2006 Minnesota Statutes

462A.05 SPECIFIC POWERS OF THE AGENCY.
    Subdivision 1. Application. The agency shall have the specific powers and duties set forth
in this section.
    Subd. 2. Residential construction loans. It may make or participate in the making of
eligible construction loans to sponsors or builders of residential housing for occupancy by persons
or families of low and moderate income. Such loans shall be made only upon determination by
the agency that construction loans are not otherwise available, wholly or in part, from private
lenders upon equivalent terms and conditions.
    Subd. 2a. Multiunit residential housing grants. It may make grants to sponsors or builders
of multiunit residential housing for occupancy by persons and families of low and moderate
income. The grants shall only be made for the construction or rehabilitation of three bedroom
apartment units or townhouse units of four bedrooms or more for large low and moderate income
families. No grant shall exceed the amount of $5,000 per unit. In making grants, the agency shall
determine the circumstances under which and the terms and conditions under which all or any
portion thereof will be repaid and shall determine the appropriate security should repayment be
required.
    Subd. 3. Long-term residential housing mortgage loans. It may agree to purchase, make,
or otherwise participate in the making and enter into commitments for the purchase, making, or
participation in the making of long-term eligible mortgage loans to sponsors of residential housing
for occupancy by persons and families of low and moderate income, or to persons and families
of low and moderate income who may purchase residential housing. The loans shall be made
only upon determination by the agency that long-term mortgage loans are not otherwise available,
wholly or in part, from private lenders upon equivalent terms and conditions. In establishing
maximum mortgage amounts and maximum purchase prices for single family dwellings, the
agency shall take into account housing cost differences in the regions of the state.
    Subd. 3a. Refinancing; residential housing. It may refinance the existing indebtedness of
owners of rental property, secured by residential housing for occupancy by persons and families
of low and moderate income, if refinancing is determined by the agency to be necessary to reduce
housing costs to an affordable level or to maintain the supply of affordable low-income housing.
The authority granted in this subdivision is in addition to and not in limitation of the authority
granted in section 462A.05, subdivision 14.
    Subd. 3b. Refinancing mortgages. The agency may make loans to refinance the existing
indebtedness, of owners of rental property, secured by federally assisted housing for the purpose
of obtaining agreement of the owner to participate in the federally assisted rental housing program
and to extend any existing low-income affordability restrictions on the housing for the maximum
term permitted. For purposes of this subdivision, "federally assisted rental housing" includes
housing that is:
(1) subject to a project-based housing or rental assistance payment contract funded by the
federal government;
(2) financed by the Rural Housing Service of the United States Department of Agriculture
under section 515 of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended; or
(3) financed under section 236; section 221(d)(3) below market interest rate program; section
202; or section 811 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, as amended.
    Subd. 3c. Refinancing; long-term mortgages. It may agree to purchase, make, or otherwise
participate in the making and enter into commitments for the purchase, making, or participation in
the making of long-term mortgage loans to persons and families of low and moderate income to
refinance a long-term mortgage or other financing secured by the residential housing occupied
by the owner of the property. The loans shall be made only upon determination by the agency
that long-term mortgage loans are not otherwise available, wholly or in part, from private lenders
upon equivalent terms and conditions.
    Subd. 4. Purchase of financial instruments. It may purchase and enter into commitments
for the purchase of eligible securities, certificates of deposit, time deposits, or existing mortgage
loans from banks, savings associations, insurance companies, or other financial intermediaries,
provided that the agency shall first determine that all or a portion of the proceeds of such
instruments will be utilized to make loans for residential housing as defined in section 462A.03,
subdivision 7 , or all or a portion of the instruments are backed by or otherwise evidence an
interest in existing mortgages securing mortgage loans to finance residential housing. In the case
of eligible securities backed by existing mortgages, the proceeds must be used in whole or in part
either for making loans for residential housing or for preserving the use of existing residential
housing by persons and families of low and moderate income.
    Subd. 5. Temporary loans from housing development fund. It may make temporary
loans solely to "nonprofit" or "cooperative housing" sponsors as defined by the agency, with
or without interest, and with such security for repayment, if any, as the agency determines
reasonably necessary and practicable, solely from the housing development fund, in accordance
with the provisions of section 462A.21, to defray development costs to sponsors of residential
housing construction for occupancy by persons and families of low and moderate income which
development costs are eligible or potentially eligible for construction loans or mortgages.
    Subd. 6. Accepting funds. It may accept appropriations, gifts, grants, bequests and devises,
and utilize or dispose of the same to carry out its corporate purpose.
    Subd. 7. Contractual instruments. It may make and execute contracts, releases,
compromises, compositions and other instruments necessary or convenient for the exercise of its
powers, or to carry out its corporate purpose.
