Delivering Capital Solutions in Today's Market

Participants were eager to learn about HUD's programs that support affordable financing for multifamily housing and other commercial developments.

...was the hot topic at the 9th Annual Alabama Commercial Real Estate Conference, held in Birmingham, Alabama, on January 30, 2009. More than 175 real estate professionals came to learn about HUD programs during the most widely attended of three competing professional development tracks, with standing room only.

Commercial property sales have fallen and are expected to continue that trend this year. Developers and other real estate professionals are experiencing difficulty getting financing and many desire to expand on how they have traditionally done business. Although many of them are engaged in multifamily development, few have considered FHA Multifamily Mortgage Insurance as a tool to enable the affordable financing of their developments. Ms. Cindy Yarbrough, Birmingham Field Office Director, explained a number of HUD's Multifamily products and how the FHA Multifamily Mortgage Insurance programs work to support Multifamily residential rentals including mobile home parks, assisted living facilities, nursing homes and hospitals. She also spoke of how the Community Development Block Grant program, administered through HUD-designated entitlement communities, help to support many activities that may be undertaken by the commercial real estate industry.