New Bill Aims to Curb Energy-Efficiency Standards for Home Appliances
Passage of the act by the House would add hurdles to creating new appliance standards and also make it easier to revoke existing standards
$5.5B in Grants Allocated for Affordable Housing, Homelessness
With this funding, the Biden administration aims to boost the housing supply, lower housing costs, expand rental assistance, and enhance renter protections
2 New HUD Documents Address AI's Potential for Housing Discrimination
The documents seek to limit the ways emerging tech could violate the Fair Housing Act's protections against discrimination
States Seek Long-Term Solutions to Reform Property Taxes
Rising home prices typically lead to higher property tax assessments, which has been the case in many Mountain West states, prompting lawmakers to grapple with property tax relief
Utah Passes Bill to Regulate Modular Construction at the State Level
Goals for housing innovation and affordability meet in Utah's passage of a new bill that establishes a statewide modular construction program
Biden's Proposed Fixes for Housing Affordability
In his State of the Union address, President Biden proposed several actions to improve housing affordability and supply
Affordability
Maryland Announces $400M Housing Bond to Support Affordable Homeownership
The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development's recent mortgage revenue bond is the largest in the agency's history
Government + Policy
White House Supports Commercial-to-Residential Conversions
The Biden administration has announced new plans to fast-track turning vacant commercial buildings into affordable housing
Economics
Pandemic Era Spurs 37% Jump in US Household Median Net Worth
The average American family saw a significant boost in household net worth during the pandemic due to government support and a rebounding economy
Housing Policy + Finance
FHA Eases Mortgage Qualifications by Allowing Rental Income From ADUs
The Federal Housing Administration now allows buyers to include rental income from accessory dwelling units in their mortgage applications
Government + Policy
White House Announces Initiatives to Boost Homeownership
The federal government recently announced a series of new housing policies aimed at creating more affordable pathways to homeownership
Business Management
WOTUS Rulings Cause Confusion for Home Builders
NAHB Housing Policy Briefing: Lack of clarity for land developers and builders regarding waters of the United States; construction labor market update
Housing Policy + Finance
HUD Allocates $212M to Build Affordable Housing for Disabled Americans
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is providing $212 million to boost affordable housing for Americans with disabilities
Housing Policy + Finance
Industry Leaders Warn of Economic Risks Caused by Soaring Mortgage Rates
Three industry giants recently addressed Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to warn of the adverse effects ongoing interest rate hikes could have on the housing market
Energy Efficiency
IRS Offers Updated Guidance on Tax Credit for Energy-Efficient Homes
The 45L tax credit incorporates certain energy-saving requirements from the Energy Star and Zero Energy Ready Home programs to determine the tax credit amount
Government + Policy
How a Government Shutdown Could Affect the Housing Market
A federal government shutdown could have a small but noticeable impact on the U.S. housing market, particularly in the D.C. metro area
