To create jobs in the Tampa Bay region, we must reinvigorate our efforts to heal the housing market, Congresswoman Kathy Castor said today as she sent a letter to the White House. Following up on a recent discussion with President Obama, Castor’s letter contains suggestions to tackle the housing crisis in Florida and the nation. Castor outlined viable ways to spur the housing market, help distressed homeowners, improve property values and, as a result, help our community and our country’s economy toward more jobs and economic recovery.

“The state of Florida has been particularly hard hit by the housing crisis and we need to develop new jobs and new strategies on housing,” Castor said. “Many of our neighbors are knowledgeable experts, so I asked them to offer advice. I heard from our local bar associations, private sector housing and housing finance professionals, HUD-certified housing counselors in the Tampa Bay area, community service organizations and homeowners themselves. I used their ideas to develop an action plan to stabilize the real estate market and preserve the American Dream for all Americans while creating more jobs.”

Castor has held six foreclosure prevention workshops in the Tampa Bay area since July 2009, where she has heard from thousands of our neighbors about their housing and mortgage challenges. She also had met with HUD-certified housing counselors, bankers and Realtors, and held a housing roundtable to meet with other private sector housing experts.

Castor’s recommendations to the President include opening more local mortgage/modification help centers, more support for efforts such as the Hardest Hit initiative, extending the New Issue Bond Program, reducing principle for homeowners scammed by mortgage companies and banks, and supporting HUD-certified housing counselors, among other initiatives. (Please see the attached letter for more detail.)

“We must take action now to heal the housing market and boost our state’s economy,” Castor said. “Homeowners – many of whom are now experts on how to improve efforts – have told me they just need some extra breathing room when it comes to paying their mortgages during this down economy. These recommendations can provide homeowners, lenders and Realtors the help they need.”

Debra Koehler, president of Sage Partners, worked with Castor on housing issues including the New Issue Bond Program and tax credits.

“We appreciated being asked to participate by Representative Castor as she worked with the private sector to gather ideas on addressing homeownership and the property value crisis,” Koehler said. “Together, we can find innovative ways to boost jobs, help individual homeowners and renters, and raise property values for all of us. These joint efforts can help our housing market and our community’s economy move closer toward recovery.”

Click here to read the letter