Key Takeaways from NCSHA’s Housing Credit Connect 2025

Several members of the ProLink Solutions team had the opportunity to attend sessions at this year’s NCSHA Housing Credit Connect in Chicago. This conference, which takes place annually, continues to be an invaluable opportunity to stay informed, engage with industry peers, and contribute to the conversations that help shape the future of affordable housing policy and practice. As a dedicated technology partner, ProLink Solutions remains committed to supporting housing agencies and stakeholders with innovative tools as well as insights that enhance the development, management, and preservation of Housing Credit portfolios. Below are key takeaways from several sessions that offered forward-looking solutions and practical guidance for navigating today’s affordable housing landscape.

Key Session Takeaways: Innovation, Financing, and Performance

“New Approaches to Cost-Efficient Developments” focused on how developers are managing rising costs and interest rates through standardization, technology, and local partnerships. Kittle Property Group, Inc. uses repeatable designs to control costs, while others are piloting AI for rent collection and water leak detection. During this session, our staff recognized the importance of efficiency, smart design, tech, and collaboration and how these are essential to keeping costs in check.

The session titled “Maximizing Tax-Exempt Bond Financing” covered creative strategies developers are using to address limited bond volume and high interest rates, especially with the expected drop in the 50% test to 25%. Tools like cash-backed forwards, ground leases, and condo structures are helping developers stretch bond resources.

The third session our staff was able to attend was “Maximizing the Impact of State Tax Credits” this session examined how state credits are becoming key financing tools, not just gap fillers. With programs in 32 states plus D.C., understanding the differences between certificated and allocated credits is crucial. Challenges include low pricing and legislative hurdles, but investor interest is growing, especially from banks using credits to manage taxes for high-net-worth clients.

The session “Navigating the Housing Credit Equity Market” explored how growing deal sizes are running into limited investor demand, creating downward pressure on pricing. With fewer investors competing for more tax credits, the price investors are willing to pay per dollar of tax credit is going down. For every $1.00 of LIHTC a project generates, investors are only paying somewhere between $0.80 and $0.89. Which means lower prices equal less equity available to fund projects. There’s optimism around a federal tax bill that could expand housing credits and spark new development.

The final session we were able to attend was “Analyzing Performance Trends to Inform Future Developments”. This session revealed that expenses are growing faster than income, which is putting added pressure on projects already challenged by financing delays and supply chain issues. Many teams are still using outdated inflation models, but others are shifting to real-time forecasting with higher trends. Poor property management also further impacts performance.

The sessions at this year’s Housing Credit Connect made it clear that while the affordable housing industry faces ongoing challenges, from rising costs and equity market pressures to shifting financing dynamics. However, there is also a strong sense of innovation, adaptability, and collaboration across the field. Developers, investors, and housing agencies are embracing new technologies, financial strategies, and performance insights to drive more efficient, impactful outcomes.

Collaboration and Thought Leadership from ProLink Solutions

ProLink was also proud to participate in several panels for the conference. Ryan Kim, VP of Professional Services at ProLink, participated in a panel for Average Income Test Compliance Strategies on June 25^th at 4:30 p.m. Connor McKenna, Director of Product Strategy, participated in two panels. On June 26^th at 4:00 p.m., he was part of the NSPIRE Physical Inspection Primer panel. On Friday, June 27^th at 11:00 a.m., he also participated in a panel covering Artificial Intelligence and Compliance Tech Trends.

At ProLink Solutions, we’re proud to be part of this evolving ecosystem, and we always enjoy helping our partners stay ahead of the curve with tools and support designed for long-term success. We look forward to continuing these important conversations and working together to strengthen the future of affordable housing.