Disaster Housing Reform for American Families Act This bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish a five-year pilot program under the Individuals and Households Program (IHP) through which FEMA contracts to provide factory-built housing to serve disaster survivors until the disaster declaration terminates and then be utilized for affordable housing. It also authorizes FEMA to provide IHP grants for closing costs associated with obtaining certain mortgages. Specifically, FEMA must enter into a contract with a producer or seller of manufactured or modular homes to construct such housing as a type of temporary housing assistance under IHP. The bill requires the housing to meet specified criteria, including that it must be available within 90 days (unless extended to 120 days) after the disaster declaration, have no more than four units, and provide a minimum level of protection from natural hazards. The housing must conform to various specified standards, but the bill authorizes the Department of Housing and Urban Development to waive any such requirement for construction under the pilot program. Also, the bill requires FEMA to establish guidelines for transferring the housing to an affordable housing program after the termination of the relevant disaster declaration. However, the bill also authorizes it to become permanent housing after the declaration terminates. In addition, the bill authorizes FEMA to provide IHP grants to disaster-impacted individuals or households purchasing residential property for closing costs associated with obtaining a mortgage from a federal program providing affordable financing options.
The Affordable Homeownership Access Act exempts small property owners who provide direct financing (owner financing) from certain mortgage licensing requirements if they make no more than 24 loans per year for properties they own. It also amends federal definitions to exclude these owner financers from "mortgage originator" rules, requiring loans to be fully amortizing, have reasonable interest rate caps, and include buyer ability-to-pay assessments. The bill mandates a study by HUD and Treasury on owner financing usage - particularly for homes under $150,000 or 60% of local median value - to evaluate its potential to boost homeownership and wealth creation in underserved communities.
This bill requires federal housing agencies (like HUD and Fannie Mae) to prioritize qualified first-time homebuyers when selling single-family homes (1-4 units). For 180 days after listing, properties must be offered only to eligible buyers (individuals, nonprofits, local governments, or community land trusts) at fair market value based on recent third-party appraisals, with public online listings showing the priority window. Covered entities must report quarterly sales data, including prices relative to appraised value, and annual audits will verify compliance. Institutional investors (e.g., rental companies) cannot purchase during the priority period. The law aims to increase access to homeownership for specific groups through transparency and structured sales processes.
HR 5975, the Appraisal Modernization Act, creates a formal process for home buyers to challenge mortgage appraisals they believe are flawed or discriminatory. It requires lenders to review consumer requests for reconsideration within 60 days, providing clear procedures for submitting evidence and requiring lenders to order a new appraisal at their expense if the original report has material flaws. The bill also mandates a 240-day feasibility study by the government to assess creating a public database consolidating appraisal data from major housing agencies like FHA and VA, aiming to improve transparency in home valuation practices. This legislation directly affects homebuyers, lenders, and appraisers by establishing new accountability standards for appraisal quality and access to valuation data.
This bill establishes a program to insure second mortgages (loans taken out after the primary mortgage) for financing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on single-family properties. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development must create the program within two years, setting loan limits (up to 30% of a standard mortgage amount or 100% of the property's after-construction value, with potential increases based on 50% of projected rental income) and requiring borrowers to own the property and apply for insurance. It also allows Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase and securitize these insured loans, unless the Federal Housing Finance Agency determines market risks require a prohibition. The program requires the Secretary to submit annual reports to Congress on its implementation starting one year after enactment.
S 1635, the Appraisal Industry Improvement Act, requires appraisers working on mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to be certified or licensed by the state where the property is located (with exceptions for federal employees). It mandates that appraisers complete specific training on FHA requirements and meet competency standards before conducting FHA-related appraisals. The bill also creates a new "State credentialed trainee appraiser" category, allowing states to establish trainee programs, and adds a $20 annual fee for trainees on the national registry. These changes apply specifically to FHA-insured mortgages and affect appraisers, state licensing agencies, and appraisal management companies.
The SUPPLY Act establishes a federal program to insure second loans (additional financing) for building accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on single-family properties. This insurance, administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, covers up to 30% of a standard one-unit home loan amount or 100% of the property value after construction (with potential increases based on 50% of projected rental income). Homeowners seeking to add ADUs - such as backyard cottages, converted basements, or detached units - can use this insurance to secure financing, with a government premium of up to 1% annually. The bill also requires Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase and securitize these insured loans, potentially expanding access to ADU financing.
This bill increases FHA loan limits for manufactured home purchases, home improvements, and accessory dwelling units under the National Housing Act. It raises the maximum loan amount for single-section manufactured home purchases to $106,405 and multi-section homes to $195,322, while setting a $75,000 cap for home improvements. The bill also requires annual adjustments to these limits based on HUD's methodology and mandates a HUD study comparing off-site construction (including manufactured/modular homes) to site-built housing on cost, quality, maintenance, and applications like accessory dwelling units. It directly affects borrowers seeking FHA financing for these housing types.
The Fair Lending for All Act establishes a new Office of Fair Lending Testing within the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to proactively test creditors for compliance with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). It expands ECOA protections to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on ZIP code, census tract, public assistance income, sexual orientation, gender identity, and marital status, while replacing "applicant" with "person" throughout the law. The bill adds criminal penalties for violations, including fines up to $50,000 or 1 year in prison for individuals and up to $100,000 per violation for patterns of discrimination, with personal liability for executives. It also requires the Bureau to review loan application processes for ECOA compliance and updates mortgage data collection to include protected characteristics like sexual orientation and gender identity. This directly affects creditors (banks, lenders) and consumers seeking credit.
The MINT Act modifies rules for federal home loan banks backing tax-exempt bonds used in community development projects. It removes a 2010 deadline for certain bond issuances and shifts safety requirements to be set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency Director, rather than fixed standards. This directly affects community development organizations and local governments using tax-exempt bonds for housing or neighborhood revitalization. The changes apply to guarantees issued after the bill's enactment, streamlining how these bonds are secured.
