"For several years now we have documented the growing 'renter by choice' trend--households opting to rent even though they could afford to buy," says Clarine Nardi Riddle, NMHC/NAA senior vice president for government affairs, who says by-choice renters include empty nesters and young professionals.
"Despite the fact that nearly 40% of renters surveyed by Fannie Mae in 2000 said that buying a home was not an important priority," she continues, "our Federal housing policy continues to focus almost exclusively on home ownership. This outdated approach to housing policy represents a missed opportunity. It overlooks the need for apartments to help solve several modern-day problems, including suburban sprawl, urban decay, the affordable housing crisis, and even the housing of our aging parents."
The group drafted what it says are the five key principles of a balanced housing policy, which they will present to policymakers. The group also reiterated its stance against what it calls forced access by telecommunications companies that want to provide service to buildings without consent of apartment owners. Regarding taxes, the group says it will support tax legislation that decreases both capital gains taxes and depreciation recapture rates because its officials say present laws discourage investment in new apartment properties and modernization of older apartment communities.
The group also announced plans to urge Congress to come up with a national strategy to address energy needs. Specific stances include supporting Federal deregulation of electricity, increasing funding for research on energy-efficient building construction, more tax incentives for energy-efficient construction, and tax relief for energy conservation measures taken by private property owners.
The legislative policy group also continued its call for an overhaul of the Section 8 "Housing Choice Voucher" program, which it says carries risks and added costs for private owners who accept vouchers. Officials say the program would be one of the most effective tools in helping solve the nation's shortage of affordable housing, but the way it is administered make it inefficient. They are calling on HUD to streamline the program to get more participation.
The group also outlined a series of other issues it deems critical: bankruptcy reform, HUD enforcement, consumer privacy, brokerage activities by banks, rent control, lead-based paint regulations, building codes and regulatory reform.
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