Low Income Housing
Market History and
Opportunity

Investment
Strategy

Critical
Housing Needs

LIHTC:
First Ten Years

Category B and C
Properties

Affordability
Sector of the
Housing Market

Consumer Trends

Political Trends

Target Market
Critical Requirements

Active Housing
Finance Agency
Environment

Consumer Trends
Generally, the targeted states and the Southeastern region as a whole has enjoyed strong consumer demand for homes as demonstrated by data on housing starts from the Census Bureau, the National Association of Home Builders, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. For instance, in 2004, the nation saw a 6.8% increase in the number of building permits issues, a 5.7% increase in the number of housing starts, and a 9.9% increase in the number of construction projects completed.

Coupled with a historically low-interest rate environment, increased financing choices and more flexible terms (not always to the ultimate benefit of the homebuyer), and special programs such as the states’ first-time homebuyer programs, this indicates a widening of the market for potential homebuyers. Indeed, national homeownership continues to be at historic levels. This trend is particularly strong in the Southeastern states, with single-family outpacing multifamily development in some markets.