Chapter 234

234.592(3) (3) Loan conditions.

234.592(3)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the authority may finance the acquisition or replacement of or enter into contracts permitting an authorized lender to finance the acquisition or replacement of an existing mortgage given by an applicant on an eligible property only if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

234.592(3)(a)1. 1. The eligible property is and will remain the principal residence of the applicant.

234.592(3)(a)2. 2. The existing mortgage was originally financed through a qualified subprime loan and has not subsequently been refinanced.

234.592(3)(a)3. 3. The authority makes a determination that the mortgage described in subd. 2. will be reasonably likely to cause financial hardship to the applicant if not refinanced.

234.592(3)(a)4. 4. The term of any refinancing agreement entered into under this paragraph does not exceed 30 years.

234.592(3)(a)5. 5. The monthly payments to be made by an applicant under an agreement entered into under this paragraph include principal, interest, property taxes, and insurance. In this subdivision, “insurance” includes mortgage insurance, homeowner’s insurance, and, if applicable, flood insurance.

234.592(3)(a)6. 6. The authority complies with special rules for subprime refinancing established under 26 USC 143 (k) (12).

234.592(3)(b) (b) The authority may not enter into an agreement under this subsection if the applicant’s name appears on the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b), unless the applicant provides to the authority a payment agreement that has been approved by the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and that is consistent with rules promulgated under s. 49.858 (2) (a).

234.592 History History: 2009 a. 2.

234.60 234.60 Bonds for homeownership mortgage loans and qualified subprime loan refinancing.

234.60(1) (1) The authority may issue its bonds or notes to fund homeownership mortgage loans or the refinancing of qualified subprime loans under s. 234.592.

234.60(2) (2) The limitations in ss. 234.18, 234.40, 234.50, 234.61, and 234.65 do not apply to bonds or notes issued under this section.

234.60(4) (4) Before issuing bonds or notes under this section, the authority shall consult and coordinate the bond or note issue with the building commission.

234.60(5) (5) 

234.60(5)(a) (a) The secretary of administration shall determine the date after which no bond or note issued may be treated as a qualified mortgage bond under 26 USC 143 (a) (1).

234.60(5)(b) (b) No bonds or notes may be issued under this section after the date determined under par. (a), except bonds or notes issued to refund outstanding bonds or notes issued under this section.

234.60(5)(c) (c) The secretary of administration shall determine the date after which no bond or note may be issued under this section for the purpose of financing the acquisition or replacement of an existing mortgage under s. 234.592.

234.60(9) (9) The executive director of the authority shall make every effort to encourage participation in the homeownership mortgage loan program and the qualified subprime loan refinancing program by women and minorities.

234.60 History History: 1981 c. 349; 1983 a. 27 s. 2202 (20); 1983 a. 36 s. 96 (4); 1983 a. 81 s. 13; 1983 a. 82; 1983 a. 83 s. 22; 1983 a. 192; 1985 a. 29 ss. 2128 to 2131, 3202 (28); 1985 a. 78, 334; 1987 a. 27, 69; 1989 a. 31; 1993 a. 437; 1997 a. 27; 2005 a. 22, 75, 487; 2007 a. 125; 2009 a. 2; 2017 a. 277.

234.60 Note NOTE: Chapter 349, laws of 1981 contains a “legislative declaration” in section 1.

234.605 234.605 Homeowner eviction and lien protection program.

234.605(1) (1) In this section:

234.605(1)(a) (a) “Eligible property” has the meaning given in s. 234.59 (1) (d) 1.

234.605(1)(b) (b) “Lender” means any banking institution, savings bank, savings and loan association, or credit union organized under the laws of this or any other state or of the United States having an office in this state.

234.605(1)(c) (c) “Mortgage loan” means a loan secured by a first lien real estate mortgage on the eligible property of an applicant.

234.605(2) (2) Subject to the approval of all members of the authority, the authority may establish and administer a homeowner eviction and lien protection program to encourage the refinancing of mortgage loans by lenders in order to facilitate the retention of eligible property by persons and families.

