American Homeownership Act of 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Title I: Removal of Barriers to Affordable Housing
Title II: Homeownership Through Mortgage Insurance and Loan
Guarantees
Title III: Assistance for Self-Help Housing Providers
Title IV: Section 8 Homeownership Option
Title V: Home Investment Partnerships Program
Title VI: Local Homeownership Initiatives
Title VII: Manufactured Housing Improvement
Title VIII: Indian Housing Homeownership
American Homeownership Act of 1998 - Title I: Removal of Barriers to Affordable Housing - Affordable Housing Barrier Removal Act of 1998 - Requires proposed and final agency rules to analyze their impact upon affordable housing availability. Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to develop model housing impact analyses.
(Sec. 103) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to authorize direct appropriations for State and local grants for regulatory barrier removal.
(Sec. 104) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to make affordable housing barrier removal eligible for community development block grant (CDBG) assistance.
(Sec. 105) States that the regulatory barriers clearinghouse shall be established within the Office of Policy Development of HUD under the direction of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research.
Title II: Homeownership Through Mortgage Insurance and Loan Guarantees - Amends the National Housing Act to increase the number of adjustable single family mortgages and loans that may be insured each year. Directs the Secretary to increase premiums as necessary.
(Sec. 202) Makes permanent the demonstration program of home equity conversion mortgages for elderly homeowners. Replaces the program limitation based upon number of mortgages with an aggregate outstanding balance limitation. Obligates specified funds for conversion mortgage counseling and related expenses. Requires that mortgagors be given full disclosure of mortgage related costs such as estate planning and financial advice, and that any such costs not be excessive.
(Sec. 203) Requires an inspection under the single family housing mortgage insurance program. Directs the Secretary to establish inspection guidelines and maximum costs.
(Sec. 204) Authorizes the Secretary to treat a county or statistical area and contiguous or proximate counties as a single area for certain loan insurance limitation purposes.
(Sec. 205) Amends the Housing Act of 1949 to eliminate certain rural housing guaranteed loan limitations.
Title III: Assistance for Self-Help Housing Providers - Amends the Housing Opportunity Program Extension Act of 1996 to authorize specified appropriations for Habitat for Humanity and other self-help housing programs.
Title IV: Section 8 Homeownership Option - Amends the United States Housing Act to provide a home ownership option under the section 8 housing assistance program, including downpayment assistance.
Title V: Home Investment Partnerships Program - Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to authorize appropriations for affordable housing programs. Revises the definition of "low-income families."
(Sec. 503) Makes limited equity cooperatives and mutual housing associations eligible for home investment partnerships.
(Sec. 504) Permits loan pool investment of partnership funds.
(Sec. 505) Authorizes the Secretary to make home investment partnerships loan guarantees. Sets forth an aggregate loan guarantee limitation.
Title VI: local Homeownership Initiatives - Amends the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation Act to authorize appropriations for the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, including a pilot home ownership initiative set-aside.
(Sec. 602) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to authorize the Secretary to modify CDBG home ownership income requirements in high-cost areas.
(Sec. 603) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to revise the home ownership zone grant program, including providing: (1) grant eligibility for units of general local government (currently nonprofit organizations); and (2) set-asides for specified low-income homebuyers. Authorizes appropriations.
(Sec. 604) Expresses the sense of the Congress in favor of lease-to-own tenancies as home ownership tools.
(Sec. 605) Amends the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 to extend authorization of appropriations and authority for home ownership counseling.
Title VII: Manufactured Housing Improvement - Manufactured Housing Improvement Act - Amends the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 to revise Federal construction and safety provisions for manufactured homes based upon a consensus standards development process.
Eliminates the National Manufactured Home Advisory Council.
Title VIII: Indian Housing Homeownership - Establishes the Indian Lands Status Commission which shall analyze and evaluate the Bureau of Indian Affairs' land recording and documentation system. Terminates the Commission one year after appointment of its members.
Received in the Senate.