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<br />Chair Olson stated that her experience is that there aren't that many people who are willing to <br />put in that much sweat equity. She stated that she sold a home to an investor who fixed a home <br />up and resold it. She stated that she had people that came through before and after that said that <br />if they knew the house could be fixed up like this, they would have bought it. She stated that a <br />lot of people don't have a lot of imagination when they are walking through what they consider <br />to be a dump. She stated that investors have that kind of imagination. <br /> <br />Commissioner Look stated that the investors are already buying these homes, and asked what <br />incentive the City can give them. <br /> <br />Chair Olson stated that funding is a much larger issue for investors than it is for home owners. <br /> <br />Commissioner Strommen stated that she is stuck. She stated that, on one hand, she is where <br />CommissionerElvig is, and would like to have the money go to the people that will build their <br />lives into the community. She stated that Chair Olson has professional experience in this field, <br />but she has no idea what the right answer is, for example, why other communities made the <br />decisions they. did. She stated that she would like to have the experts tell us why the City may <br />not want to include investors and vice versa. . <br /> <br />HRA Executive Director Frolik stated that perhaps the City could ask them for an option of <br />investors in the RFP. <br /> <br />Commissioner Elvig stated that his suggestion would be that the City give a series of bullets that <br />can have options like that. <br /> <br />Chair Olson stated that perhaps investors could have a higher percentage loan, for a two year <br />loan term, for example. . <br /> <br />Commissioner Dehen stated that he is not an advocate of giving things away. He stated that <br />there always needs to be "skin in the game", so there is accountability. He stated that he would <br />be against forgiveness of any type of debt. He stated that he likes the idea of helping out first <br />time home buyers, because he had trouble himself when he got out of law school. He stated that <br />his parents had to co-sign for him on his first home, because he couldn't get credit. <br /> <br />Commisisoner Elvig stated that he feels it should be for anybody, not just first time home buyers. <br />He stated that older people are also in peril because of the current economy on their 401k plans. <br />He suggested options to include in the RFP would be: investors; all homes; no income limits; <br />any foreclosed property in the City; any property in the City; for down payment; and for rehab. <br />He stated that he sees this as a conventional loan, with low interest. <br /> <br />Chair Olson stated that in addition to foreclosed properties, she thinks the City should include <br />pre-foreclosures also, that are in the short sale stage. She stated that some of the first time home <br />buyer programs require home ownership training and suggested that be something that could be <br />offered with a City program also. Commissioner Stromrtlen agreed <br /> <br />Housing and Redevelopment Authority I December 1, 2008 <br />Page 5 of9 <br /> <br />5 <br />