[misc.handicap] Accessible Apartment Hunting Hints

Ron.Rothenberg@f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org (Ron Rothenberg) (03/16/91)

Index Number: 14045

Here's the final text for "Acessible Apartment Hunting Hints."
Thanks to everyone who sent suggestions.

When looking for an
accessible apartment:

*    State your needs clearly  -  use concrete terms.  Say: "I need 18 inches
     on either side of the toilet," not "I need a big bathroom."  Don't be shy
     when describing why you need a certain feature.  Knowing why helps the
     other person know if the apartment fits.

*    Don't sweat the small stuff. Be reasonable in your requirements. No home
     is perfect immediately.  Even non-disabled people must make changes to
     make a house a home.  Make sure the expensive modifications are there -
     ramping, hallway size, bathroom size, etc.  Doors can be widened and light
     switches adapted cheaply.  Under the new Fair Housing Laws, the landlord
     must allow you to make your own reasonable adaptations.

*    Opportunity knocks -  Check with your rehab commission  or independent
     living center.  Landlords often call in search of tenants.  Check display
     ads in the Sunday paper for the universal wheelchair symbol.  This symbol
     means that there are some accessible apartments in that building.  Look
     for ads in disability-related publications.

*    Get professional help -   Speak to several real estate agents.  Work with
     only one, so there is an incentive for that agent to find you a home.
     Call the office manager and ask for an agent who may have experience with
     wheelchair accessible housing.  Divide your requests into "musts" and
     "would-be-nice" features.

*    Know your rights - If you encounter discrimination, inform the landlord of
     your rights in a helpful way - don't be adversarial unless necessary.
     Disabled persons are among the newest protected classes.  Many landlords
     do not know that a companion or guide dog is not considered a pet, or that
     you're entitled to make reasonable changes to make your apartment more
     livable.  If you don't tell them, they may never know.

*    New Construction = More accessibility (usually).  Most rental housing that
     recently went into service must have some units built to accessible or
     adaptable standards.

*    Need a lift? - If you live in a high-rise building, it's good to have more
     than one elevator so that you don't get stranded if one breaks.

*    How's the neighborhood? - Check out curb-cuts and access to stores &
     transit in the area.

*    Be kind to your landlord - Appreciate enlightened landlords who maintain
     accessible housing.  Though it's the law, it's nice to have a few strokes
     for being a good, accessible landlord.  If there are other vacant
     accessible units, let people know.  If accessible homes were always
     rented, more would be built.

*    In case of emergency - Is there an alternate accessible exit?

*    Change of season - When looking at a home in summer, consider the
     accessibility when there is ice and snow on the ground.

*    Choose carefully! - so you won't have to go through this again soon.  If
     you're pleased with the home, consider a long-term lease.

*    For an accessible home, call *HomeBase Real Estate* at
     (617) 489-4812.

(c) Copyright 1991 Ronald S. Rothenberg.  The copyright holder
grants the right to reprint and distribute this article to any
non-profit group or disabilities-related newsletter.  Editors
may remove the final point, as long as credit is given in the
byline.  Please send copies of all publications including this
letter to Ron Rothenberg, P.O. Box 212, Waverly, MA 02179.

For a typeset master of a brochure of these points, send a SASE
to the address given above.

... Question Authority!  Why should I?

--
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Marc.Moyantcheff@f71.n135.z1.fidonet.org (Marc Moyantcheff) (03/21/91)

Index Number: 14101

hi ron,

        Q. are there any Govmt. programs that lends $$$$ at low interst
rates to buy property, house/condo ?  something like the S.B.A. (small
business adm.) LENDS up to $150k at 3% p/yr to disabled persons.

        yes , theres F.H.A. , V.A. programs..... is there something better?

let me kno ASAP........

thanx,
Marc Moyantcheff

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Ron.Rothenberg@f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org (Ron Rothenberg) (03/22/91)

Index Number: 14119

>hi ron,

>        Q. are there any Govmt. programs that lends $$$$ at low
>        interst rates to buy property, house/condo ?  something
> like the S.B.A. (small business adm.) LENDS up to $150k at 3% p/yr
> to disabled persons.

>        yes , theres F.H.A. , V.A. programs..... is there something
> better?

