Housing Policy Watch

21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Prohibition on Large Institutional Investor Purchases of Single-Family Homes

Treasury proposed a rule to carry out section 1001 of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which bars large institutional investors from buying single-family homes, subject to certain exceptions. The proposal would define terms such as "large institutional investor," clarify the exceptions, and explain enforcement. Agents who work with investor buyers or sellers should read the proposal; comments are due November 23, 2026.

Comments due: Nov 23, 2026

HUD Announces Voluntary Compliance Agreement with Multnomah County, Oregon

HUD announced a Voluntary Compliance Agreement in which Multnomah County, Oregon, agreed to stop prioritizing homeless-services applicants based on race, color, and national origin, which HUD said violated the Fair Housing Act and Title VI. The county must remove those intake questions and scoring rubrics, rescore affected applicants, and provide fair housing training. It is a reminder that HUD is actively enforcing the Fair Housing Act against recipients of federal housing funds.

Decreasing Housing Costs For The American People

A new executive order, Decreasing Housing Costs for the American People, directs FHFA to consider a Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac pilot that uses automated valuation models to identify borrowers who may qualify for mortgage insurance cancellation. It also creates a Task Force on Manufactured Housing Innovation and directs FHFA to consider expanding the title acceptance pilot, which lets automated title review stand in for lender's title insurance on eligible refinances. Agents should watch for FHFA and Enterprise announcements, since these programs are directed but not yet in place.

Secretary Turner to Co-Chair the Task Force on Manufactured Housing Innovation

HUD said Secretary Turner will co-chair the new Task Force on Manufactured Housing Innovation created by the Decreasing Housing Costs executive order. The task force is meant to modernize standards and codes and speed up certifications and approvals for manufactured housing across federal programs. Agents who list or sell manufactured homes should watch for its recommendations.

HR 10901: To require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish a formula grant program to provide grants to States to be used to streamline assistance offered by such States to builders of affordable housing, and for other purposes.

H.R. 10901, introduced October 22, 2026, would require HUD to create a formula grant program for states to streamline assistance to builders of affordable housing. It was referred to the House Financial Services Committee. This is an early-stage bill; no action is needed yet.

HR 10883: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for nonrecognition of gain or loss on like-kind exchanges of certain residential real property, and for other purposes.

H.R. 10883, introduced October 22, 2026, would amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow nonrecognition of gain or loss on like-kind exchanges of certain residential real property. It was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee. Agents with investor clients may want to track it, but it is only a proposal at this stage.

60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Exhibitors Sought for the Innovative Housing Showcase

HUD is asking for public comment on a proposed information collection for exhibitors at its Innovative Housing Showcase. The 60-day comment period closes December 21, 2026. This mainly affects builders and housing-technology companies that want to exhibit.

Comments due: Dec 21, 2026

Do Private Money Brokers Need the MLO License Endorsement?

The California DRE explained that an MLO license endorsement is required to originate one- to four-unit residential loans made primarily for personal, family, or household use, even when the lender is a private person. A loan secured by a rental property is not automatically commercial; what matters is how the loan funds are used. Licensees who arrange private or hard-money loans should review the DRE's guidance before brokering these transactions.