FHFA cancels LLPA fee increase after industry pushback
Following significant pressure from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and other industry stakeholders, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has rescinded its proposal to increase loan level pricing adjustment (LLPA) fees for borrowers with debt-to-income ratios greater than 40%. The fee was slated to go into effect Aug. 1. NAR previously wrote the FHFA urging it to consider factors like higher credit scores or larger down payments to offset LLPA fees instead of implementing increases that would only raise the borrower's risk of default. The FHFA also announced that it will conduct a request for information on other new fees, such as those imposed on borrowers with higher credit scores and moderate down payments. Read more here.
Source: Housing Wire; 5/10/2023

Gov. Shapiro proposes changes to Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program
A state program that offsets some housing costs for older and disabled Pennsylvanians will again see a drop in participation this year. To stop the decade-long decline, Gov. Josh Shapiro has proposed increasing rent and property tax rebate amounts and raising the income limits to make an additional 173,000 people eligible. State lawmakers haven’t raised income limits for homeowners to qualify in over 15 years, and for renters it has been more than 35 years. Shapiro’s proposal will increase income limits with the rise of inflation. Read more here.
Source: Spotlight PA; 5/5/2023

NAR hosts discussions about policy and the economy
At the Realtors 2023 legislative meetings in Washington D.C., speakers discussed issues impacting the housing industry and the economy. During the Advocacy Scoop, National Association of Realtors (NAR) chief advocacy officer Shannon McGahn discussed her team's work in recent years to modernize advocacy efforts. “We have the programs, people and policies to achieve our goals," McGahn said. Speakers like Federal Housing Administration Commissioner Julia Gordon at the Regulatory Issues Forum noted that housing supply is one of the greatest factors impacting affordability in today's market. During the Federal Legislative and Political Forum — subtitled “How Banking and Institutional Investors are Influencing the American Dream of Homeownership” — two of the nation's top economists, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, former director of the Congressional Budget Office, and Dana Peterson, chief economist of The Conference Board, shared their views on the debt ceiling, current economy, and the complex role of banking and institutional investors in the housing market, including the impacts on housing affordability and generational wealth-building.
Source: Nar.realtor

PAR provides testimony on housing inventory, affordability during Senate hearing
The Pennsylvania Association of Realtors (PAR) provided testimony on the current state of housing at a hearing at the Capitol in Harrisburg. PAR Legislative Committee Chair Glenn Yoder told members of the Senate Majority Policy Committee that inventory levels and housing affordability have created challenges for consumers entering and re-entering the real estate market in Pennsylvania. “For some of these first-time homebuyers, saving enough for a down payment may be an obstacle,” Yoder said. “Higher prices and student debt restrict young potential buyers before being able to save enough for a down payment. We’re thankful that the Senate Urban Affairs Committee recently advanced Senate Bill 295 by Sen. Rosemary Brown, which would create a first-time homebuyer savings account program in Pennsylvania to help first-time homebuyers address some of these issues.” Yoder noted that he works with new home construction and the costs to prepare and permit a site to build often run between $75,000 and $100,000. Ryan Dellinger, state outreach manager for the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, presented the results of a study, “Housing Reform in the States: A Menu of Options for 2023.” According to the study, “Overly restrictive local zoning is the fundamental cause of America’s housing shortage, and states can place limits on local zoning as well as reform the processes that make land use regulation a source of frustration for so many local officials and citizens.” He provided examples of how other state legislatures have enacted legislation aimed at loosening zoning. Comments about accessory dwelling units, multi-unit residents, parking mandates and lot-size requirements were also presented by those testifying before the committee.
Source: PAR JustListed; 5/4/2023

PA tax intake up $1.2 billion for year; rate cuts not on table
Pennsylvania collected $5.7 billion in general fund tax revenue in April, coming in $51.1 million (or almost 1%) ahead of projections, according to newly released data. That’s down slightly from the $6.2 billion in general fund revenue the state collected in March, which was $499.4 million (8.8%) ahead of estimates. And with just about two months to go before the state closes the books for the 2022-2023 fiscal year on June 30, the commonwealth has so far collected $37.9 billion in general revenue, which is $1.2 billion (3.3%) ahead of estimates, according to data that the state Revenue Department released. The realty transfer collection dipped in March, coming in at $50.5 million or $11.3 million below estimates.
Source: Daily Times; 5/4/2023

New five-mile trail segment opens in Warrington
Warrington officials recently cut the ribbon on a new section of trail in the township. The trailhead begins at the Route 202 Parkway and terminates at the Bradford Dam, and is approximately five miles long. It is part of the Circuit Trail system, an 800-plus-mile network of multi-use trails linking urban, suburban and rural communities throughout the Philadelphia area. Warrington Township received a $350,000 grant from the state Community Conservation Partnerships Program for the construction of the trail segments, which cost approximately $700,000. When the approximately 800 miles of the Circuit Trails are connected, the Philadelphia area will have a trail network unlike any other in the country.
Source: Doylestown Patch; 5/7/2023

Bristol Township planners recommend approval for Croydon homes
The Bristol Township Planning Commission recommended Bristol Township Council approve preliminary and final land development for six new single-family homes along Pennsylvania Avenue in the township’s Croydon section. CLC Contractors Inc. plans to construct the homes on the largely empty residential-zoned land that sits against Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. The plan is to match the existing style of the neighborhood. The developer will need several waivers from council related to extending the roadway, not having a sidewalk, not having a curb on both sides, not providing street trees, and several other conditions. CLC Contractors has been involved in the construction of several pockets of homes throughout the township.
Source: LevittownNow.com; 5/8/2023

