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21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Addresses Rural Housing Challenges, Bolstering Supply and Affordability

21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Addresses Rural Housing Challenges, Bolstering Supply and Affordability

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, enacted in July 2026, introduces several provisions aimed at improving housing supply and affordability in rural communities across the United States. Rural areas have experienced significant housing challenges, including a 31% increase in rents and a 6-to-1 ratio of house price growth to homeowner income growth between 2000 and 2023. The legislation updates the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Housing Service Programs, notably decoupling Section 521 rental assistance from maturing Section 515 mortgages, allowing tenants to retain assistance for 20 years post-payoff. This change prevents over 380,000 units from losing rental assistance. The Act also streamlines environmental review processes for housing projects, exempting USDA-assisted infill housing from certain requirements and directing HUD and USDA to coordinate reviews for jointly funded projects. Additionally, it expands manufactured housing options by eliminating an outdated federal rule requiring ...
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21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Addresses Rural Housing Affordability and Supply Challenges

21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Addresses Rural Housing Affordability and Supply Challenges

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, enacted in July 2026, introduces several provisions aimed at improving housing supply and affordability in rural U.S. communities. These communities face significant challenges, including stagnant housing supply growth, rising rents (up 31% between 2000 and 2023), and house prices outpacing homeowner incomes by a 6-to-1 ratio. The legislation updates USDA’s Rural Housing Service Programs, notably decoupling Section 521 rental assistance from maturing Section 515 mortgages, allowing tenants to retain assistance for 20 years after payoff. This change prevents the loss of rental assistance for over 380,000 units. The Act also streamlines nonprofit acquisitions of USDA Section 515 properties to preserve affordable housing and permanently establishes the Housing Preservation and Revitalization program to support repairs for aging multifamily housing. Additionally, it streamlines environmental review processes for federally assisted housing projects, expands manufactured hou...
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BOXABL Explores Mortgage Lending Expansion Through Joint Venture with Warp Speed Holdings

BOXABL Explores Mortgage Lending Expansion Through Joint Venture with Warp Speed Holdings

BOXABL Explores Mortgage Lending Expansion Through Joint Venture with Warp Speed Holdings
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Gen Z Faces Significant Hurdles in Achieving Homeownership Amid Rising Costs and Inadequate Support

Gen Z Faces Significant Hurdles in Achieving Homeownership Amid Rising Costs and Inadequate Support

Gen Z Faces Significant Hurdles in Achieving Homeownership Amid Rising Costs and Inadequate Support
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Mortgage Rates Decline for Fourth Consecutive Week, Reaching Seven-Week Low

Mortgage Rates Decline for Fourth Consecutive Week, Reaching Seven-Week Low

Mortgage Rates Decline for Fourth Consecutive Week, Reaching Seven-Week Low
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Atlanta City Council Faces Public Input Concerns Amidst First Zoning Law Rewrite in Over 40 Years

Atlanta City Council Faces Public Input Concerns Amidst First Zoning Law Rewrite in Over 40 Years

Atlanta is undertaking its first comprehensive rewrite of zoning laws in more than four decades, a process that has sparked concerns among neighborhood leaders regarding public input and the potential impact of proposed changes. The zoning rules dictate what can be built across the city, covering aspects from housing types to building sizes and parking requirements. An outside consultant, Sara Bronin of Land Use Labs, has recommended changes that could allow for more housing and ease development restrictions in existing neighborhoods. Atlanta City Councilwoman Mary Norwood, who chairs the council's Zoning Committee, acknowledged that she has only seen basic details of these recommendations and is unsure which will be included in the final revised plan. The Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods recently met to discuss the city's 'Zoning 2.0' plan, highlighting disagreements on the city's growth trajectory and the causes of high housing costs. The city is expected to introduce a revised zoning proposal on Novemb...
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Anchorage Tenants Allege Poor Conditions and Fees in Private Equity-Linked Properties

Anchorage Tenants Allege Poor Conditions and Fees in Private Equity-Linked Properties

Tenants in Anchorage apartment buildings managed by Red Tail Residential have reported persistent issues with poor maintenance and the imposition of 'junk fees.' Complaints include mold, lack of heat and hot water during winter, and a sewage leak that permeated apartments for months. Many tenants struggled to contact property managers for repairs. An investigation revealed a close connection between Red Tail Residential and FPA Multifamily, a private equity company based in California. This connection raises questions about the role of private equity ownership in rental properties, particularly low-income housing. Experts suggest that private equity firms often reduce maintenance, raise rents, and add various fees to maximize profits from their real estate assets. Despite evidence of shared addresses and overlapping personnel, Red Tail Acquisitions maintained that FPA Multifamily and Red Tail Residential are distinct entities.
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California Policy Lab Report Links High Housing Costs to State Exodus and Reduced Influx