    Subd. 8. Service charges. It may collect reasonable interest, fees, and charges in connection
with making and servicing its loans, notes, bonds, obligations, commitments and other evidences
of indebtedness, and in connection with providing technical, consultative and project assistance
services. Such interest, fees and charges shall be limited to the amounts required to pay the
costs of the agency, including operating and administrative expenses, and reasonable allowances
for losses which may be incurred.
    Subd. 9. Investment of funds. It may invest any funds not required for immediate
disbursement in accordance with the provisions of section 462A.18, subdivision 2.
    Subd. 10. Sale to federal agencies. It may sell eligible loans or eligible securities to the
Federal National Mortgage Association or any other agency or instrumentality of the United
States, and may invest in the capital stock issued by said association or other agency or
instrumentality to the extent, if any, required as a condition of such sale.
    Subd. 11. Federal housing assistance supplements. It may receive federal housing
assistance supplements; may administer and distribute said supplements in accordance with the
applicable provisions of federal law or regulations governing the administration and distribution
of said supplements; and may make and publish such rules as are necessary to enable it to receive,
administer, and distribute said supplements in accordance with said federal laws and regulations.
    Subd. 12. Establishment of funds. It may, from time to time, establish such funds as may be
needed in order to receive, administer, and distribute federal housing assistance supplements. All
federal housing assistance supplement funds received by the agency are hereby appropriated to
the agency.
    Subd. 12a. Mortgage certificate programs. It may participate in qualified mortgage
certificate programs as provided by section 25 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended
through December 31, 1984.
    Subd. 13. Preference. In carrying out the policies and purposes declared in section 462A.02,
the agency shall prefer those housing projects which are federally subsidized and those loans
which are federally insured or guaranteed, to the extent that the agency finds such projects and
loans to be available at the times and in the amounts needed to meet the shortage of residential
housing for persons and families of low and moderate income.
    Subd. 14. Rehabilitation loans. It may agree to purchase, make, or otherwise participate in
the making, and may enter into commitments for the purchase, making, or participation in the
making, of eligible loans for rehabilitation to persons and families of low and moderate income,
and to owners of existing residential housing for occupancy by such persons and families, for
the rehabilitation of existing residential housing owned by them. The loans may be insured or
uninsured and may be made with security, or may be unsecured, as the agency deems advisable.
The loans may be in addition to or in combination with long-term eligible mortgage loans under
subdivision 3. They may be made in amounts sufficient to refinance existing indebtedness secured
by the property, if refinancing is determined by the agency to be necessary to permit the owner
to meet the owner's housing cost without expending an unreasonable portion of the owner's
income thereon. No loan for rehabilitation shall be made unless the agency determines that
the loan will be used primarily to make the housing more desirable to live in, to increase the
market value of the housing, for compliance with state, county or municipal building, housing
maintenance, fire, health or similar codes and standards applicable to housing, or to accomplish
energy conservation related improvements. In unincorporated areas and municipalities not having
codes and standards, the agency may, solely for the purpose of administering the provisions of
this chapter, establish codes and standards. Except for accessibility improvements under this
subdivision and subdivisions 14a and 24, clause (1), no secured loan for rehabilitation of any
property shall be made in an amount which, with all other existing indebtedness secured by the
property, would exceed 110 percent of its market value, as determined by the agency. No loan
under this subdivision shall be denied solely because the loan will not be used for placing the
residential housing in full compliance with all state, county, or municipal building, housing
maintenance, fire, health, or similar codes and standards applicable to housing. Rehabilitation
loans shall be made only when the agency determines that financing is not otherwise available,
in whole or in part, from private lenders upon equivalent terms and conditions. Accessibility
rehabilitation loans authorized under this subdivision may be made to eligible persons and
families without limitations relating to the maximum incomes of the borrowers if:
(1) the borrower or a member of the borrower's family requires a level of care provided in
a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or intermediate care facility for persons with developmental
disabilities;
(2) home care is appropriate; and
(3) the improvement will enable the borrower or a member of the borrower's family to
reside in the housing.
The agency may waive any requirement that the housing units in a residential housing
development be rented to persons of low and moderate income if the development consists of four
or less dwelling units, one of which is occupied by the owner.
    Subd. 14a. Rehabilitation loans; existing owner occupied residential housing. It may
make loans to persons and families of low and moderate income to rehabilitate or to assist in
rehabilitating existing residential housing owned and occupied by those persons or families.
