Podcast: Biden Administration Is Making it Harder to Finance Homes
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Affairs (HUD) was busy last week, publishing two new determinations that increase the requirements for borrowers to use federal mortgage programs when purchasing new homes.
On the latest episode of the NAHB podcast Housing Developments, CEO Jim Tobin and COO Paul Lopez welcome to the program Jessica Lynch, VP of Housing Finance, to discuss the new rules.
First, Lynch explains the new Federal Flood Risk Management Standard from HUD that will require a complicated, three-tiered process for determining the extent of the floodplain, with a preference for a climate-informed science approach, for owners of new homes to qualify for FHA mortgage insurance.
Lynch then discusses the recent move by HUD to require all new homes purchased under certain mortgage program to be built to the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), regardless of whether a state or jurisdiction has adopted that version of the IECC.
Watch the full episode below and subscribe to Housing Development through your favorite podcast provider or watch all the episodes on YouTube.
Latest from NAHBNow
Economics
May 14, 2026
Building Material Prices Increase at Fastest Pace in Three YearsPrices of building materials used in residential construction, excluding energy, were up 3.7% in April, the fastest pace in three years, according to the most recent Producer Price Index.
Economics
May 13, 2026
Inflation Outpaces Wage Growth for First Time Since 2023Energy costs drove more than 40% of the monthly increase as national gasoline prices rose to their highest totals in nearly four years.
Latest Economic News
Economics
May 14, 2026
Mostly Unchanged Demand, Lending Conditions for Residential Mortgages in First QuarterLending standards and demand for most types of residential mortgages were essentially in the first quarter of 2026, according to the recent release of the Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey (SLOOS). For commercial real estate (CRE) loans, lending standards for multifamily construction & development were essentially unchanged as well.
Economics
May 13, 2026
Residential Construction Input Prices Move Higher In AprilPrices rose across a host of goods and services used in residential construction. Rising energy prices were the primary driver, but transportation service prices also rose at their fastest pace since 2022. Meanwhile, building material prices, excluding energy, rose at their highest yearly rate in three years, up 3.7% from a year ago.
Economics
May 13, 2026
Delinquencies Holds Steady in First Quarter of 2026Consumer loan delinquency rates continued to normalize in the first quarter of 2026 as pandemic-related disruptions diminished and credit conditions moved closer to historical norms.