Housing briefs

Chad Schwendeman joined Tower Real Estate, Brainerd, as a real estate professional.

A lakes area resident for many years, Schwendeman has been an award winning salesperson for the past seven years. Honors have included rookie of the year, manager of the year and a promotion to district manager.

Nor-son staffers attend conference

Two Nor-son employees, Jim Larson, service division manager, and Dan Stanifer, AutoCad architectural designer, attended the Building for Peak Performance Conference in Denver in October.

The conference, sponsored by the Energy and Environmental Building Association, focused on aiding builders in construction of long-lasting, healthy homes and using products that can cushion skyrocketing utility costs.

The EEBA promotes the awareness, education and development of energy efficient, environmentally responsible buildings and communities.

Conference geared toward housing agencies

More than 900 multi-housing owners, managers, housing authorities and other personnel from across the state are expected to gather for the sixth annual Working Together Conference in St. Paul on Feb. 13 and 14.

Agencies are the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, National Housing Association of Redevelopment Officials -- Minnesota Chapter, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Rural Development, and the Minnesota Multi Housing Association.

The conference, at the Radisson Hotel in St. Paul, will cover seven educational topics -- Rehab/lead-based paint/public housing authorities, policy updates and discussions, the latest in financing, development, asset management tools, higher performance for managers, increased maintenance abilities.

Prices for the two-day conference are $199 before Jan. 26 and $229 after that date. Individual seminars are $49 before Jan. 26 and $59 after that date.

For more information, contact the Minnesota Multi Housing Association at (952) 854-8500, or visit the Web site at www.mnha.com, or e-mail the association at mha@mmha.com.

Home rental rehabilitation applications offered

Applications are currently being accepted for the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency's Home Rental Rehabilitation Program.

The central region receives an allocation of funds to administer to rental property owners in the counties of Aitkin, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Chisago, Crow Wing, Isanti, Kanabec, Morrison, Mille Lacs, Pine, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, Wadena and Wright.

The program offers rental property owners a deferred grant of up to 75 percent of total project costs for rehabilitating their buildings. A 25 percent match is required from the property owner. Eligible building improvements include, but are not limited to, roofs, siding, windows, major systems updating, floor coverings and painting.

HRRP funding is available only to properties that meet certain rent limits and tenant income limits. In addition, to have projects approved for this program, property owners must agree to maintain rent and income limits for at least five years. Projects selected for funding will require an application fee in order to move ahead. The deadline for pre-application is Feb. 23.

For more information, contact Sheri Harris, the Central Minnesota Housing Partnership, at (320) 259-0393.

Meixner earns designation

NISSWA -- Mark Meixner, Positive North GMAC Real Estate, earned his senior residential marketing master designation.

To earn the award, Meixner received credit in 10 or more Master Classes, each providing advanced education in a different aspect of real estate professionalism. Class topics ranged from marketing to effective pricing strategies and focused on specific techniques to serve customers effectively.