No loan shall be made unless the agency determines that the loan will be used primarily for
rehabilitation work necessary for health or safety, essential accessibility improvements, or to
improve the energy efficiency of the dwelling. No loan for rehabilitation of owner occupied
residential housing shall be denied solely because the loan will not be used for placing the
residential housing in full compliance with all state, county or municipal building, housing
maintenance, fire, health or similar codes and standards applicable to housing. The amount of any
loan shall not exceed the lesser of (a) a maximum loan amount determined under rules adopted
by the agency not to exceed $20,000, or (b) the actual cost of the work performed, or (c) that
portion of the cost of rehabilitation which the agency determines cannot otherwise be paid by the
person or family without the expenditure of an unreasonable portion of the income of the person
or family. Loans made in whole or in part with federal funds may exceed the maximum loan
amount to the extent necessary to comply with federal lead abatement requirements prescribed
by the funding source. In making loans, the agency shall determine the circumstances under
which and the terms and conditions under which all or any portion of the loan will be repaid and
shall determine the appropriate security for the repayment of the loan. Loans pursuant to this
subdivision may be made with or without interest or periodic payments.
    Subd. 14b. Energy conservation loans. It may agree to purchase, make, or otherwise
participate in the making, and may enter into commitments for the purchase, making, or
participating in the making, of loans to persons and families, without limitations relating
to the maximum incomes of the borrowers, to assist in energy conservation rehabilitation
measures for existing housing owned by those persons or families including, but not limited to:
weatherstripping and caulking, chimney construction or improvement, furnace or space heater
repair, cleaning or replacement, insulation, storm windows and doors, and structural or other
directly related repairs essential for energy conservation. Loans shall be made only when the
agency determines that financing is not otherwise available, in whole or in part, from private
lenders upon equivalent terms and conditions.
    Subd. 14c. Neighborhood preservation. It may agree or enter commitments to purchase,
make, or participate in making loans described in subdivision 14 for programs approved by the
agency for the preservation of designated neighborhoods. To achieve the policy of economic
integration stated in section 462A.02, subdivision 6, the programs may authorize loans to
borrowers having ownership interests in properties in the neighborhood who are not eligible
mortgagors as defined in section 462A.03, subdivision 13. The aggregate original principal
balances of noneligible mortgagor loans in a neighborhood benefiting from financing under this
subdivision must not exceed 25 percent of the total amount of neighborhood preservation loan
funds allocated to the neighborhood under the program.
    Subd. 14d. Accessibility loan program. Rehabilitation loans authorized under subdivision
14 may be made to eligible persons and households without limitations relating to the maximum
incomes of the borrowers.
A person or household is eligible to receive an accessibility loan under the following
conditions:
(1) the borrower or an individual residing in the borrower's home has a permanent physical
or mental condition that substantially limits one or more major life activities; and
(2) the improvement to the housing will assist the borrower or a member of the borrower's
household in residing in the housing.
    Subd. 14e. Purchase-rehabilitation loans. The agency may agree and enter into
commitments to purchase, make, or otherwise participate in making loans to persons or families,
without limitations relating to the maximum incomes of the borrowers, for the purchase and
rehabilitation of existing owner-occupied residential housing, as provided under subdivision 14.
    Subd. 15. Rehabilitation grants. It may make grants to persons and families of low and
moderate income to pay or to assist in paying a loan made pursuant to subdivision 14, or to
rehabilitate or to assist in rehabilitating existing residential housing owned or occupied by such
persons or families. For the purposes of this section, persons of low and moderate income
include administrators appointed pursuant to section 504B.425, paragraph (d). No grant shall be
made unless the agency determines that the grant will be used primarily to make the housing
more desirable to live in, to increase the market value of the housing or for compliance with
state, county or municipal building, housing maintenance, fire, health or similar codes and
standards applicable to housing, or to accomplish energy conservation related improvements.
In unincorporated areas and municipalities not having codes and standards, the agency may,
solely for the purpose of administering this provision, establish codes and standards. No grant
for rehabilitation of owner occupied residential housing shall be denied solely because the grant
will not be used for placing the residential housing in full compliance with all state, county or
municipal building, housing maintenance, fire, health or similar codes and standards applicable to
housing. The amount of any grant shall not exceed the lesser of (a) $6,000, or (b) the actual cost of
the work performed, or (c) that portion of the cost of rehabilitation which the agency determines
cannot otherwise be paid by the person or family without spending an unreasonable portion of
the income of the person or family thereon. In making grants, the agency shall determine the
circumstances under which and the terms and conditions under which all or any portion thereof
will be repaid and shall determine the appropriate security should repayment be required.
The agency may also make grants to rehabilitate or to assist in rehabilitating housing
under this subdivision to persons of low and moderate income for the purpose of qualifying as
foster parents.
