Agency Presents Champions of Affordable Housing Awards

BISMARCK, ND – In March, North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA) presented Champion of Affordable Housing Awards to the outstanding loan officers, real estate agents and financial institutions who partnered with the agency to deliver its homeownership programs in 2020.

“North Dakota Housing Finance Agency’s Champion Awards recognize and celebrate the work of the individuals and businesses who make exceptional affordable housing contributions,” said Dave Flohr, the agency’s executive director.

Receiving the Homeownership Award of Excellence for best practices and outstanding delivery of NDHFA’s home purchase programs were Dakota Community Bank & Trust and First International Bank & Trust. First Class Mortgage III Inc. of Grand Forks was honored with a Homeownership Rising Star award, recognition of a financial institution for a significant increase in loan volume over the previous year.

Two loan officers, Travis Lang and Kristin Sevald, and two real estate agents, Meagan Heaton and Tyler Lindell, received Homeownership Performance Awards for loan production. Lang is vice president of mortgage lending at Guaranteed Rate in Bismarck, Sevald is a mortgage loan originator at Valley Mortgage in Fargo, Heaton is a real estate agent with the Brandenburg Crew of eXp Realty in Bismarck, and Lindell is a Realtor®/team lead with Hatch Realty in Fargo.

“Last year, North Dakota Housing Finance Agency made homeownership possible for 1,356 households,” said Flohr. “All of these individuals and families learned about the agency’s programs from the housing professionals who work with the agency to deliver our affordable home financing and down payment and closing cost assistance.”

Through NDHFA’s FirstHome™ program, low- to moderate-income buyers who have not owned a home over the last three years can receive the purchase assistance. North Dakota Roots helps households who previously owned a home or whose income exceeds the limits of the FirstHome program. HomeAccess assists single parents, veterans, and families with disabled or elderly households members who may have previously owned a home.

Parties interested in learning more about NDHFA’s programs will find information online at www.ndhfa.org.

NDHFA is a self-supporting and mission-driven state agency dedicated to making housing affordable for all North Dakotans. The North Dakota Industrial Commission, consisting of Governor Doug Burgum as chairman, Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, oversees the agency.