Access to credit is one of the biggest hurdles families in the journey to becoming homeowners. Without it, even financially responsible buyers who pay their bills on time and save diligently can find themselves sidelined. For Latino families, who are more likely to be self-employed, work in cash-heavy industries, or have limited credit history, the challenge can be even greater.
Immigration reform has long been a cornerstone of NAHREP’s policy priorities and a central pillar of the organization’s advocacy efforts. Not only are NAHREP members passionate about immigration policy, but immigrants play an essential role in the housing industry in terms of both supply and demand. In recent months, increased immigration enforcement, including massively expanded deportation efforts, has reiterated the urgency of this issue.
In the first installment of NAHREP’s 2025 Policy Priorities Webinar Series, David Garcia, Policy Director at Up for Growth, discussed the importance of zoning and land-use reform in addressing the housing supply and affordability crisis.
At last month’s Homeownership and Housing Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. NAHREP released the 2025 Policy Priorities, which will guide the organization’s advocacy efforts throughout the coming year. A blend of tried and true methods and bold new policy proposals, these Priorities provide a roadmap to expanding access to sustainable Hispanic homeownership by addressing the nation’s most pressing housing challenges.
For many first-time homebuyers, mortgage insurance is a necessary but costly part of the path to homeownership. Mortgage insurance allows buyers to secure a mortgage with a lower down payment than the traditional 20%, but the added expense can make homeownership less affordable over time.
Housing policy in the United States is deeply influenced by Congress, even if it is not always the first entity that comes to mind. Congressional decisions shape housing supply, affordability, and access to affordable mortgage credit. Understanding how Congressional committees and their leaders influence housing policy is essential for anyone invested in the housing market.
When considering how the housing market works, we usually think of buyers, sellers, and lenders. But behind the scenes, there is another important player that helps keep everything running smoothly and money flowing to local lenders: the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBs). These 11 regional banks provide a critical source of funding for their member financial institutions, including banks, credit unions, and insurance companies.
When weighing solutions to the growing housing affordability crisis in the U.S., it is critical that buyers, builders, and housing advocates think beyond traditional single-family homes. While the large house with a white picket fence in a quiet, suburban neighborhood has long been a calling card of the American Dream, focusing on single-family homes no longer serves the needs of our communities. Expanding the range of available housing types will be essential to solving the crisis.
Last month, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced long-awaited updates to the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) 203(k) Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance Program. As an industry stakeholder, NAHREP has advocated for updates to this program, including raising repair limits and making the program more accessible in today’s housing market. Now that these updates have been released, we are excited to dive into the program details, including the key changes and what you need to know if you want to get more involved in expanding access to the program.