    Subd. 15a. Accessibility grants. It may make grants or loans to persons and families
of low and moderate income to improve the accessibility of existing residential housing for
disabled occupants, or to assist in paying a loan made pursuant to subdivision 14 to improve the
accessibility of existing residential housing for disabled occupants. The amount of an accessibility
grant or loan must not exceed the lesser of the actual cost of the work performed or the part of the
cost of rehabilitation the agency determines cannot otherwise be paid by the person or family
without spending an unreasonable portion of the income of the person or family on it, based upon
the cost of the improvements and other appropriate factors including extraordinary medical
expenses. Grants or loans made pursuant to this section may include the payment of money for
technical assistance for the design and construction of accessibility improvements. In making
grants or loans under this subdivision, the agency shall determine the circumstances under which
and the terms and conditions under which all or any portion thereof will be repaid and shall
determine the appropriate security should repayment be required. The agency may gather data on
available accessible housing financed under this program and make the information available to
interested individuals and groups.
    Subd. 15b. Energy conservation grants. It may make grants to assist in energy conservation
rehabilitation measures for existing owner occupied housing including, but not limited to:
insulation, storm windows and doors, furnace or space heater repair, cleaning or replacement,
chimney construction or improvement, weatherstripping and caulking, and structural or other
directly related repairs essential for energy conservation. The grant to any household shall not
exceed $2,000.
To be eligible for an emergency energy conservation grant, a household must be certified as
eligible to receive emergency residential heating assistance under either the federal or the state
program, and either (1) have had a heating cost for the preceding heating season that exceeded
120 percent of the regional average for the preceding heating season for that energy source as
determined by the commissioner of employment and economic development, or (2) be eligible to
receive a federal energy conservation grant, but be precluded from receiving the grant because
of a need for directly related repairs that cannot be paid for under the federal program. The
Housing Finance Agency shall make a reasonable effort to determine whether other state or
federal loan and grant programs are available and adequate to finance the intended improvements.
An emergency energy conservation grant may be made in conjunction with grants or loans from
other state or federal programs that finance other needed rehabilitation work. The receipt of a
grant pursuant to this section shall not affect the applicant's eligibility for other Housing Finance
Agency loan or grant programs.
    Subd. 15c. Residential lead abatement. (a) It may make or purchase loans or grants for the
abatement of hazardous levels of lead paint in residential buildings and lead contaminated soil on
the property of residential buildings occupied by low- and moderate-income persons. Hazardous
levels are as determined by the Department of Health or the Pollution Control Agency. The
agency must establish criteria for a residential lead paint and lead contaminated soil abatement
program, including the terms of loans and grants under this section, a maximum amount for loans
or grants, eligible borrowers or grantees, eligible contractors, and eligible buildings. The agency
may make grants to cities, local units of government, registered lead abatement contractors, and
nonprofit organizations for the purpose of administering a residential lead paint and contaminated
lead soil abatement program. The agency must establish standards for the relocation of families
where necessary and the payment of relocation expenses. To the extent possible, the agency must
coordinate loans and grants under this section with existing housing programs.
The agency, in consultation with the Department of Health, must report to the legislature
by January 1996 on the costs and benefits of subsidized lead abatement and the extent of the
childhood lead exposure problem. The agency must review the effectiveness of its existing loan
and grant programs in providing funds for residential lead abatement and report to the legislature
with examples, case studies and recommendations.
(b) The agency may also make grants to eligible organizations, as defined in section
144.9512, subdivision 1, for the purposes of section 144.9512.
    Subd. 16. Payments for structural defects. (a) It may make payments or expenditures from
the housing development fund to persons of low or moderate income, who are recipients of an
eligible loan as defined in section 462A.03, subdivision 11, or who have purchased residential
housing from a recipient of such eligible loan, and who are owners and occupants of residential
housing constructed or rehabilitated under this chapter, when, in the agency's determination,
such residential housing contains defects or omissions which affect the structural soundness, or
the use and the livability of such housing, including but not limited to defects or omissions in
materials, hardware, fixtures, design, workmanship and landscaping of whatever kind and nature
incorporated in said housing and which are covered by an agency approved warranty, for the
purposes of (i) correcting such defects, or (ii) paying the claims of the owner arising from such
defects, provided, that this authority shall exist only if the owner has requested assistance from the
agency not later than four years after the issuance of the eligible loan, or where such residential
housing was rehabilitated under this chapter only if the owner has requested assistance from the
agency not later than two years after the issuance of the eligible loan.
(b) If such owner elects to receive payments or expenditures pursuant to this section, the
agency is subrogated to the right of such owner to recover damages against any party or persons
reasonably calculated to be responsible for such damages.
(c) The agency may require from the seller of such residential housing, or the contractor
responsible for the construction or rehabilitation of such housing, an agreement to reimburse
the agency for any payments and expenditures made pursuant to this subdivision with respect
to such residential housing.
