A Historical Milestone for Housing: The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act

By Jovana Campos
July 13, 2026

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act has officially become law. The bill was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by an overwhelming vote of 358–32 through a bipartisan agreement. The U.S. Senate also passed the bill by a margin of 85-5. This kind of bipartisan support is exceptional in today’s political climate and signals just how urgent and widely recognized the U.S. housing crisis has become.

This bill, led by Senator Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC), Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill (R-AR), and Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA), is designed to expand the nation’s housing supply, modernize outdated zoning laws, preserve affordable homes, and put new tools in the hands of local communities.

The ROAD to This Legislation

NAHREP has long advocated for housing reform and previously endorsed an earlier version of this legislation, the ROAD to Housing Act of 2025, which was introduced in the Senate and focused primarily on building more homes. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives was working on its own proposal, the Housing for the 21^st Century Act. The final bill is the result of months of negotiations between House and Senate leaders, resulting in a bill which is widely considered as one of the most significant pieces of federal housing legislation in decades. The 21^st Century ROAD to Housing Act is what happens when Congress works effectively in a bipartisan fashion with the input of community stakeholders like NAHREP.

NAHREP is a strong supporter of the 21^st Century ROAD to Housing Act and worked closely with key Members of Congress in a bipartisan and bicameral way throughout the legislative process to advance NAHREP’s policy priorities. We have also engaged federal agencies, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to ensure our voices were heard at all levels of the federal government.

What’s included in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act?

The 21^st Century ROAD to Housing Act offers over 50 provisions addressing everything from zoning reform and new construction, to credit access and appraisal standards, and more. Many provisions are relevant to NAHREP’s mission to advance sustainable Hispanic homeownership. Here are a few areas that fall under each of NAHREP’s policy priorities.

Housing Supply & Affordability

Housing Supply Frameworks: HUD will create a guidebook for states and local governments on how to update zoning rules to allow more housing to be built. This will give local leaders a roadmap to change outdated restrictions that currently block new construction.
Affordable Housing Construction Eligibility: Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds can now be used to build brand-new affordable homes for low-and moderate-income households.These funds couldn’t always be used for this, but now they can.
RESIDE Act: A pilot program will be initiated to take vacant or abandoned office buildings and convert them into housing. It’s a practical way to add new homes to the market by repurposing existing spaces.

Access to Credit and Fair Housing & Fair Lending

FHA Small-Dollar Mortgages Pilot Program: HUD will establish a pilot program that increases access to small-dollar mortgages of around $100,000 or less. This will incentivize lenders to offer these smaller mortgages, help borrowers with down payments and closing costs, and require annual reporting to track progress.
Housing Affordability Act: This will raise the maximum loan amounts the government will lend for multifamily housing projects. It will also have an automatic adjustment system so that loan limits keep up with rising construction costs and won’t become outdated.
Property Improvement and Manufactured Housing Loan Modernization Act: This will modernize outdated federal loan programs for manufactured homes to make it easier for buyers and current owners to access credit. Making homeownership more available to owners or first-time buyers who may not qualify for traditional mortgages.

Industry Best Practices

Appraisal Industry Improvement Act: This strengthens federal standards for how appraisers are trained, certified, and overseen. It also supports workforce development programs to bring more qualified appraisers into the industry.
Appraisal Modernization Act: The way home valuations are reviewed and disputed will be updated, giving buyers and homeowners a clearer path to challenge an inaccurate appraisal. It also calls for evaluating a public appraisal database to help prevent biases and improve transparency.

For more information and a look at all available provisions, visit the full bill text here.

Why This Matters for the Hispanic Community & Next Steps

Hispanic families are the most affected by the affordability and supply crisis. High home prices, limited inventory, and ongoing barriers to credit have made it harder for many Hispanic households to achieve homeownership. By expanding new opportunities for new construction, increasing access to small-dollar mortgages, and promoting greater transparency across the housing industry, this legislation will make the change that NAHREP has long advocated for, paving the way for more first-time home buyers to realize their American dream

The U.S. Congress passing of the 21^st Century ROAD to Housing Act is a massive step forward, but it is only the beginning. Implementation will take time, and while federal agencies and local governments work on implementing these provisions, NAHREP will continue to offer updates and opportunities for advocacy!

As a real estate professional and advocate, you have a unique role to play in making this legislation meaningful in your community. Take the time to understand which provisions are most relevant to your work, get engaged, and learn them well. Then share that knowledge with your clients, your colleagues, and your community. We are always here to support and offer guidance that aligns with your goals.

The road to better housing in America is headed to a productive path, and it’s up to you to make sure that it leads where it really matters.

About NAHREP

The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals® (NAHREP®) advocates on behalf of its network of 50,000 real estate professionals and Hispanic homeowners nationwide. NAHREP focuses on national policy issues that are critical to its mission: to advance sustainable Hispanic homeownership. Housing Hub is a blog dedicated to educating the NAHREP network by providing insights on housing policy, understanding key issues shaping our industry, and supporting Hispanic homeownership growth.

NAHREP firmly believes every individual who desires to become a homeowner and can sustain a mortgage should be granted access to a piece of the American Dream. To that end, we are focused on four main priorities: housing affordability, access to credit, industry best practices, and other macroeconomic issues critical to our mission. Visit our website to read more about NAHREP’s policy priorities and to get involved.