Doylestown Borough comprehensive plan workshop meeting is May 20
Doylestown Borough will hold another comprehensive plan workshop meeting on Saturday, May 20, at 9 a.m. in Borough Hall. The workshop will involve discussion on each of the categories developed as part of the community survey and previous workshops. Residents can register in advance to attend the meeting. Learn more about the comprehensive plan and process here.
Source: Doylestown Borough

Lower Southampton sanitation rebates available until May 31
Lower Southampton Township sanitation/trash rebates for the 2022 tax year will be given to qualifying residents through May 31. The rebate is $50 per household. To qualify, a resident must be 65 years or older, and a veteran who is 50% disabled or greater. There is only one rebate per household. Click here for more details.
Source: Lower Southampton Township; 5/2023

Falls Township joins municipal consortium opposing water and sewer privatization
Falls Township supervisors passed a resolution to join a municipal consortium opposing water and sewer privatization. The consortium aims to combat legislation that could impose requirements on public utilities that would benefit private utilities at the expense of residents, along with opposing privatization. Led by Doylestown Borough, the consortium will also represent municipal interests related to Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority’s proposed system upgrades that will impact numerous municipalities. Falls Township agreed to pay $250 annually for the consortium costs as part of its membership.
Source: LevittownNow.com; 5/3/2023

Lower Southampton settles with former zoning officer
Lower Southampton will pay nearly $100,000 to its former zoning officer and fire marshal who contended township supervisors wrongly blamed him for an expired performance bond and ordered him to stop talking to a news organization. The news organization was investigating the operations of the zoning department under the previous zoning officer. William Oettinger alleged that he was pushed out in retaliation after exposing unexplained past financial losses and other discrepancies after taking over the zoning department. The settlement brings an end to a controversial chapter in Lower Southampton history. The money was paid by the township’s liability insurance carrier, according to the settlement.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 5/9/2023

Tredyffrin holds public meeting on stormwater fee
Tredyffrin Township has hired Jacobs Engineering for nearly $398,000 to develop a proposal to implement a stormwater management fee and recently hosted a public meeting on the topic. Township officials said the fee is not likely to be implemented until 2025. It will be used for both capital improvement projects and maintenance and operations of stormwater control measures. Township staff will regularly update the stormwater program fee website, which answers frequently asked questions about the fee.  
Source: Tredyffrin Patch; 5/5/2023 and Tredyffrin Township

Chester County launches broadband survey
To further justify and strengthen the need for funding to expand broadband services in areas throughout the county, Chester County government has created a short survey aimed at identifying locations where internet service is either non-existent or extremely limited. “Although it may be difficult to believe, there are pockets in Chester County where internet service is either very sparse or not available at all,” the county commissioners wrote. “This survey will give us greater detail on where the broadband shortfalls are, and a clearer picture of the true impact on residents and businesses in Chester County.” The survey is open until May 19. 
Source: Chester County; 5/1/2023

State reps visit Phoenixville and get revitalization tips from borough officials, businesses
The state House Majority Policy Committee hosted a roundtable discussion with local business owners in Chester County before touring Main Street in Phoenixville. “This was a great opportunity for our members to see first-hand how successful this region is and how it can be duplicated in communities across Pennsylvania,” said state Rep. Paul Friel (D-26), who hosted the event. The tour began at Phoenixville Borough Hall, after which members visited eight local businesses along Main and Bridge streets to talk with store owners about the challenges they face, and what can be done in Harrisburg to better support their businesses. The business owners said government and community stakeholders have to be on the same page to maximize revitalization and plan for the future. “There’s an intersection of public policy, public investment and economic growth in our downtowns, and these public investments from Harrisburg, county and local sources are critical to development because they return tenfold the type of investment happening in communities,” Friel said.
Source: The Mercury; 5/9/2023

Voter Services adds color to mail-in, absentee ballot envelopes to clarify voting process
Chester County voters who choose to vote by mail or absentee ballot will notice the addition of color to the ballot pack they receive for the May 16 primary. The county’s Department of Voter Services has added the color orange to the mail-in ballot secrecy envelope and an orange stripe to the return declaration envelope to help clarify the steps that must be taken to correctly complete and return a mail-in or absentee ballot. The county also produced a video detailing the steps to complete and return a mail-in ballot for the primary election. “Once their mail-in or absentee ballot is completed, voters should place the ballot inside the secrecy envelope and seal it, then place it inside the pre-addressed declaration envelope, which should be sealed, signed and dated,” voter services director Karen Barsoum says in the video. “This year, that secrecy envelope is solid orange, to make it distinct from the declaration envelope, which has an orange stripe.” 
Source: Chester County; 4/2023

How to get a copy of your deed in Chester County
The May issue of Good Deeds, the newsletter of the Chester County Recorder of Deeds, explains the three ways property owners can obtain copies of their deeds:

• Online: Documents recorded after 1993 are available online for free (Eagle Web). Older documents are printable online with a fee of 50¢ per page (IQS Search). Visit the records search page for detailed instructions. 
• By mail: Include the property owner’s name, the book and page number of the document (use ChescoViews), a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check to cover the fee. The fee is $5 per page and, if needed, $1.50 to certify the document. 
• In person: No appointment is necessary. The fee is 50¢ per page and $1.50 to certify. Cash, credit card or business checks are accepted.

Source: Chester County Recorder of Deeds; 5/10/2023