    Subd. 17. Conventional loans. The agency may make conventional loans, as defined in and
in accordance with the conditions and limitations prescribed in section 47.20. Notwithstanding
section 47.20, conventional loans owned by the agency on May 30, 1981 or thereafter made or
purchased may contain provisions which limit, condition, or prohibit assumption of the loans.
    Subd. 18. Loans to nonprofit sponsors. It may make loans to "nonprofit" sponsors as
defined by the agency, with or without interest, and with such security for repayment, if any, as the
agency determines reasonably necessary and practicable, solely from the housing development
fund in accordance with the provisions of section 462A.21, subdivision 9, to encourage
innovations in the development or rehabilitation of single and multifamily residential housing. It
may make loans to for-profit sponsors pursuant to this subdivision, provided that the agency shall
make the loan with interest at a rate determined by the agency.
It shall promulgate rules, in accordance with chapter 14, relating to the administration of the
loans authorized by this subdivision. The rules may define types of projects eligible for loans,
criteria for selecting between eligible loans, terms of the loans including interest rates and loan
periods, and other characteristics that the agency deems necessary to administer the program.
    Subd. 18a. Innovative housing loans. The agency may make loans, with or without
interest, and with security for repayment, if any, the agency determines reasonably necessary and
practicable, for the financing of innovative housing as described in this section.
(a) The housing shall be cooperative or rental multifamily housing which is designed
to provide long-term affordability and which is either owned and operated on a nonprofit
cooperative basis by the residents, or owned by a limited-dividend entity and operated by a
residents association.
(b) Occupancy shall be restricted to persons and families of low and moderate income
as defined in section 462A.03, subdivision 10; provided that the agency shall give priority to
proposals that will provide housing to persons and families whose income is 50 percent or less of
the statewide median family income, as estimated by the United States Department of Housing
and Urban Development.
(c) A democratic residents association shall have substantial control over the operation and
management of the housing and over the filling of housing unit vacancies.
(d) A training and education program shall be developed by the loan recipient and made
available to residents to help them organize and operate the residents association, understand
their legal rights and financial interests regarding the property, and manage and maintain the
property. The agency shall ensure that a training and education program has been developed
prior to approving any loan under this section.
    Subd. 19. Loans to veterans. It may make no interest loans of up to $4,000 to persons
and families of low and moderate income who are veterans or veterans' dependents to assist in
making down payments to enable them to purchase new or existing housing to be used as their
principal place of residence. To be eligible, the veterans or veteran's dependent must be a first
time home owner, and must enter into an agreement with the agency, with appropriate security as
determined by the agency, to repay the loan amount in full when the property is sold, transferred,
or otherwise conveyed, or ceases to be the recipient's principal place of residence. For the purpose
of this subdivision, "veteran" means a person residing in Minnesota who has been separated under
honorable conditions from any branch of the armed forces of the United States after having served
on active duty for 181 consecutive days or by reason of disability incurred while serving on active
duty, and who served at any time during the period from August 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975; and
"veteran's dependent" means a person residing in Minnesota who is the unmarried surviving
spouse of a veteran.
    Subd. 20.[Repealed, 1997 c 200 art 4 s 23]
    Subd. 20a. Special needs housing for chemically dependent adults. (a) The agency may
make loans or grants to for-profit, limited-dividend, or nonprofit sponsors, as defined by the
agency, for residential housing to be used to provide housing to low- and moderate-income
persons who are chronic chemically dependent adults.
(b) Housing for chronic chemically dependent adults must satisfy the following conditions:
(1) be certified by the Department of Health or the city as a board and lodging facility or
single residence occupancy housing;
(2) meet all applicable health, building, fire safety, and zoning requirements;
(3) be located in an area significantly distant from the present location of county
detoxification service sites;
(4) make available the services of trained personnel to appraise each client before or upon
admission and to provide information about medical, job training, and chemical dependency
services as necessary;
(5) provide on-site security designed to assure the health and safety of clients, staff, and
neighborhood residents; and
(6) operate with the guidance of a neighborhood-based board.
Priority for loans and grants made under this paragraph must be given to proposals that
address the needs of the Native American population and veterans of military services for this
type of housing.
(c) Loans or grants pursuant to this subdivision must not be used for facilities that provide
housing available for occupancy on less than a 24-hour continuous basis. To the extent possible,
a sponsor shall combine the loan or grant with other funds obtained from public and private
sources. In making loans or grants, the agency shall determine the circumstances, terms, and
conditions under which all or any portion of the loan or grant will be repaid and the appropriate
security should repayment be required.
