The Supremes, AKA the Justices of the United States Supreme Court, are going to weigh in on foreclosure sales. Specifically whether when the government retains a surplus from a foreclosure sale, is that a violation of the Takings Clause? And, whether low sales prices at a foreclosure sale violate the 8th amendment prohibition against excessive fines. Pung v. Isabella County, Michigan.
Shutdown + property for hunting & fishing
Missouri Department of Conservation has warned hunters and fisherman that there will be fewer private property locations to hunt and fish as the shutdown has ceased funding for the Missouri Outdoor Recreational Access Program.
Federal home buy out for flood plains
45,000 homes have been bought since 2001, at a cost of nearly $4 billion through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s property buyout program. For every $1 invested in the program, disaster recovery costs are saved by an estimated $4-$6 dollars.
How to quickly build 64.000 homes
Hawaii has a plan to build 64,000 affordable homes quickly. How? Use state land and stream line permitting. The plan is coupled with the Governor’s emergency proclamation on housing was even bolder.
Governing | Hawaii Governor Wants to Build 64,000 Affordable Homes. Can He Deliver?
Neighborhood Reinvestment Plan funding
Atlanta’s mayor has announced a Neighborhood Reinvestment Plan backed by $5 billion from property tax reallocation. The impetus of the plan? The significant health disparities, including a 20 year life expectancy gap, between neighborhoods 7 miles apart.
The $5 billion in funding will support affordable housing, transit, parks, health centers and local business development.
Wildfire insurance v. Investors
Hedge funds speculating on wildfire insurance claims in California were just dealt a legal blow, after the state adopted new legislation designed to stifle such bets. @bloombergbusiness
Zombie mortgage battle
What is a zombie mortgage? a long-dormant debt, often from a second mortgage or home equity line of credit, that unexpectedly reemerges years after homeowners assumed it was settled.
A lawsuit by mortgage lenders and other trade associations is asking a court to declare unconstitutional a California prohibition against reawakening these dormant zombie mortgages.
The property rights advocates say these debts are typically already cleared and come back to life like zombies when property owners believe them to be settled and final.
How to quickly increase housing
San Diego County has found that ADUs account for 30-45% of all new building permits in the unincorporated areas of the county. ADUs also account for more than 50% of all affordable housing.
How did we get here? State requirements to improve zoning flexibility are credited for the rise in ADU numbers.
U.S. Constitution missing pages
Remember how a certain gold colored Bible was said to also include the Constitution? Remember how these were making their way into schools? Turns out the copies sent to school districts in Oklahoma did not include Amendments 11-27. This makes my lawyer brain want to implode.
Eminent Domain at the Supreme Court
12 Attorneys General have filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court asking the Court to take up an eminent domain case concerning North Dakota ranchers. Courts awarded the ranchers compensation that more appropriately reflected fair market value, but an appeals court said North Dakota law concerning attorney fees did not apply to a private pipeline. Big compensation decision a possibility this term for the Court.