A single-parent family has been living in Kapolei for two years. The problem is that they live in an "affordable" home but plan to sell their house now for a profit. Who changed the requirement that you had to live in your affordable home and couldn't sell for 10 years? Now, for some, an affordable home is a steppingstone to a market-value home, instead of providing for the truly deserving who couldn't buy a home otherwise. Why make rules if the city can't afford to follow up on flagrant fraudulent cases? ‘Affordables’ can be sold
on market after 3 yearsChapter 201E allows both the state Housing Finance & Development Corp. and the counties to develop affordable housing units, which now total about 5,200 statewide. In Kapolei, it is the housing agency, not the city, that's involved, a city spokeswoman said.
In answer to your first question, the state Legislature passed and the governor approved Act 299 in June, shortening to three years the 10-year buyback provision involving those government-developed homes, said housing agency spokesman George White. The act has a repeal date of Dec. 31, 2000.
The change was to "help stimulate the economy," White said. "Affordable-housing developers were having difficulty competing in the marketplace because the 10-year buyback (period) is considered too restrictive." Shortening the period "enables developers to sell their affordable-housing stock, thus encouraging further housing development and jobs."
From the consumer side, the law helps homeowners who wish to sell due to family growth, economic hardship, etc., he said.
If homeowners elect to sell their "affordable" homes before a set time, they would have to give the state first right of refusal.
The state would buy back the homes according to a formula. Now, after three years, homeowners can sell on the open market but the buyback clause would apply, as well as a shared-appreciation provision, in which the state gets back "a percentage of any profit that is roughly equivalent to its initial investment of the property," White said.
If a person with a 10-year buyback restriction wants to reduce it to three years, the homeowner needs to contact the Housing Finance & Development Corp. or the county to make the change. A fee will be charged.
If you suspect a violation, call the housing agency at 587-0515. If city units are involved, call the Housing Department at 523-4427 or 523-4264.
I'm trying to find a sister I never met. She was adopted from the Koolau Girls Home in the 1930s and would be in her 60s. She is Hispanic, but adopted by a Chinese couple who moved to California. Can anyone help? (Call Kokua Line if you can provide any leads.) Seeking a sister
To a very kind gentleman at the Blaisdell Center on Aug. 16. Faced with the problem of taking my disabled husband to the restroom, he cleared the men's restroom and stood at the door explaining to people what was happening. Mahalo also to the men who waited patiently until we left. That truly is an example of the aloha spirt. But auwe to facilities that cater to large crowds but do not provide family restrooms for people with disabled spouses. -- R.G. Mahalo and Auwe
To Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel, Mary Catherine's Bakery, Rocky's Limousine, Akamai Photography, Le Flowers, SandSea Vacation Rentals, Go Banana's Kayak Rentals and Tuxedo Junction. They demonstrated that hearts can be bigger than the dollar when our Aug. 23 wedding was canceled due to a tragic accident involving one of the groomsmen. Though we weren't able to have the wedding we had all planned so diligently for, we are proud to have known and worked with each of these businesses. -- Betsy Strickland and Arnold Pagatpatan Mahalo