    Subd. 21. Rental property loans. The agency may make or purchase loans to owners of
rental property that is occupied or intended for occupancy primarily by low- and moderate-income
tenants and which does not comply with the standards established in section 16B.61, subdivision
1 , for the purpose of energy improvements necessary to bring the property into full or partial
compliance with these standards. For property which meets the other requirements of this
subdivision, a loan may also be used for moderate rehabilitation of the property. The authority
granted in this subdivision is in addition to and not in limitation of any other authority granted to
the agency in this chapter. The limitations on eligible mortgagors contained in section 462A.03,
subdivision 13 , do not apply to loans under this subdivision. Loans for the improvement of rental
property pursuant to this subdivision may contain provisions that repayment is not required in
whole or in part subject to terms and conditions determined by the agency to be necessary and
desirable to encourage owners to maximize rehabilitation of properties.
    Subd. 22. Loans to financial institutions. It may make or participate in the making and
enter into commitments for the making of loans to any banking institution, savings association,
or other lender approved by the members, organized under the laws of this or any other state or
of the United States having an office in this state, notwithstanding the provisions of section
462A.03, subdivision 13, if it first determines that the proceeds of such loans will be utilized for
the purpose of making loans to or for the benefit of eligible persons and families as provided and
in accordance with this chapter. Loans pursuant to this subdivision shall be secured, repaid and
bear interest at the rate as determined by the members.
    Subd. 23. Insuring financial institution loans. The agency may participate in loans or
establish a fund to insure loans, or portions of loans, that are made by any banking institution,
savings association, or other lender approved by the agency, organized under the laws of this or
any other state or of the United States having an office in this state, to owners of renter occupied
homes or apartments that do not comply with standards set forth in section 16B.61, subdivision
1 , without limitations relating to the maximum incomes of the owners or tenants. The proceeds
of the insured portion of the loan must be used to pay the costs of improvements, including all
related structural and other improvements, that will reduce energy consumption.
    Subd. 24. Housing for elderly, persons with physical or developmental disabilities, and
single parent families. It may engage in housing programs for low- and moderate-income elderly,
persons with physical or developmental disabilities, or single parent families in the case of home
sharing programs, as defined by the agency, to provide grants or loans, with or without interest, for:
(1) accessibility improvements to residences occupied by elderly persons;
(2) housing sponsors, as defined by the agency, of home sharing programs to match
existing homeowners with prospective tenants who will contribute either rent or services to the
homeowner, where either the homeowner or the prospective tenant is elderly, a person with
physical or developmental disabilities, or the head of a single parent family;
(3) the construction of or conversion of existing buildings into structures for occupancy by
the elderly that contain from three to 12 private sleeping rooms with shared cooking facilities and
common space; and
(4) housing sponsors, as defined by the agency, to demonstrate the potential for home equity
conversion in Minnesota for the elderly, in both rural and urban areas, and to determine the need
in those equity conversions for consumer safeguards.
In making the grants or loans, the agency shall determine the terms and conditions of
repayment and the appropriate security, if any, should repayment be required. The agency may
provide technical assistance to sponsors of home sharing programs or may contract or delegate
the provision of the technical assistance in accordance with section 462A.07, subdivision 12.
Housing sponsors who receive funding through these programs shall provide homeowners
and tenants participating in a home sharing program with information regarding their rights and
obligations as they relate to federal and state tax law including, but not limited to, taxable rental
income, homestead credit under chapter 273, and the property tax refund act under chapter 290A.
    Subd. 25. Property acquisition, rehabilitation, or lease by agency. The agency, in its own
name or in conjunction with other housing sponsors as a joint venturer, partner, shareholder, or
member, may, subject to the provisions of subdivision 27, clause (1) acquire, rehabilitate, or lease
from private or public parties, housing designed and planned to be sold or rented at prices that
low- and moderate-income persons and families can afford, and (2) rent or otherwise dispose
of that housing to persons and families of low and moderate income or to housing sponsors to
rent or sell the property to those persons and families. The agency may charge rents for the use
of the residential housing facilities acquired, rehabilitated, or leased under this subdivision in
amounts sufficient to comply with any agreements of the agency, whether in connection with the
issuance of bonds or otherwise, including rent in amounts sufficient for reimbursement of all costs
of financing by the agency and the payment of those service charges and insurance premiums
that the agency determines to be reasonable.
    Subd. 26. Formation of nonprofit corporations. It may, when the agency determines
it is necessary or desirable to carry out its purposes and to exercise any or all of the powers
conferred upon it by this chapter, and subject to the provisions of subdivision 27, form or consent
to the formation of one or more corporations under the Minnesota Nonprofit Corporation Act, as
amended, or under other laws of this state. The agency may be a member of the corporations,
and the members and employees of the agency from time to time may be members of the board
of directors or officers of the corporations. The agency may enter into agreements with them
providing for the agency to approve various aspects of their operations. The agency may capitalize
the corporations and may acquire all or a part of the corporations' share or member certificates.
