{"id":3668,"date":"2024-01-11T23:30:15","date_gmt":"2024-01-12T04:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/?p=3668"},"modified":"2024-04-25T23:17:01","modified_gmt":"2024-04-26T03:17:01","slug":"washington-states-path-to-fair-housing-the-2024-recording-fee-increase-and-covenant-homeownership-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/washington-states-path-to-fair-housing-the-2024-recording-fee-increase-and-covenant-homeownership-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Washington State’s Path to Fair Housing: The 2024 Recording Fee Increase and Covenant Homeownership Program"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Beginning January 1, 2024, Washington State implemented a substantial revision to its recording fees, significantly affecting the real estate sector. This modification entailed a $100 increase in the recording fee for each document, aligning with the Covenant Homeownership Program assessment as outlined in RCW 36.22.185. This hike is applicable to a broad array of documents, including standard recorded documents, Deeds of Trust, and all surveys and map-related documents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Objective of the Covenant Homeownership Program<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The additional funds garnered from this increase are allocated to the Covenant Homeownership Program (CHAP), established under House Bill 1474 (Chapter 340, Laws of 2023) and supervised by the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions. The CHAP’s primary goal is to develop a housing loan program for residents impacted by historically restrictive covenants. These covenants have profoundly influenced certain groups’ ability to access homeownership due to their racially discriminatory nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CHAP oversight committee, appointed by the Governor, is critical in assessing and reviewing the Washington State Housing Finance Committee’s activities related to this program. These include preparing impact reports of racist covenants and potentially formulating special purpose credit programs to assist those affected by such housing covenants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Historical Context and Significance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The fee increment and subsequent funding of the Covenant Homeownership Program mark a significant stride by Washington State in recognizing and addressing the historical role of government institutions in housing-related discrimination. The National Fair Housing Alliance and other organizations play a pivotal role in this initiative, emphasizing the necessity to understand past racial housing discrimination and explore race-neutral approaches to broaden homeownership opportunities as remedies for identified injustices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Program Implementation and Timeline<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Covenant Homeownership Program in Washington State, initiated by House Bill 1474, is designed to provide down payment and closing cost assistance to specific groups of people who have been historically marginalized due to racially restrictive real estate covenants. The program is set to begin offering down payment and closing cost assistance from July 1, 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To qualify for the program, applicants must meet certain criteria:<\/p>\n\n\n\n