Developer Information

Ventura Housing assists the City of Ventura in providing information to developers that are looking to construct rental and/or ownership affordable housing pursuant to the City’s Interim Inclusionary Housing Program (IIHP) or other City restricted parcels/land.  Such as, previous Redevelopment Project Area’s that required affordable housing that may still have outstanding agreements or entitlements.  So if you are a developer and are working with the City on an affordable component of your project and would like to know the maximum rents or initial sales price(s) for the affordable very-low, low or moderate income units and the marketing process go to For-Sale Requirements or Rental Requirements.

For Sale Requirements

The affordable for-sale inclusionary or other restricted/regulated City units require a fair and open selection process to ensure the general public has the opportunity to be considered for an affordable unit. The City will approve all materials and processes associated with such affordable for-sale units.

Prior to marketing the affordable units the developer must have a signed and recorded Housing Declaration and Affordable Agreement and must have the maximum initial sales price based on income level and bedroom count.

Maximum Initial Sales Price

The Maximum Initial Sales Prices (MISP) are established prior to marketing/outreach of a development.  An estimated MISP is provided to the developer during the negotiation process of the Housing Declaration and Affordable Agreement and the final MISP is provided prior to marketing affordable units.  Here is the methodology for the MISP which provides all factors that will be used to determine the MISP.  

The Developer will need to provide the following so that the City may provide estimate and final pricing:

      -Type of unit….i.e…Condo, townhome, single-family detached….
      -Income level of unit(s)
      -Breakdown by number of unit(s) and bedrooms
      -Estimated HOA fees 
      -Utilities paid by prospective buyer, what utilities are electric, gas and who pays for water, sewer
        and trash, does it have A/C?

Marketing and Outreach

1. Post affordable for-sale units within the general project marketing on all social media, websites,  advertisements, onsite facilities (sales office), print materials, etc. Including bedroom count, income level and site location.

2.  Send project media to local Housing Authorities, and nonprofit and community organizations that provide services to income-level households as required by affordable agreement.

3.  Post or provide the current income limits link (see below) for prospective buyers/applicants.

4.  Provide an interested parties portal/form to gather profile information (name, household size, email address, phone number and mailing address). All intake forms must be entered into a database, including submittals made by phone, email or in person.

5.  Send confirmation of receipt of, including interested parties profile information via email. A copy of confirmation is to be kept in the developer/owner’s files. If interested party does not provide an email address, attempt to contact them via phone or mail. 

Lottery Process

  1. Upon closing interest list prepare/print tickets consisting of interested party’s profile information.
  2. Select lottery date.
  3. The lottery will be held in a physical location with developer and or leasing staff onsite, and City/Housing Authority representative attending for purpose of verifying lottery was implemented appropriately. 
  4. Interested parties (applicants) will be invited to observe the process via event platform such as Zoom or similar.
  5. Random drawing will be completed when all tickets have been pulled.
  6. A numbered list of names will be prepared during the lottery event from the tickets pulled.
  7. After the lottery is completed, developer/sales staff (or third party as designated by developer) will begin an eligibility review of applicant profiles received/drawn.

For-Sale Procedure

Once applicant(s) has/have been pre-screened pursuant to the Applicant Eligibility Criteria and determined eligible by developer/sales staff (or third party as designated by developer), the buyer/applicant City’s Affordable Housing Program Application (and documentation requested) and Purchase Agreement will be submitted for review to the City for final determination.  Below you will find forms required by the City to be submitted by developer/sales staff (or third party as designated by developer) for final determination.

Prospective buyer/applicant of an affordable for-sale unit governed by these guidelines must be certified eligible by the City prior to completing sales process and must occupy the affordable unit for the full term of 45 years or until sold to a subsequent buyer and subsequent buyer will occupy for the remaining term.  In addition, affordable units are subject to annual owner-occupancy monitoring.

Applicant Eligibility Criteria

  1. Income-Eligible Household
    Affordable units are restricted to occupancy by very-low, low or moderate income households. Click link for Income Limits.
  2. Income Verification
    Prospective buyer’s income shall be determined pursuant to Part 5 (Section 8) Income and Asset criteria.   
  3. Minimum Eligibility Requirements
    The eligibility standards shall be used to evaluate the qualifications of households interested in purchasing an affordable housing unit.  Click link for Minimum Eligibility Requirements.

Prospective Buyer’s Information Required By City

The required documentation by the City for final determination are the following documents:

  • Copy of the signed Purchase Agreement 
  • Affordable Housing Program Application – Completed and including requested documentation and information on application and signed
  • Provide contact information for lender and escrow

The City requires submission of all items listed above and will review prospective buyer’s application, however, will review the above information based on what has been verified by developer/sales staff (or third party as designated by developer).  The City will respond upon review and provide final determination and if approved the City will issue a Compliance Certificate, which allows escrow to close.