234.605(3) (3) 

234.605(3)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), to implement the program, the authority may enter into agreements with lenders regarding the refinancing of a mortgage loan and may make or participate in the making and enter into commitments for the making of loans to refinance a mortgage loan if the authority first determines all of the following:

234.605(3)(a)1. 1. The applicant has made a reasonable effort to refinance the mortgage loan with the existing lender or loan servicer or with an organization approved by the authority, but the applicant has been unsuccessful in his or her effort. The authority shall designate and maintain a current list of organizations approved under this subdivision.

234.605(3)(a)2. 2. The lender will not refinance the mortgage loan in the absence of an agreement with the authority.

234.605(3)(b) (b) The authority may not enter into an agreement with a lender under this section if the applicant’s name appears on the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b), unless the applicant provides to the authority a payment agreement that has been approved by the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and that is consistent with rules promulgated under s. 49.858 (2) (a).

234.605(4) (4) The authority shall submit a quarterly report to the joint committee on finance. The report shall summarize the progress and performance of the program established under this section. The cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance may convene a meeting of the committee at any time to review or dissolve the program established under this section.

234.605 History History: 2009 a. 2.

234.61 234.61 Bonds for residential facilities for the elderly or chronically disabled.

234.61(1) (1) Upon the authorization of the department of health services, the authority may issue bonds or notes and make loans for the financing of housing projects which are residential facilities as defined in s. 46.28 (1) (d) and the development costs of those housing projects, if the department of health services has approved the residential facilities for financing under s. 46.28 (2). The limitations in ss. 234.18, 234.40, 234.50, 234.60, and 234.65 do not apply to bonds or notes issued under this section. The definition of “nonprofit corporation” in s. 234.01 (9) does not apply to this section.

234.61(2) (2) 

234.61(2)(a) (a) The aggregate amount of outstanding bonds or notes issued under this subsection may not exceed $99,400,000.

234.61(2)(b) (b) Of the amount specified in par. (a), $30,000,000 may only be used to finance residential facilities serving 15 or fewer persons who are chronically disabled, as defined in s. 46.28 (1) (b).

234.61(2)(c) (c)

234.61(2)(c)1. 1. Of the amount specified in par. (a), $48,580,000 may only be used to finance residential facilities with 100 or fewer units for elderly persons, as defined in s. 46.28 (1) (c) or to finance additional residential facilities serving 15 or fewer persons who are chronically disabled.

234.61(2)(c)2. 2. The remainder of the amount specified in par. (a) may only be used to finance residential facilities with 50 or fewer units for elderly persons, as defined in s. 46.28 (1) (c), or to finance additional residential facilities serving 15 or fewer persons who are chronically disabled.

234.61(2)(c)3. 3. At least 20 percent of the units in any residential facility serving elderly persons for which bonds or notes are issued under this paragraph shall be reserved for low-income elderly persons.

234.61(3) (3) The authority is not required to issue bonds or notes under this section to finance residential facilities for persons and families of low and moderate income.

234.61 History History: 1983 a. 27; 1983 a. 81 s. 13; 1983 a. 83 s. 22; 1983 a. 192; 1985 a. 29, 334; 1993 a. 437; 1995 a. 27 s. 9126 (19); 1997 a. 27 s. 3355c; Stats. 1997 s. 234.61; 2005 a. 75, 487; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2007 a. 125; 2009 a. 2.

234.621 234.621 Property tax deferral loans; purpose. The legislature finds that older individuals who have resided in their homes for a substantial period of time have found it difficult to remain in their own homes because their incomes are insufficient to cover property taxes, which have risen as the value of their homes has increased. The legislature finds that it is in the public interest and that it serves a statewide public purpose to create a program whereby lien-creating loans are made to low- and moderate-income elderly homeowners for the purpose, and only for the purpose, of enabling individuals to pay local, general property taxes and special assessments on their homes so that more of these individuals can remain in their homes.

234.621 History History: 1981 c. 20, 317; 1991 a. 269 s. 510s; Stats. 1991 s. 16.993; 1993 a. 16 s. 130b; Stats. 1993 s. 234.621.

234.622 234.622 Definitions. In ss. 234.621 to 234.626:

234.622(1) (1) “Co-owner” means a natural person who, at the time of the initial application has an ownership interest in the qualifying dwelling unit of a participant in the program and fulfills one of the following requirements:

234.622(1)(a) (a) Is the participant’s spouse and a physician certifies that the participant or the co-owner is permanently disabled.