Hi Marc,

Virtually all subsidized mortgages are handled at the state
level, under federal guidelines and legistlation.  The two most
widely available programs are the State Housing Finance Agency
General Lending Programs - - - - they  sell tax-free bonds and
then lend out money at the lower interest rate (about 2% below
going rate).  They do give priority to people with disabilities.
They do allow for low down-payments (5% with 2 1/2% coming from
borrower).  They still have usual underwriting standards, but
since the interest rates are lower, you can qualify for a larger
loan.  They lend only for primary residences.  If you move out
and rent the home you must refinance.

The other widely available programs are Mortgage Credit
Certificates.  These are now available in 30 some-odd states.
With an MCC you can go to any approved lender (over 12 in Mass.
) and use any mortgage product they have.  With the MCC 20% of
the interest you pay becomes a federal tax credit (not a
deduction, a credit!).  Also to help you qualify, that tax
credit is subtracted from the mortgage payment before computing
the qualifcation ratios.    This allows you to use something
other than a 30-year fixed - so ARMS, one-steps, two-steps,
etc., are available under this program.

Happy househunting!

P.S. Also available in many states is low-cost home-improvement
loans to adapt a home.   In Mass. the current rates for the HILP
(Home Improvement Loan Program) are 3.9% for low-income
borrowers (under about $30,000/yr. and 8.9% (still not bad) for
borrowers under about $40,000)

-rsr-

... Question Authority!  Why should I?

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Ron.Rothenberg@f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org (Ron Rothenberg) (04/04/91)

Index Number: 14614

Here's the final text for "Acessible Apartment Hunting Hints."
Thanks to everyone who sent suggestions.

When looking for an
accessible apartment:

*    State your needs clearly  -  use concrete terms.  Say: "I need 18 inches
     on either side of the toilet," not "I need a big bathroom."  Don't be shy
     when describing why you need a certain feature.  Knowing why helps the
     other person know if the apartment fits.

*    Don't sweat the small stuff. Be reasonable in your requirements. No home
     is perfect immediately.  Even non-disabled people must make changes to
     make a house a home.  Make sure the expensive modifications are there -
     ramping, hallway size, bathroom size, etc.  Doors can be widened and light
     switches adapted cheaply.  Under the new Fair Housing Laws, the landlord
     must allow you to make your own reasonable adaptations.

*    Opportunity knocks -  Check with your rehab commission  or independent
     living center.  Landlords often call in search of tenants.  Check display
     ads in the Sunday paper for the universal wheelchair symbol.  This symbol
     means that there are some accessible apartments in that building.  Look
     for ads in disability-related publications.

*    Get professional help -   Speak to several real estate agents.  Work with
     only one, so there is an incentive for that agent to find you a home.
     Call the office manager and ask for an agent who may have experience with
     wheelchair accessible housing.  Divide your requests into "musts" and
     "would-be-nice" features.

*    Know your rights - If you encounter discrimination, inform the landlord of
     your rights in a helpful way - don't be adversarial unless necessary.
     Disabled persons are among the newest protected classes.  Many landlords
     do not know that a companion or guide dog is not considered a pet, or that
     you're entitled to make reasonable changes to make your apartment more
     livable.  If you don't tell them, they may never know.

*    New Construction = More accessibility (usually).  Most rental housing that
     recently went into service must have some units built to accessible or
     adaptable standards.

*    Need a lift? - If you live in a high-rise building, it's good to have more
     than one elevator so that you don't get stranded if one breaks.

*    How's the neighborhood? - Check out curb-cuts and access to stores &
     transit in the area.

*    Be kind to your landlord - Appreciate enlightened landlords who maintain
     accessible housing.  Though it's the law, it's nice to have a few strokes
     for being a good, accessible landlord.  If there are other vacant
     accessible units, let people know.  If accessible homes were always
     rented, more would be built.

*    In case of emergency - Is there an alternate accessible exit?

*    Change of season - When looking at a home in summer, consider the
     accessibility when there is ice and snow on the ground.

*    Choose carefully! - so you won't have to go through this again soon.  If
     you're pleased with the home, consider a long-term lease.

*    For an accessible home, call *HomeBase Real Estate* at
     (617) 489-4812.

(c) Copyright 1991 Ronald S. Rothenberg.  The copyright holder
grants the right to reprint and distribute this article to any
non-profit group or disabilities-related newsletter.  Editors
may remove the final point, as long as credit is given in the
byline.  Please send copies of all publications including this
letter to Ron Rothenberg, P.O. Box 212, Waverly, MA 02179.

For a typeset master of a brochure of these points, send a SASE
to the address given above.

... Question Authority!  Why should I?

--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!101!460!Ron.Rothenberg
Internet: Ron.Rothenberg@f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org