Rental Requirements

Leasing inclusionary or other restricted/regulated City units require a fair and open selection process to ensure the general public has the opportunity to be considered for an affordable unit. The City will approve all materials and processes associated with such affordable rental units.

Maximum Rental Limits

The Maximum Rental Limits are established prior to marketing/outreach of a development. The rental limits are provided to the developer during the negotiation process of the Housing Declaration and Affordable Agreement prior to marketing affordable units. The methodology for the maximum rental limits which provides all factors that will be used to determine maximum limits can be found in Exhibit C of the Housing Declaration and Affordable Agreement.

The Developer will need to provide the following so that the City may provide maximum rental limits:

  • Income level of unit(s)
  • Breakdown by number of unit(s) and bedrooms
  • Utilities paid by prospective buyer, what utilities are electric, gas and who pays for water, sewer and trash, does it have A/C?

Marketing and Outreach

  1. Post affordable rental units within the general project marketing on all social media, websites,  advertisements, onsite facilities (leasing office), print materials, etc. Including bedroom count, income level and site location.
  2. Send project media to local Housing Authorities, and nonprofit and community organizations that provide services to income-level households as required by affordable agreement.
  3. Post or provide the following current income limits link for prospective renters/applicants.
  4. Provide an interest parties portal/form to gather profile information (name, household size, email address, phone number and mailing address). All intake forms must be entered into a database, including submittals made by phone, email or in person.
  5. Send confirmation of receipt of, including interested parties profile information via email. A copy of confirmation is to be kept in the developer/owner’s files. If interested party does not provide an email address, attempt to contact them via phone or mail. 

Lottery Process

  1. Upon closing interest list prepare/print tickets consisting of interested party’s profile information.
  2. Select lottery date.
  3. The lottery will be held in a physical location with developer and or leasing staff onsite, and City/Housing Authority representative attending for purpose of verifying lottery was implemented appropriately.
  4. Interested parties (applicants) will be invited to observe the process via event platform such as Zoom or similar.
  5. Random drawing will be completed when all tickets have been pulled.
  6. A numbered list of names will be prepared during the lottery event from the tickets pulled.
  7. After the lottery is completed, developer/property management staff will begin an eligibility review of all profiles received/drawn.

Rental Procedure

Prospective renter/applicant of any affordable rental unit governed by these guidelines must be certified eligible by the City prior to leasing or occupying any affordable rental unit and subject to annual monitoring of eligibility for as long as they continue to rent and occupy an affordable rental unit.

The developer/property manager of the affordable rental units will process and review the prospective renter’s application and determine eligibility and will submit a request for review to the City for final determination.   Below you will find information and forms required by the City to be submitted by developer/property manager for final determination. 

Applicant Eligibility Criteria

1. Income-Eligible Household

Affordable units are restricted to occupancy by very-low, low or moderate income households. Click link for Income Limits.  

2. Income Verification

Prospective renter’s income shall be determined pursuant to Part 5 (Section 8) Income and Asset criteria.   

Developer/property manager will need to collect applicant information to determine eligibility. Here is a list of Required Information and Documentation to be reviewed by developer/property manager to complete the Tenant Income Certification and the Tenant Applicant Review forms (linked below) to be submitted to the City for final review and determination.

3. Household Size

Applicant’s number of bedrooms must be appropriate to number of persons in household. The City will use the Housing Authority’s Standard Voucher unit size criteria to determine number of bedrooms for number of persons in household. See chart below:

Bedrooms

Persons in Household  (Minimum-Maximum)

0 Bedroom (Studio)

1-2

1 Bedroom

1-3

2 Bedroom

3-5

3 Bedroom 

5-7

4 Bedroom 

7-9

5 Bedroom 

9-11


4. Maximum Rents and Utility Allowances

The Income Limits, Rental Rates and Utility Allowances are established as a maximum and are available for review by the developer/property manager to determine the maximum rents.  In addition, the utility allowance will be reduced from the total maximum rents and that would be the maximum rent paid by the prospective renter.

5. Prospective Renter’s Information Required By City

The required documentation by the City for final determination are the following documents:

The City does not look at the full applicant application, however, will review the above information based on what has been verified by developer/property manager.  The City will respond to the Tenant Applicant Review form with final determination and email back to developer/property manager.

On annual basis the City requires that annual rental monitoring conducted.  You can click on Rental Monitoring to view/review what will be required on annual basis from the developer/property manager.  The City may also do sight inspections as needed.

City Programs Office

995 Riverside Street Ventura, CA 93001
Email: cityprograms@venturahousing.org