An updated version of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a bipartisan housing package aimed at boosting supply and improving affordability, passed in the House of Representatives on Wednesday by a vote of 396–13.
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act takes important steps to close the nation’s housing supply gap and make homes more affordable. The bill gives communities new tools and resources to build more homes, streamlines federal processes that delay construction and updates financing options for manufactured and rural housing. The bill also modernizes federal programs to expand homeownership opportunities, takes steps to improve access to credit and strengthens awareness of VA home loan benefits.
National Association of REALTORS® President Kevin Brown sent a letterpdf to Congressional leadership earlier this week, urging them to swiftly support this measure and move it to the Senate.
“This legislation confronts barriers to housing at all levels of government and represents the kind of comprehensive response needed to restore affordability and expand the dream of homeownership to more Americans. It gives communities new tools and resources to plan and build for growth, streamlines federal processes that delay construction, and updates financing options for manufactured and rural housing,” the letter reads.
Over the past year, the House and Senate have each worked on major housing legislation, releasing bills and updated versions as negotiations continued. The Senate first passed the ROAD to Housing Act in October 2025, while the House later passed its own version, the Housing for the 21st Century Act, in February 2026. In March, the Senate approved an updated bill, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, that combined parts of both proposals. Because the House amended the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, the Senate must again pass the bill for it to become law.
NAR Priorities and Next Steps
“The National Association of REALTORS® applauds the House for passing the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a meaningful and bipartisan step toward addressing America’s housing affordability crisis. We are grateful to House Financial Services Committee Chair French Hill and Ranking Member Maxine Waters for their leadership on this bill,” says Shannon McGahn, NAR executive vice president and chief advocacy officer.
“Our research shows that 85% of Americans still say owning a home is an essential part of the American dream. With the nation facing a shortage of nearly 5 million homes and first-time buyers now entering the market at a median age of 40, bold action to expand supply and remove barriers to homeownership has never been more urgent,” McGahn says. “We encourage the Senate to advance this legislation and send it to the president’s desk. NAR looks forward to continuing our work with leaders in the House, Senate and the Administration to move these housing solutions across the finish line for communities nationwide.”
With members in every ZIP code, NAR has lobbied for passage of bipartisan housing legislation throughout the current Congress. Agents who are REALTORS® see firsthand how housing policy shapes communities nationwide and understand why action is so urgent, McGahn says.