234.622(1)(b) (b) Is at least 60 years of age.

234.622(2m) (2m) “Executive director” means the executive director of the authority.

234.622(3) (3) “Free and clear” means that rights to transfer full title to the qualifying dwelling unit after satisfaction of permitted obligations are vested in the participant and co-owners.

234.622(3m) (3m) “Ownership interest” includes being a spouse of a participant.

234.622(4) (4) “Participant” means any of the following:

234.622(4)(a) (a) A natural person 65 years of age or older who has been accepted into the program.

234.622(4)(b) (b) A veteran, as defined in s. 45.01 (12) (a) to (f), who has been accepted into the program.

234.622(5) (5) “Permitted obligations” means the total amount of outstanding liens and judgments on the qualifying dwelling unit if that amount does not exceed 33 percent of the value of the unit as determined by the most recent assessment for property tax purposes. For purposes of ss. 234.621 to 234.626, housing and rehabilitation loans under s. 234.49 and liens arising under ss. 234.621 to 234.626 shall not be considered outstanding liens or judgments in computing the amount of permitted obligations.

234.622(6) (6) “Program” means the program under ss. 234.621 to 234.626.

234.622(7) (7) “Qualifying dwelling unit” means a dwelling unit, not including a mobile home as defined in s. 101.91 (10), located in this state, habitable as a permanent residence and to which property taxes or special assessments are, or may conveniently be, allocated and up to one acre of land appertaining to it held in the same ownership as the dwelling unit. For purposes of ss. 234.621 to 234.626, “qualifying dwelling unit” includes a unit in a condominium or in a cooperative or an unincorporated cooperative association or in a multiunit dwelling with 4 or fewer units, but in all of these 3 cases only the portion of taxes or special assessments allocable to the unit lived in by the participant may qualify for loans under ss. 234.621 to 234.626.

234.622 History History: 1981 c. 20, 317; 1985 a. 29 s. 3202 (14) (c); 1987 a. 29; 1991 a. 269 ss. 510t to 510ue; Stats. 1991 s. 16.994; 1993 a. 16 ss. 130e, 3051k; Stats. 1993 s. 234.622; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2005 a. 441; 2007 a. 11; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 20.

234.623 234.623 Eligibility. The authority shall make loans to a participant who meets all of the following requirements:

234.623(1) (1) The participant applies on forms prescribed by the authority for a loan to pay property taxes or special assessments by June 30 of the year in which the taxes or special assessments are payable on a qualifying dwelling unit and, except as provided in s. 234.625 (5), specifies the names of all co-owners.

234.623(2) (2) The participant resides in the qualifying dwelling unit more than 6 months of the year preceding each year of participation, but temporary residency in a health care facility may be substituted for any portion of this 6-month residency.

234.623(3) (3) The participant keeps continuously in effect during the period that a loan is outstanding under ss. 234.621 to 234.626 a fire and extended casualty insurance policy on the qualifying dwelling unit satisfactory to the authority and permits the authority to be named on the policy as a lienholder.

234.623(4) (4) The participant either individually or with other co-owners owns the qualifying dwelling unit free and clear. If the qualifying dwelling unit is owned with co-owners, each of these persons must approve the application under sub. (1).

234.623(5) (5) The participant earned no more than $20,000 in income, as defined under s. 71.52 (5), in the year prior to the year in which the property taxes or special assessments for which the loan is made are due.

234.623 History History: 1981 c. 20; 1983 a. 189 s. 329 (10); 1983 a. 544 s. 47 (1); 1985 a. 29 s. 3202 (46) (a); 1987 a. 27, 29; 1987 a. 312 s. 17; 1991 a. 269 s. 510uf; Stats. 1991 s. 16.995; 1993 a. 16 s. 130h; Stats. 1993 s. 234.623; 1999 a. 85.