The agency may require that it approve aspects of the operation of the corporations including the
corporations' articles of incorporation or bylaws, directors, projects and expenditures, and the sale
or conveyance of projects, and the issuance of obligations. The agency may agree to and may
take title to property of the corporations upon their dissolution.
    Subd. 27. Conditions of property acquisition by agency. The agency, or the corporations
referred to in subdivision 26, may acquire property or property interests under subdivisions 25
and 26 and section 462A.06, subdivision 7, for the following purposes: (1) to protect a loan or
grant in which the agency or corporation has an interest; or (2) to preserve for the use of low-
and moderate-income persons or families multifamily housing which was (i) previously financed
by the agency, or (ii) not financed by the agency but is benefited by federal housing assistance
payments or other rental subsidy or interest reduction contracts. Property or property interests
acquired for the purpose specified in clause (1) may be acquired by foreclosure, deed in lieu of
foreclosure, or otherwise.
Multifamily property acquired as provided in clause (2) must be managed on a fee basis
by an entity other than the agency or corporation. The agency or corporation may manage the
property on a temporary basis until an agreement is entered into with another entity to manage
the property. The agency or corporation shall make the property available for sale at a purchase
price and on terms that are mutually agreeable to the parties. In the sale of property benefited
by federal housing assistance, priority must be given to a buyer who agrees to maintain the
federal housing assistance.
    Subd. 28.[Repealed, 1991 c 292 art 9 s 38]
    Subd. 29.[Repealed, 1991 c 292 art 9 s 38]
    Subd. 30. Agency investment in certain notes and mortgages. It may invest in, purchase,
acquire, and take assignments of existing notes and mortgages not closed for the purpose of sale
to the agency, from lenders that are nonprofit or nonprofit entities, as defined in the agency's rules,
provided that: (1) the notes and mortgages evidence loans for the construction, rehabilitation,
purchase, improvement, or refinancing of residential housing intended for occupancy and
occupied by low- and moderate-income persons and families; and (2) the loan sellers utilize the
funds derived from the purchases in accordance with the authority contained in section 462A.07,
subdivision 12 , for the purposes and objectives of sections 462A.02, 462A.03, 462A.05, 462A.07,
and 462A.21; and (3) the purchases are subject to security and limitations on the costs and
expenses of the loan sellers incidental to the utilization of the purchase proceeds as the agency
may determine. The proceeds of the purchases authorized by this subdivision shall not be subject
to the limitations of section 462A.21, subdivisions 6 and 9. In addition, it may invest in, purchase,
acquire, and take assignments of existing federally insured mortgages for multifamily housing,
not closed for the purpose of sale to the agency, from any banking institution, savings association,
or other lender or financial intermediary approved by the members; provided that the multifamily
housing is benefited by contracts for federal housing assistance payments.
    Subd. 31. Loans to obtain low-income housing credits. It may agree to purchase, make,
or otherwise participate in the making and enter into commitments for the purchase, making, or
participation in the making of loans to provide financing for residential housing for occupancy
by persons and families of low and moderate income that qualifies for and will be utilized so as
to obtain the benefits of low-income housing credits under section 42 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended through December 31, 1988. The limitations on eligible mortgagors
contained in section 462A.03, subdivision 13, do not apply to loans under this subdivision, and
the loans may be insured or uninsured and may be made with security, or may be unsecured, as
the agency deems advisable.
    Subd. 32. Appointment of receivers. The agency may obtain the appointment of receivers
or assignments of rents and profits under sections 559.17 and 576.01 except that the limitation
relating to the minimum amounts of the original principal balances of mortgages contained in
sections 576.01, subdivision 2, and 559.17, subdivision 2, clause (2), shall be inapplicable to it.
    Subd. 33. Loan coinsurance. The agency may establish a fund to coinsure loans, with a
division of risk as determined by the agency, that are made by any banking institution, savings
association, or other lender approved by the agency, organized under the laws of this or any other
state or of the United States having an office in this state, to low- and moderate-income purchasers
of residential housing to be occupied by them, or to low- and moderate-income persons or families
for improvements to residential property that they occupy as their principal place of residence,
provided that loan insurance on comparable terms and conditions is not otherwise available in the
areas where the borrowers' properties are situated.
    Subd. 34. Home equity conversion loans. (a) The agency may make, purchase, or make
a forward commitment to purchase home equity conversion loans for low or moderate income
elderly homeowners. Loan recipients must be at least 62 years of age, have substantial equity in
their home, and have an income at or below 50 percent of the greater of statewide or area median
income. The agency must inform a program participant of available home equity conversion
loan counseling services before making a loan.