California Policy Lab Report Links High Housing Costs to State Exodus and Reduced Influx

A new report titled 'Priced Out: Relocation Amidst California’s Affordability Crisis' by Brett Fischer and Evan White of the California Policy Lab indicates that high housing costs are a primary driver behind California's declining population growth. The study, which analyzed anonymized credit records from 2016 to 2025, found that Californians who leave the state typically move to neighborhoods with average monthly housing costs that are $672 lower. These individuals also experience a 48% higher likelihood of homeownership seven years after relocating compared to those who remain in California. The report highlights that even the most affordable communities in California are more expensive than most places nationwide, prompting residents to seek cheaper alternatives and deterring potential newcomers. Furthermore, the study reveals a trend of higher-income individuals leaving the state, with a 6.4 percentage point increase in departures from the top 30% of income neighborhoods since 2016-2019, despite these...
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U.S. Existing-Home Sales Hit 16-Year Low as High Mortgage Rates Deter Buyers

U.S. Existing-Home Sales Hit 16-Year Low as High Mortgage Rates Deter Buyers

U.S. Existing-Home Sales Hit 16-Year Low as High Mortgage Rates Deter Buyers
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U.S. Mortgage Rates Rise Across All Major Loan Types, Impacting Homebuyers

U.S. Mortgage Rates Rise Across All Major Loan Types, Impacting Homebuyers

Mortgage rates in the U.S. have increased across all major loan categories as of November 13, 2026. The average interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate conventional mortgage is now 7.263%, up from 7.107% the previous day. Similarly, the 15-year fixed-rate conventional mortgage rate has risen to 6.439% from 6.273%. Jumbo mortgage rates for a 30-year loan are at 7.445%, an increase from 7.287%. FHA, VA, and USDA loan rates have also seen increases, with 30-year FHA loans at 6.626%, 30-year VA loans at 6.748%, and 30-year USDA loans at 6.931%. These figures are based on data from the Mortgage Research Center, reviewed by Fortune. The Federal Reserve influences these rates indirectly through its federal funds rate, which banks use to charge each other for overnight borrowing. When the Fed increases this rate, consumer product rates, including mortgages, often follow suit.
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Federal Housing Finance Agency Data Reveals Mortgage Rate Lock-In Effect Persists in U.S. Housing Market

Federal Housing Finance Agency Data Reveals Mortgage Rate Lock-In Effect Persists in U.S. Housing Market

Data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) indicates that a significant majority of outstanding U.S. mortgages, specifically 77.5%, carry interest rates below 6%. This figure is a slight decrease from 79.8% a year prior, suggesting a slow shift in the mortgage landscape. Furthermore, the share of mortgages with rates below 3% has also seen a minor decline from 20.2% to 19.2%. Currently, only 22.5% of outstanding mortgages have rates of 6% or higher. Projections by Realtor.com suggest this percentage could increase to approximately 27% to 28.5% by mid-2027 if mortgage rates remain elevated. This slow transition means that while more homeowners are theoretically entering the pool of potential sellers who would face a smaller interest-rate penalty if they moved, the actual movement in the housing market is gradual. Even a drop in mortgage rates to 6% would still result in a substantial increase in monthly payments for most existing homeowners looking to purchase a median-priced home, complicating the...
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David Estrada Receives One Albuquerque Award for Community Contributions

David Estrada Receives One Albuquerque Award for Community Contributions

David Estrada, the Academy Head Coach and first team assistant coach for New Mexico United, was honored with the One Albuquerque Award for November. The Mayor of Albuquerque presented this award to Estrada in recognition of his significant commitment to community improvement through his work with the academy program. Since joining New Mexico United in 2019, Estrada has been an integral part of the New Mexico community, impacting hundreds of lives through his coaching and mentorship. During his acceptance speech, Estrada reflected on his time working at the Dennis Chavez Community Center in 2020, his involvement with the Somos Unidos Foundation and New Mexico United, and expressed his deep affection for New Mexico. He emphasized his honor and privilege in serving the community through soccer, acknowledging the city's residents as beautiful people and sharing the award with everyone present, highlighting the special nature of Albuquerque.