As federal housing debates continue, state legislatures across the U.S. are quietly advancing structural reforms that expand where and how housing can be built. For real estate professionals focused on expanding access to homeownership, especially in Latino and first-time buyer markets, understanding these state policy developments is essential.
As Congress closes out the year, housing remains one of the few areas with genuine bipartisan interests. Unfortunately, it has also been one of the most procedurally stalled. Over the past several weeks, lawmakers in both chambers have released or advanced major housing packages, signaling a shared recognition that housing affordability and supply constraints are weighing heavily on households and the broader economy.
FHA loans are one of the most important paths to homeownership for many aspiring first-time homebuyers, especially Latino families. Unfortunately, the cost of mortgage insurance (MI) continues to place a significant burden on these borrowers, slowing the building of equity and adding thousands of dollars in lifetime costs
America’s housing supply and affordability crisis is amplified by an often-overlooked force: the rising cost of construction. Homebuilders face labor shortages, soaring material costs, supply chain disruptions, and tariffs that dramatically increase the price of building new homes.
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.
Last week, the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee advanced the Reforming and Optimizing Access to Domestic (ROAD) Housing Act of 2025, the largest housing package introduced since the 2008 housing crisis. ROAD to Housing is comprised of 40 separate provisions, including 27 previously introduced bills, a staggering 23 of which have bipartisan support.
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.