Republican Q&A Candidate Forum 4.14.24

by Brianna Datta-Barrow | Apr 18, 2024

Did you miss your chance to attend the Republican Candidate Forum over the weekend? You can watch candidates presenting their platforms, discussing key issues, and answering questions from the audience at the link below. IN03 Congressional Candidates from left to right: Tim Smith (R), Grant Bucher (R), Wendy W. Davis (R), Jon Kenworthy (R), Marlin A. Stutzman (R), Michael Felker (R), and Eric Whalen (R). Video presentation candidate: Andy Zay (R). https://youtu.be/UqNkWCw4JSU?feature=shared For more information visit fwmediacollaborative.com.

Estate Planning Made Simple: Name a Beneficiary for Your House

by Gabi Lorino | Mar 15, 2024

Estate planning can be a slog, but some shortcuts cut down on stress and expenses for beneficiaries. One way to streamline the transfer of property is to establish a Transfer on Death (TOD) Deed for Hoosier homes. Similar to a Lady Bird Deed, which is available in Michigan, Vermont, Texas, West Virginia, and Florida, a TOD Deed allows an Indiana property owner to designate a beneficiary to inherit the property after the owner’s death. Having a TOD Deed in place means that the property skips the probate process, which can delay the transfer of ownership. Meanwhile, the owner holds the rights to the property exclusively until death. Allen County Recorder Nicole Keesling talked about TOD Deeds in a recent interview, starting with the process of registering a TOD Deed with Allen...

Renting in Cool Blue Illinois: Protections, Freedoms, and Support

by Gabi Lorino | Feb 1, 2024

What a difference a border makes! Illinois, known for its Democratic leanings in the heart of the more Republican Midwest, has set up some of its laws to protect both renters and landlords. However, with an increasing demand for affordable housing, Illinois’ housing market continues to be competitive and expensive. Illinois Rules and Laws Protections for landlords and tenants start with the laws that govern them. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office publishes the “Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws” to help navigate these roles. According to the AG, some protections that Illinois renters have are: They can ask that necessary repairs be made, and use this as a viable defense against eviction if they withhold a portion of their rent when the landlord has not paid for the...

Time for Change in Michigan, Legislature to Protect Renters Being Worked On

by Dezaray Clawson | Jan 22, 2024

Nearly 20% of Michigan renters will face the threat of eviction this year. In a state with over 1 million renters, this leaves about 200,000 citizens at risk of losing their homes. But there is legislation in the works to try to solve this. Michigan RentersInfogram In 2022, Ann Arbor, a city where over half the households are renters, passed Section 8:531 of the housing code, the right to renew. This law requires Ann Arbor landlords make a “good faith” offer to renew a lease 180 days before a tenant’s lease is up. Relocation is expensive and time consuming. Apartment hunting, packing, cleaning, along with security deposits and first- and last-month rent payments add up fast. If a tenant is offered an opportunity to renew, this can save them from being placed farther back...

Housing Crisis: A Growing Problem in Central Ohio

by Lindsay Burke | Jan 18, 2024

As housing costs continue to increase across the nation, so does the stress on lower income and middle-class families in Columbus, Ohio. The problem? Too many residents, not enough affordable places to live. A recent report found over half of homeowners in Central Ohio are spending most of their income on housing costs. To be considered affordable, housing expenses should represent no more than 30% of a household’s income, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Carlie Boos, executive director of the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio, says the area’s housing supply is struggling to keep pace with the population. This very underbuilding of housing is one of the key drivers of housing costs. As of August 2023, Columbus home prices were...

Renting in the State of Kentucky

by Ireland Miller | Jan 17, 2024

Andrea Zang hopes for a world where there are no limits to who can access sustainable and truly affordable housing. “It’s a rent crisis,” said Zang, a Kentucky resident, member of KY Tenants and a leader with the Homes Guarantee campaign. “People are making decisions to not buy food, to not buy medical care because they have to make rent.” Homes Guarantee is led by tenants and aims to ensure everyone has the ability to find comfortable, safe, and affordable places to live. Over 250 tenant-led organizations have contributed to this cause and are working to meet with White House officials. According to data from InvestFourMore, a blog started by Colorado landlord and real estate agent Mark Ferguson, Kentucky is the second-most landlord-friendly state in the U.S. with a ranking...

3 Fountains Cooperative with Board President Lynda Rogers

by Gabi Lorino | Jan 4, 2024

https://youtu.be/bfT1e6LF5NY Living in a cooperative makes you part of a community, because everyone there owns a share of the building or the property. Cooperative living can create opportunities for those who earn a living but cannot afford, or do not wish to live in, market-rate housing. Shareowners share in the risks and the rewards of living in a cooperative, so it isn’t like leasing an apartment. If you plan to live in an area for a few years, you may want to invest in a cooperative there!

3 Fountains Fort Wayne Cooperative with Property Manager Kia Langston

by Gabi Lorino | Jan 4, 2024

https://youtu.be/IGNr9do0E9o Living in a cooperative makes you part of a community, because everyone there owns a share of the building or the property. Cooperative living can create opportunities for those who earn a living but cannot afford, or do not wish to live in, market-rate housing. Shareowners share in the risks and the rewards of living in a cooperative, so it isn’t like leasing an apartment. If you plan to live in an area for a few years, you may want to invest in a cooperative there!

Indiana Cooperative Development Center How Cooperatives Work

by Gabi Lorino | Jan 4, 2024

https://youtu.be/yCoCn7qetJM Child care. Housing. Businesses. Agriculture. Energy. Food. These are some needs that can be met-and maximized-through the cooperative model. In this video, Deb Trocha of the Indiana Cooperative Development Center shares the costs and benefits of setting up businesses in the cooperative model. Cooperatives are owned by the people who use them and benefit from them, which excludes investors and third parties. The Fort Wayne Media Collaborative concentrates its reporting on housing, with a goal of empowering people to figure out their best solutions to the ongoing problem of housing affordability. Find out more about cooperatives and how to start a corporation for a new housing cooperative, or a co-op of any kind, at our website, fwmediacollaborative.com.

Indiana Cooperative Development Center Cooperatives defined

by Gabi Lorino | Jan 4, 2024

https://youtu.be/y3LkL8usIGY In this age of skyrocketing real estate prices, it’s time to look at affordable housing from a new perspective. What if there was a solution to the high prices you’re paying for housing, groceries, child care, and so on? In this video, Deb Trocha explains how cooperatives can provide solutions for people who are willing to collaborate in order to solve problems. The Fort Wayne Media Collaborative concentrates its reporting on housing, with a goal of empowering people to figure out their best solutions to the ongoing problem of housing affordability. To find out more about cooperatives and how to start a corporation for a new housing cooperative, or a co-op of any kind, visit fwmediacollaborative.com.

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