The AHFA staff has compiled its top tips for development teams. Following their advice below will help you communicate more efficiently and avoid common errors as you submit applications and public comments.

Provide Accurate, Distinct Alternate Contact Information

It is the responsibility of the contacts listed in the application to monitor their emails and respond within allotted time frames. The primary contact and alternate contact should not be the same individual or entity, and should not contain overlapping contact information (name, email, phone, etc.). Different contacts and contact information are needed to alert applicants of time-sensitive matters via email; no telephone calls will be made to verify the receipt of email communications. Please add ahfa.mf.application@ahfa.com to your email contacts to ensure you receive these communications to your primary inbox rather than in junk or spam inboxes.

Review for Common Application Errors

Below is a sample of the most common errors that the AHFA staff have seen when reviewing previously submitted applications. Make sure your submission avoids these common pitfalls, among others, to maximize your chances for success. This list is not intended to be all-inclusive.

Consider These Factors When Submitting Public Comments

Please provide full explanations and careful comments regarding your proposed changes, keeping in mind that your proposed changes might have an unintended consequence for a different development or location in the state.  

AHFA categorizes each comment and determines the appropriate action to take by using the following criteria: 

• Clarity and ease of implementation within the proposed current Draft Plans.
• Changes which would justify a major modification to the current Draft Plans but would be more appropriate for consideration during the development of the future Draft Plans since the material nature of the changes proposed would require adequate time to implement and require a public commenting process.
• Changes which would require significant research, analysis, and planning to assess fully their practicality and feasibility before incorporation into the Plans. Accordingly, a public commenting process would be required, and the proposed changes would be evaluated for consistency with the stated goals and objectives of the Plans, applicable industry standards, and AHFA policies. 
• Narrative comments, opinions, or questions which do not clearly define an actionable request or are unrelated to the current Draft Plans. Under these circumstances, staff is prohibited from attempting to interpret the commenter’s intent. 
• Industry specific or changes in regulatory guidance which require corrections to technical language in the Plans.

AHFA monitors the developments it funds from start to finish. A recent groundbreaking in Montgomery and a ribbon-cutting in Huntsville highlight two properties that will help Alabamians find affordable rentals.

Freedom Village, Montgomery

Monrovia Flats, Huntsville