(b) Repayment of a home equity conversion loan may not be required until at least one
of the following conditions occurs:
(1) the sale or conveyance of the mortgaged property;
(2) the mortgaged property is no longer the mortgagor's principal residence;
(3) the death of the mortgagor; or
(4) a violation of an obligation of the mortgagor under the mortgage.
For purposes of this section, an obligation of the mortgagor under the mortgage does not
include immediate repayment upon completion of loan disbursements at the end of a specified
term.
    Subd. 35. Manufactured home park loans. The agency may provide financial assistance
for the conversion of manufactured home parks to cooperative or nonprofit ownership. Financial
assistance may include direct loans, interest rate subsidy loans, loan guarantees, and down
payment assistance.
    Subd. 36. Lease-purchase housing. The agency may make grants or loans to nonprofit
organizations, local government units, Indian tribes, and Indian tribal organizations to finance the
acquisition, improvement, rehabilitation, and lease-purchase of existing housing for persons of low
and moderate income. A person or family is eligible to participate in a lease-purchase agreement
if the person's or family's income does not exceed 60 percent of the greater of (1) state median
income, or (2) area or county median income. The lease agreement must provide for a portion of
the lease payment to be escrowed as a down payment on the housing. A property containing two
or fewer dwelling units is eligible for financing under the lease-purchase housing program. A loan
made under this subdivision must be repaid to the agency upon sale of the housing.
    Subd. 37.[Repealed, 1993 c 236 s 19]
    Subd. 38. Neighborhood land trusts. The agency may make loans with or without interest
for the purpose of funding neighborhood land trusts under sections 462A.30 and 462A.31 from
monies other than state general obligation bond proceeds. To assure the long-term affordability
of housing provided by the neighborhood land trust, the neighborhood land trust must own the
land acquired in whole or in part with a loan from the agency under this section under terms
and conditions determined by the agency. The agency may convert the loan to a grant under
circumstances approved by the agency.
    Subd. 39. Equity take-out loans. The agency may make equity take-out loans to owners of
federally assisted rental property. The owner of a federally assisted rental property must agree to
participate in the federal assistance program and extend the low-income affordability restrictions
on the housing for the maximum term of the federal assistance contract. An equity take-out loan
must be secured by appropriate security determined necessary by the agency.
    Subd. 40. Youth employment and training. The agency may make matching grants for
the purpose of employing and training resident youths or youths residing in the surrounding
neighborhood in the construction, maintenance, or rehabilitation of multifamily housing financed
by the agency.
    Subd. 41. Demonstration grants. The agency may make demonstration grants to owners or
managers of multifamily rental property upon which the agency holds a mortgage for the purpose
of developing or coordinating services that promote the tenant's ability to live independently,
support the tenant's self-sufficiency, improve the relationship between the tenants and the
community, or that otherwise strengthen the community.
History: 1971 c 702 s 5; 1973 c 515 s 11-19; 1974 c 441 s 8-10; 1976 c 254 s 3-6; 1977 c
401 s 4-8; 1979 c 50 s 60; 1979 c 327 s 1-3; 1980 c 579 s 20; 1980 c 593 s 1-3; 1980 c 614 s 149;
1981 c 306 s 5-8; 1981 c 356 s 238,248; 1982 c 424 s 130; 1983 c 185 s 2-6; 1983 c 289 s 115
subd 1; 1983 c 301 s 204-206; 1984 c 654 art 2 s 128; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1Sp1985 c 13 s 334-338;
1986 c 444; 1987 c 312 art 1 s 26 subd 2; 1987 c 350 s 2-6; 1987 c 384 art 2 s 98; 1987 c 404 s
175; 1988 c 542 s 2,3; 1988 c 689 art 2 s 234; 1989 c 209 art 2 s 1; 1989 c 270 s 2-10; 1989 c
328 art 1 s 4-7; 1990 c 429 s 2,3; 1991 c 292 art 9 s 19-25; 1992 c 522 s 25-29; 1993 c 236 s 1,2;
1994 c 586 s 1-3; 1994 c 632 art 4 s 74; 1995 c 202 art 1 s 25; 1995 c 213 art 2 s 11; 1995 c 224 s
96-98; 1996 c 298 s 1,2; 1997 c 200 art 4 s 6-9; 1998 c 273 s 14; 1998 c 389 art 14 s 4; 1999 c
199 art 2 s 15; 1999 c 211 s 2; 1Sp2001 c 4 art 4 s 7-11; 2003 c 61 s 1; 1Sp2003 c 4 s 1; 2004 c
263 s 20; 2005 c 56 s 1; 2005 c 97 art 4 s 4,5; 1Sp2005 c 1 art 4 s 103; 1Sp2005 c 5 art 8 s 7