Rural Housing Service 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the above-named Agency to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the Community Facilities Grant Program.

On September 23, 2013, the Rural Housing Service (RHS) Single Family Housing Direct Program published a Notice in the Federal Register, ''Notice of Intent To Review Online Homeownership Education Courses for Nationwide Use in the Single Family Housing Section 502 Direct Loan Program'' (78 FR 58272). Through this action, RHS is extending the submission deadline of online homeownership education course packages for National Office approval to December 31, 2013.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Housing Service's intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) grant program.

Effective on May 7, 2007, first-time homebuyers financed under the direct loan program must successfully complete an approved homeownership education course prior to loan closing. 7 CFR Part 3550.11 outlines the order of preference given to courses. First preference is given to classroom, one-on-one counseling, or interactive video conference. These formats are generally extensive and require a significant time and participation commitment from the Agency applicants. Second preference is given to interactive home-study or interactive telephone counseling of at least four hours duration. These formats may only be used if the formats under the first preference are not reasonably available. Third preference, which can only be used if all other formats are not reasonably available, is given to online counseling. It also outlines the requirements an education provider and their course must meet in order to be approved for use by Agency applicants. While approval is generally made by the Agency at the state level, there is currently one nationally approved online education provider. To expand the Agency applicants' access to and options of approved education providers, the Agency will consider approving other online education providers on a national level. Approval will be subject to meeting course criteria, a recommendation by the Agency-selected panel of housing partners, and signoff by the Administrator. Approval will be given as a third preference format unless the education provider is able to demonstrate and document how their online course along with a required supplemented service provides the same level of training and individualized attention as a first or second preference. A notice of education providers approved through this process will be issued via a memorandum to the Rural Development (RD) state offices. The memorandum will list the format preference assigned to each provider. A copy of the memorandum will be simultaneously emailed to all education providers who applied through this notice. Approvals are not subject to expiration. However, an approval may be revoked for justifiable cause.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Rural Housing Service (RHS) invites comments on this information collection for which approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will be requested. The intention is to request a revision for a currently approved information collection in support of the program for 7 CFR Part 1927-B, Real Estate Title Clearance and Loan Closing.

The Rural Housing Service is correcting a notice published on August 14, 2013, (78 FR 49460-49467). This action is taken to correct two ``submission deadline'' dates.

Through this action, the Rural Housing Service (RHS) is proposing to amend its regulations for the section 502 direct single family housing loan program to create a certified loan application packaging process for eligible loan application packagers. Loan application packagers, who are separate and independent from the Agency, provide an optional service to parties seeking mortgage loans by helping them navigate the loan application process. Currently, packagers assisting parties applying for section 502 direct loans do so under an informal arrangement, which is free from Agency oversight or minimum competency standards. This proposed rule will impose experience, training, proficiency, and structure requirements on eligible service providers. This proposed rule also regulates the packaging fee that will be allowed under this process. By establishing a vast network of competent, experienced, and committed Agency-certified packagers, this action is intended to benefit low- and very low-income people who wish to achieve homeownership in rural areas by increasing their awareness of the Agency's housing program, increasing specialized support available to them to complete the application for assistance, and improving the quality of loan application packages submitted on their behalf.

This notice announces the timeframe to submit pre-applications for Section 514 Farm Labor Housing (FLH) loans and Section 516 FLH grants for the construction of new off-farm FLH units and related facilities for domestic farm laborers and for the purchase and substantial rehabilitation of an existing non-FLH property. The intended purpose of these loans and grants is to increase the number of available housing units for domestic farm laborers. This notice describes the method used to distribute funds, the application process, and submission requirements.

The Rural Housing Service, an agency within the Rural Development mission area, is adding new regulations to implement its Rural Development Voucher Program (RDVP). Section 542 of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, authorizes RDVP. Since 2006, RD has conducted a demonstration voucher program which was funded and authorized by Congress to protect eligible multi-family housing (MFH) tenants in properties financed through Rural Development's Section 515 Rural Rental Housing program who may be subject to economic hardship through prepayment or foreclosure of the Rural Development mortgage. This demonstration program has been operating by utilizing a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) published annually in the Federal Register. Rural Development now proposes to establish a permanent regulation for this program.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the above-named Agencies to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of debt settlement of Community Facilities and Direct Business Program Loans and Grants.

Through this Notice, the Rural Housing Service (RHS) announces the duration of time in Fiscal Year 2013 set-aside amounts will be available for Section 515 program non-profits and underserved areas. This Notice also outlines the reallocation process for the set-aside funds not obligated within the time period established in this Notice.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS) of Rural Development previously announced in a Notice published July 18, 2012, (77 FR 42265) the availability of funds and the timeframe to submit applications for loans to private non-profit organizations and State and local housing finance agencies to carry out a demonstration program to provide revolving loans for the preservation and revitalization of low-income Multi-Family Housing (MFH). Rural Development did not receive sufficient applications to use all the available funds. As a result, Rural Development is soliciting additional applications under this Notice for the remaining funding. This Notice removes the $1 million cap on subsequent loans that was established under previous Notices. Please note the removal of the $1 million cap on subsequent loans for existing intermediaries only applies to applications received under this Notice. Housing that is assisted by this demonstration program must be financed by Rural Development through its MFH loan program under Sections 515, 514 and 516 of the Housing Act of 1949. The goals of this demonstration program will be achieved through loans made to intermediaries. The intermediaries will establish their programs for the purpose of providing loans to ultimate recipients for the preservation and revitalization of low-income Sections 515, 514, and 516 MFH as affordable housing.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS) is amending the regulations utilized to service the Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program in two separate sections, in order to clarify the types of projects that are eligible for a Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan. The intended effect of this action is to strengthen the Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program by limiting the risk to the guaranteed loan portfolio. RHS will prohibit the financing of facilities in which the operation of such facilities have not been supported by the community and have resulted in significant default and loan losses to the agency.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agencies' intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the program for 7 CFR part 1942, subpart A, ``Community Facility Loans.''

This notice announces a series of teleconference and/or web conference meetings regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Section 538 Guaranteed Rural Rental Housing Program, which are scheduled to occur during the months of March, July, and November of 2013. This notice also outlines suggested discussion topics for the meetings and is intended to notify the general public of their opportunity to participate in the teleconference and/or web conference meetings.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Housing Service's intention to request an extension for a currently approved information collection in support of the program for 7 CFR part 3575-A.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Rural Housing Service's (RHS) intention to request an extension for the currently approved information collection in support of our program for Complaints and Compensation for Construction Defects.