Tag: affordable housing
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HUD Moves to End Fair Housing Rule That Shelters Battered Spouses
The “disparate impact rule” has been used in cases involving domestic violence survivors and others in vulnerable housing situations. This rule is often used to help keep at-risk people in safe, healthful, stable housing. Now, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) plans to cancel the rule.
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Senate Passes ROAD to Housing Act—Builders, Housing Advocates Weigh In
In March, the U.S. Senate passed the housing bill called the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. The intent of the law is to make U.S. housing more accessible to more people. The price tag on a typical home sold in the U.S. is sidelining hopeful buyers caught in a troubled economy. The ROAD to…
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States Investing in Manufactured Homes:Why, Where, and How the Deeds Work
Manufactured homes are at the core of a growing policy trend. Pre-fabrication is a relatively cheap way to create homes, at just half the cost of site-built homes per square foot, according to the Manufactured Housing Institute. And current factory standards make them as strong, as safe, and as energy-wise as traditional houses. Manufactured homes…
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First-Time Home Buying? How and Where to Buy a Home You’ll Enjoy for Under $250K
Aspiring deed holders are backing off from the market in droves. Prices are high. Mortgage approvals aren’t easily had. The economic outlook is still uncertain. And most would-be buyers (one new survey says three-fourths of renters!) think they’ll never be able to get their own deeds. All of that is very much real. But yes,…
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“Terrifying for Developers”: Did Massachusetts Let a Neighbor Resurrect an Expired Deed Restriction?
Earlier this month, the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly publication summarized an interesting court case on Massachusetts deeds. Attorney Eric T. Berkman laid out the case of a deed holder who created a new deed restriction, echoing an old and expired one. A judge said it was OK because it did not constitute an attempt to enforce…
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The ADU: A Housing Fix for Seniors and Their Families
Accessory dwelling units (also known as ADUs, backyard cottages, guest homes, or granny flats) can enable seniors to enjoy privacy, yet remain close to family and neighborhood friends. They don’t depend on clearing natural spaces to develop properties. Yet they offer affordable housing options — which are ever scarcer these days. No wonder ADUs have…
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Making Deeds Affordable: State Lawmakers Bring a Breath of Fresh Air
People need homes. Solutions are possible. Where are the politicians and what are they doing — or not doing? We’ve already highlighted the federal ROAD to Housing Act of 2025. We’re watching Congress to see how that proceeds in a turbulent year. With a government shutdown casting its chaotic shadow of confusion and delays, many…
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House-Proud: New Research Links Homeownership to Mental Wellness
More than two in every 10 adults in the United States live with mental illnesses. More than 8% of our population is dealing with a major depressive disorder. Since the pandemic took hold, mental health issues have shown a trend upward. What does a deed (or the lack of one) have to do with this?…
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Buy Safely. Learn From Others. Anticipate Pitfalls in Manufactured Home Deals.
At Royal Village, a manufactured home community in Toledo, Matthew Caton fought hard for his rights. Matthew was among a number of residents who lingered in a rent-to-own status. They’d been promised their titles 180 days after they bought in. But they’d been waiting more than a year when they heard they’d finally receive their…
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Time to Make Financing a Manufactured Home Easier. Meanwhile, What a Difference Holding the Deed Makes!
Manufactured housing — and this includes mobile homes — make up a key segment of financially accessible housing. Today, 18 million people have roofs overhead thanks to manufactured homes. Most own them. Most are deed holders who took out mortgages from banks or credit unions. But it wasn’t easy for them. Some applied for regular…
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Turning a Hotel Into Homes for Seniors, Vets in Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County, Florida is about to lose 1,000 affordable units over the coming five years. Why? Agreements with developers established restrictions that reserved affordable units for 15 to 30 years. Those restrictions are about to expire. This comes at a time when Palm Beach County will need nearly 81,000 new affordable housing units to…
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FHA Layoffs? Here’s What Home Buyers Want to Know
A powerhouse of the U.S. housing market seems at the brink of a major staff cut. HUD is the Department of Housing and Urban Development. It oversees the country’s FHA-backed loans. And it’s in for some turbulence.
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“I Never Thought I Would Own a House…” A Community Trust in Vermont Takes on the Housing Shortage
Too many homes sit empty in towns where working people need them. In a housing affordability crisis, this has to change. In Vermont, a local nonprofit is stepping up. Local Deeds is an initiative that helps people make down payments on homes. Specifically, working people. A deed restriction ensures that someone in the home has…
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These are the states where you can get the largest home for your money, according to new study
Home sweet (and spacious) home: New study reveals where buyers can get the best deals per square foot In recent years, homes have been shrinking as the housing market tightens. A limited supply of available homes, combined with sky-high demand, has driven prices to levels many would call out of reach. However, not all states…
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Frugal But Fun: An Origami Home, Anyone?
Cost has always been a big reason to pick a compact home. Today, though, less really is more. New generations of home buyers seek out small homes for a range of reasons — like a preference for uncluttered minimalism. Or a goal of reducing their footprint on nature. Appropriately designed small homes can be easier…
