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Homebuilders are pressing for permitting changes, expanded financing and implementation of this year’s federal housing law after the midterm elections shifted control of Congress to Democrats.
The National Association of Home Builders laid out those priorities in its November 4 post-election analysis. A Friday HousingWire report describes housing funding and a possible follow-up legislative package as major issues for the incoming Congress.
Permitting changes could reach the lame-duck agenda
NAHB expects Congress to begin debating the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act during the post-election session. The proposal aims to simplify federal permitting and environmental reviews, reduce development delays and lower the cost of bringing building sites to market.
The builders’ group backed the bipartisan bill in October, citing proposed changes to Clean Water Act permit thresholds and longer permit timeframes.
For developers and buyers, the practical stakes are the time and financing costs attached to new construction. Faster approvals and more buildable sites are among the mechanisms the group says could expand supply and make homes more attainable.
Housing-law funding and a possible second package
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, passed with bipartisan support this summer, is intended to ease regulatory barriers and encourage local zoning and land-use changes. NAHB said some lawmakers are already discussing a follow-up, or “ROAD 2.0,” package.
Andy Winkler, the Bipartisan Policy Center’s managing director of housing and infrastructure policy, told HousingWire that separate appropriations will be important for putting newly created housing programmes into operation. The funding debate will help determine which initiatives reach communities.
NAHB’s priorities include reducing federal mandates, expanding financing for builders and buyers, developing the construction workforce and improving the reliability of building-material supply chains.
Different approaches to building costs
The builders’ group expects Democrats to emphasize affordable-housing funding and workforce training, while seeking limits on tariff and immigration policies affecting construction. It expects the Trump administration to continue pursuing deregulation to increase housing supply.
That leaves builders, local housing agencies and prospective buyers watching both the remaining congressional session and the new Congress for decisions on project approvals, construction costs and programme funding.
JBizNews Desk | Washington
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