234.624 234.624 Transfer of interest. If a participant ceases to reside in a qualifying dwelling unit, or if the participant’s total ownership interest in the qualifying dwelling unit is transferred to one or more co-owners in that unit, or if both of these events occur, a co-owner may assume the participant’s account by applying to the authority if the co-owner resides in the qualified dwelling unit. Upon approval of the application, and if the co-owner is 65 years of age or older, the co-owner shall become a participant in the program and shall qualify for program loans. A co-owner who has not attained the age of 65 at the time of application under this section may assume the account of a participant but shall not become a participant or qualify for program loans until the co-owner attains the age of 65.

234.624 History History: 1981 c. 20, 317; 1991 a. 269 s. 510ug; Stats. 1991 s. 16.9955; 1993 a. 16 s. 130j; Stats. 1993 s. 234.624.

234.625 234.625 Program operation.

234.625(1) (1) The authority shall enter into agreements with participants and their co-owners to loan funds to pay property taxes and special assessments on their qualifying dwelling units. The maximum loan under ss. 234.621 to 234.626 in any one year is limited to the lesser of $3,525 or the amount obtained by adding the property taxes levied on the qualifying dwelling unit for the year for which the loan is sought, the special assessments levied on the dwelling unit, and the interest and penalties for delinquency attributable to the property taxes or special assessments. Loans shall bear interest at a rate equal to the prime lending rate at the time the rate is set, as reported by the federal reserve board in federal reserve statistical release H. 15, plus 1 percent. The executive director shall set the rate no later than October 15 of each year, and that rate shall apply to loans made in the following year.

234.625(2) (2) The authority shall have all powers under s. 234.03 that are necessary or convenient to the operation of a loan program, including, without limitation because of enumeration, the power to enter into contracts, to pay or be paid for the performance of services, to exercise all rights of a lienholder under subch. I of ch. 779 and to perform other administrative actions that are necessary in the conduct of its duties under ss. 234.621 to 234.626.

234.625(3) (3) The authority shall adopt rules and establish procedures under which applications for loans may be submitted, reviewed and approved; under which repayment of loans are to be obtained; under which disputes and claims are to be settled; and under which records are to be maintained.

234.625(4) (4) The authority shall enter into loan agreements with participants and co-owners who agree to all of the following:

234.625(4)(b) (b) That the loan shall be due and payable upon the occurrence of any of the following events:

234.625(4)(b)1. 1. Transfer of the qualifying dwelling unit by any means except upon transfer to a co-owner who resides in the unit and who is permitted to assume the participant’s account as provided in s. 234.624.

234.625(4)(b)2. 2. The death of the participant if the participant is the sole owner.

234.625(4)(b)3. 3. The death of the last surviving co-owner who owns the qualifying dwelling unit.

234.625(4)(b)4. 4. The authority discovers that the participant or a co-owner has made a false statement on the application or otherwise in respect to the program.

234.625(4)(b)5. 5. The condemnation or involuntary conversion of the qualifying dwelling unit.

234.625(4)(b)6. 6. The participant ceases to meet the eligibility requirements of s. 234.623, except as provided in sub. (5).

234.625(4)(b)7. 7. The participant fails to comply with par. (d).

234.625(4)(b)8. 8. At the participant’s or co-owner’s election, at any time before any of the events under subds. 1. to 7. occurs.

234.625(4)(b)9. 9. If the participant is a veteran, as defined in s. 45.01 (12) (a) to (f), who is not 65 years of age or older, at a time before any of the events under subds. 1. to 7. occurs, as determined under policies and procedures established by the authority.

234.625(4)(c) (c) To pay, upon repayment of the loan, interest specified in the loan agreement.

234.625(4)(d) (d) To limit the outstanding liens and judgments on the qualifying dwelling unit to no more than the permitted obligations.

234.625(5) (5) If a participant in the program ceases to meet the eligibility requirements of this section, the authority, rather than demanding repayment under sub. (4) (b), may allow the participant to continue in the program, may allow the participant to continue in the program but be ineligible for additional loans, or may require partial settlement. The authority may also allow co-owners to be added to the loan agreement if, in the judgment of the executive director, the addition of co-owners does not significantly increase the authority’s exposure to risk under the loan agreement.

234.625(6) (6) At any time after an application is filed, the authority may verify the correctness of the application and any other information regarding the eligibility of the participant. If the authority finds that at the time a participant received a loan the participant was not eligible under the program, the authority shall notify the participant and may require repayment of the loan as determined by the authority.