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

Advocacy

Feb 03, 2026

NAHB Scores Wins as Congress Reopens Government

Congress has approved legislation to end a three-day partial government shutdown that will provide funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development and several other federal agencies through Sept. 30, 2026.

Remodeling

Feb 03, 2026

Top 5 Remodeling Projects in 2025

In the midst of the current housing affordability crisis, remodeling is capturing a growing share of the residential construction market. As remodeling continues to boom, NAHB is tracking which projects builders are tackling most frequently.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Feb 03, 2026

Homeownership Rate Inches Up to 65.7%

The latest homeownership rate rose to 65.7% in the last quarter of 2025, according to the Census’s Housing Vacancy Survey (HVS). While this was a modest quarterly increase, the broader picture continues to reflect significant affordability challenges. With mortgage interest rates remaining elevated, and housing supply still tight, housing affordability is at a multidecade low.

Economics

Feb 02, 2026

U.S. Population Growth Slows in 2025

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest estimates, the U.S. resident population grew by 1,781,060 to a total population of 341,784,857. The population grew at a rate of 0.5%, a sharp decline from the near 1.0% growth in 2024.

Economics

Jan 30, 2026

Bathroom Remodeling Is Most Common Project in 2025

Every quarter, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) conducts a survey of professional remodelers. The first part of the survey collects the information required to produce the NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI).