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July 2022

Council extends foreclosure moratorium to aid struggling homeowners

In consultation with DCAR, the D.C. Council passed emergency legislation on June 28 to revise the foreclosure moratorium the Council passed earlier this year, which was set to expire on June 30. The need for this moratorium extension was identified by DCAR and councilmembers because applications for the Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) Homeownership Assistance Fund (HAF) only became available on June 22. The result would leave vulnerable homeowners without adequate time to apply for assistance through HAF.

The emergency legislation passed last week:

  • removes the 60-day deadline for submitting a homeownership assistance fund application
  • protects homeowners from foreclosure actions if they submit an application for HAF before Sept. 30, 2022
  • requires financial entities to provide homeowners notice of the HAF program
  • exempts the time period from March 11, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2022 from the three-year period a condominium association is permitted to enforce a lien against a unit owner for assessments due.

Eligible homeowners can apply for grant funding through HAF to cover mortgage payments and other property or housing expenses, including utilities, insurance, internet assistance and housing association fees. If you know someone struggling to make ends meet, encourage them to submit an application at haf.dc.gov.

D.C. Council passes remote notary bill

In a win for REALTORS® and the public, the D.C. Council passed legislation on July 12 that allows public notaries to certify paper copies of electronic records and to notarize documents virtually.

During testimony at the bill’s first hearing in March 2022, DCAR emphasized the need for flexibility and access to individuals seeking notarial services and highlighted the usefulness of online notarization for traditionally underserved communities. DCAR continued to actively support the bill through its final passage last week.