Podcast: Biden Administration Is Making it Harder to Finance Homes

Housing Finance
Published
Contact: Reaganne Hansford
[email protected]
AVP, Leadership Strategy
202-266-8450

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.

Housing Developments Podcast Sponsored by LG Pro Builder

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Trends | Land Development

Jul 22, 2026

Lot Sizes for New Homes Remained Near Historic Lows in 2025

The median lot size for newly built single-family detached homes edged up slightly in 2025. But the increase was modest and did not alter the broader trend toward more compact neighborhood development.

Education | Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS)

Jul 21, 2026

Learn Design Concepts for Age-in-Place Housing

In August, NAHB will hold three, day-long live online courses for those looking to earn their Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) credential.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Jul 21, 2026

Shrinking Lots: Trend Levels Off as Smaller Lots Remain the Norm

The long-term shift toward building single-family detached homes on smaller lots appears to have stabilized. According to the latest Survey of Construction (SOC), the share of new homes built on smaller lots remained near record highs in 2025, following more than a decade of steadily shrinking lot sizes.

Economics

Jul 20, 2026

Exterior Material Trends in Single-Family Homes

Vinyl siding was the most used principle exterior wall material for homes started construction in 2025. This material held just over a quarter share of homes, surpassing stucco for the second time since 2018. The declining share for stucco reflected the slowdown for home building in parts of the Sun Belt.

Economics

Jul 17, 2026

Multifamily Gains Lift Overall Starts Despite Single-Family Decline

Strong multifamily growth pushed overall housing starts higher in June, while single-family production remained sluggish as elevated mortgage rates, rising construction costs and persistent labor shortages continued to weigh on the market.