Section 215(b) of the National Affordable Housing Act (NAHA) requires that the initial purchase price or after-rehabilitation value of homeownership units assisted with HOME funds not exceed 95 percent of the area median purchase price for single family housing, as determined by HUD. Families displaced from foreclosed properties, growing populations, potential buyers refraining from purchasing until home prices stabilize, difficulties in obtaining financing, and widespread job losses all contributed to make renting a very attractive option for large segments of the population.
As has been the case in recent years, those residing in the Western United States are most likely …