The SHARE Act introduces a new tax provision that excludes certain income from shared appreciation mortgages from gross income for qualifying borrowers. This bill directly affects low-to-moderate income homeowners who use these alternative financing products, which allow lenders to receive a share of the property's future value increase instead of requiring monthly interest payments. The key mechanism requires borrowers to meet income limits of 140 percent of the area median income and use the home as their primary residence, while the mortgage must be a second lien subordinate to a qualified first mortgage and cannot exceed 49 percent of the purchase price. The tax exclusion applies only to amounts received after December 31, 2025, and does not change the fundamental structure of these loans but rather provides specific tax treatment for their repayment and disposition.
The Housing for Heroes Act of 2026 expands eligibility for the Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program to include members of the Armed Forces, firefighters, and law enforcement officers. Under this bill, these eligible individuals can purchase single-unit properties through the program even if the properties are not located in designated revitalization areas. The Department of Housing and Urban Development will update its regulations to implement these expanded eligibility rules. This change allows first responders and military personnel to access discounted housing opportunities in a broader range of locations.
This bill creates a new tax-advantaged savings account specifically for first-time homebuyers, allowing them to deduct contributions up to $10,000 annually from their taxable income. The account can only be used to pay qualified homebuyer expenses such as purchasing or constructing a principal residence, and it is available to individuals who have not owned a home in the past three years. Distributions from the account remain tax-free if used for eligible housing expenses, but unused withdrawals are subject to income tax and a 10% penalty. The legislation also allows account holders to transfer funds to an IRA within 180 days after purchasing a home, and it exempts these contributions from Social Security and Medicare taxes.
HR 8135, the Cost-of-living Emergency Act, declares a 180-day emergency to address high living costs affecting U.S. households earning below the median income. The bill directs the Council of Economic Advisers to analyze affordability issues and establish a White House Cost Cutting Council with six Special Advisors focused on specific cost areas like food, housing, and healthcare. It also creates a Joint Task Force on Consumer Costs to enforce price gouging laws and requires agencies to assess how regulations impact household budgets. Additionally, the act establishes a bipartisan Cost-of-Living Commission in Congress to study long-term solutions and submit policy recommendations before the emergency expires.
This bill creates a federal grant program to help states, tribes, and local governments establish policies that allow residents of manufactured home communities to purchase their communities. The program requires recipients to use at least 25% of grant funds for land and infrastructure and to adopt model laws that mandate owners notify residents before selling, giving residents the right to match the sale price and negotiate terms. Eligible entities must demonstrate that their policies provide residents with meaningful opportunities to buy communities, with specific protections against retaliation and requirements that sale offers be available to all potential buyers. The legislation defines eligible owners as government entities, nonprofits, and resident cooperatives, while exempting certain family transfers and internal business transactions from the purchase opportunity requirements.
This bill directs the Small Business Administration and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to work together to help small businesses in the housing industry, such as homebuilders, contractors, and property managers. The agencies must create a joint plan within 180 days to identify gaps in financial and technical assistance and propose ways to expand access to loans and support services for these businesses. The plan must also include strategies for better information sharing, joint training programs, and support for housing startups and innovative products. Additionally, the agencies are required to engage with state and local governments, community organizations, and other resource partners to develop these initiatives. The legislation aims to address housing shortages by strengthening the capacity of small businesses that contribute to housing supply and affordability.
This bill establishes two new grant programs administered by the Department of Health and Human Services to help prevent homelessness among youth aged 12 to 26 and children of those youth. The first program provides substantial funding for communities to implement prevention strategies, while the second offers smaller planning grants to help organizations assess local needs and build capacity before applying for larger grants. Eligible recipients include state and local governments, educational agencies, and organizations serving homeless populations, with special funding set aside for rural areas and Native communities. The bill requires grantees to form councils that include youth with lived experience of homelessness to guide program activities and mandates regular reporting on how funds are used and their effectiveness.
This bill directs the Comptroller General to conduct a comprehensive study on housing affordability challenges facing middle-income American families. The report will identify specific geographic areas where housing is most unaffordable for these households and examine existing federal programs that currently exclude middle-income families from benefits available to lower-income groups. Additionally, the study will analyze how to define workforce housing based on income parameters and provide recommendations for expanding federal housing assistance to include middle-income households. The legislation focuses on gathering data and making policy recommendations rather than implementing immediate changes to housing programs.
The FARM Home Loans Act of 2026 modifies the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to expand financing options for rural homeowners. It allows Farm Credit institutions to provide loans for accessory dwelling units in addition to traditional home improvements. The bill also increases the maximum loan amount for these rural housing projects from $2,500 to $10,000. These changes directly affect rural property owners seeking financing for secondary living spaces on their land. The legislation aims to increase access to home improvement funding in rural markets through existing Farm Credit programs.
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This joint resolution seeks to disapprove a rule from the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection that would have withdrawn a 2015 regulation regarding the Section 8 housing choice voucher homeownership program. If passed, the resolution would prevent the Bureau from removing the existing guidance that allows low-income families to use housing vouchers to purchase homes. The measure directly affects the Bureau's regulatory authority and the housing assistance program it oversees. It does not change the underlying law but instead blocks a specific administrative action that would have altered how the program operates.
