability.

Although a reasonable accommodation or modification request can be made orally or in writing, it is usually helpful for both the resident and the housing provider if the request is made in writing. This will help prevent misunderstandings regarding what is being requested, or whether the request was made. To facilitate the processing and consideration of the request, residents or prospective residents may wish to check with a housing provider in advance to determine if the provider has a preference regarding the manner in which the request is made. However, housing providers must give appropriate consideration to reasonable accommodation and modification requests even if the requester makes the request orally or does not use the provider’s preferred forms or procedures for making such requests.

Example: A tenant in a large apartment building makes an oral request that she be assigned a mailbox in a location that she can easily access because of a physical disability that limits her ability to reach and bend. The provider would prefer that the tenant make the accommodation request on a pre-printed form, but the tenant fails to complete the form. The provider must consider the reasonable accommodation request even though the tenant would not use the provider’s designated form.

It is important for all real estate professionals to remember that the federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin and disability.

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To learn more about fair housing issues (and many other topics affecting real estate professionals), please visit us at www.123ConEd.com. 123 ConEd LLC (www.123ConEd.com) is a leading provider of Michigan real estate continuing education. Our online real estate con ed courses are fully approved for credit by the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth.

Copyright © 123 ConEd LLC 2010. All rights reserved.

As my fingers attack the keys of my innocent laptop, I desperately try to remind myself that spouting off isn't always a great idea. Myself doesn't agree at this moment.

Sipping on my morning coffee I was astounded by the news of the NFL strongly advising the small business owners of New Orleans to cease printing items with the "Who Dat" logo.

Excuse me???????

I agree that there is no tears in football. I have always agreed with that sentiment; however, when New Orleans beat the Vikings to secure a visit to Miami, I cried like a baby! It was a difficult reaction to describe to anyone who isn't from the region. It was more than a football game.

I watched helplessly not too many years ago when my entire childhood playground was devastated. I spent hours on the phone trying to find family and friends. I saw first hand the pain, the suffering, and the damaged soul of a city.

So Mr. NFL, I will tell you who it is that owns "Who DAT?"

 

It is the people of a city who refused to give up. It is the small business owners who brick by brick cleaned, scraped, and fought to keep their doors open. It is a region that was so completely forgotten once CNN moved on to another story. It is the people of New Orleans and their loyal cousins in the Gulf Coast region.

I strongly support and encourage the printing, reprinting, repainting, and republishing of a phrase, no matter how silly, if it brings life, hope, and much needed revenue back to my region.

 

House Republicans have offered a seemingly workable solution to the Housing Situation that appears to have some very comprehensive ideas.  This plan can be reviewed here:

http://www.gop.gov/solutions/

Here is a brief Overview of one aspect proposed:

Keeping Families in their Home, Lowering Costs for all Homeowners credit to help families cover the costs of a mortgage refinancing, buy down points, or reducetheir principal balance (covers refinancings through July 1, 2010).

 

$5,000 Refinancing Credit:House Republicans propose to provide a $5,000 refinancing tax

The temporary first-time home-buyers credit recently enacted by Congress is of little value to those who have already purchased home. In order to assist the millions of Americans who maywish to take advantage of historically low rates on home mortgages, House Republican areproposing a temporary $5,000 refinancing tax credit. The credit can be used to:

• Cover the closing costs associated with a refinancing,

• Buy down points on the newly refinanced mortgage, or

• For homeowners that may be slightly underwater, the credit may be used to increase their

equity and thus qualify for a refinancing.

I LIKE this; pertains to ME and would be something I could implement this year!

Theres more, and I recommend reading the ENTIRE 5 pages of recomendations.  5 Pages. Way too Simple.

As much as I dislike any Government involvement in anything I do, it seems we have fallen into the Abyss long before I came along.  Many ideas I believe would spur investment, but obviously there won't be any movement until the folks get some money rolling in.  The only movement I am seeing in my sector is for some type of Government job.  Very disturbing. 

 

 

 

Charlie and Maria Cardoso pleaded with Bank of America to not foreclose on their home in Florida, but the bank said there was nothing that could be done.  So, the bank foreclosed on the property, forced out the tenants, stripped the house, and changed the locks.

There was just one small, little, tiny, almost insignificant problem… the Cardosa’s owned the home free and clear.  Bank of America had no mortgage on the home.  They meant to foreclose on a home down the street… the numbers on a court document were wrong.  But they went ahead and did it anyway, even after repeatedly being told by the Charlie and Maria Cardosa that they were wrong and that they had no right to throw out their tenants and take their belongings.

Full Story: 

http://mandelman.ml-implode.com/2010/01/bank-of-america-forecloses-on-florida-home-big-deal-oops-wrong-house/

Kudos to the very powerful Real Estate Board of NY for making a statement on Wednesday advocating that the Obama Administration find another venue for the trial of 911 Terrorists.

“Find a location that makes the least possible impact to the least number of people, and has the least possible economic cost to the city, state and region,” said Steven Spinola, REBNY's president. “Lower Manhattan is just the opposite of that. In fact, it likely has the greatest impact.”

Two months ago, NYC Mayor Bloomberg indicated that it would be "fitting" to hold the trials close to the WTC site; however, in light of the cost of security and potential for further disturbances in the area, he is now requesting that the trial be moved.

The trial is estimated to cost $200 million per year for security, personnel and equipment and the trial may last as long as 2 years.  The federal government will pick up that costs; however, the expected downturn in visitors to the area has the potential to further hurt local businesses.

Both NY US Senators * Schumer and Gillibrand as well as other public officials have requested that the trial be moved..

The Alliance for Downtown New York also released a statement Wednesday afternoon, urging the Department of Justice to reconsider its location decision.

For those who say that real estate agents should not be voicing their concerns about politics, this is a PRIME reason why they should.

30 year old Christopher Nixon Cox is running for the First Congressional district seat on Long Island.  The announcement came on his website * chriscoxforcongress.com * where he promises to "revitalize Suffolk County's economy, protect jobs from being outsourced overseas, end  this period of over taxation, make sure those tax dollars are well spent."

The incumbent, Democratic Congressman Tim Bishop,  has said, "I don't know much about Christopher... I have several people vying for the Republican designation and I would be happy to talk about my opponent extensively once I know who he or who she is."

Cox's father is Ed Cox, current chairman of the NY GOP, and his mother is President Richard Nixon's daughter Tricia who were married in the White House in 1971.

Cos who has appeared as a political commentator on TV, graduated from Princeton and NYU Law School.  He later embarked on a career as a lawyer, international business advisor, and political talking head on television and became directly involved in Republican politics, serving as a John McCain delegate and was the New York State Executive Director of McCain's 2008 Presidential run. His father's family has deep roots in the Congressional district now represented by four-term Democrat, Bishop.

Cox  says now "there is a lot of voter anger about what is going on in Washington, and to have an incumbent who has voted 97% of the time with Nancy Pelosi, is someone who is representing San Francisco much more that he is representing Suffolk County. I want to be representing Suffolk County, I want to represent Suffolk County values and that's why I want to go to Washington."

There are seven candidates vying for the Republican nod, but Cox will certainly become the best known, and perhaps nationally financed, by dint of who he is. His grandfather was only three years older than Cox is now, when in 1946 he challenged a five-term incumbent Congressman and won, launching his political career that included election to the Senate, Vice-Presidency, and finally, the Oval Office.

A mezuzah is placed on the doorway and recalls the Exodus from Egypt when the lamb's blood smeared on the doorpost "identified" the Jewish homes that God passed over during the plague of the first born.