Legislation

Without VASP, veterans don’t have a foreclosure safety net

There are about 80,000 veterans in the U.S. who are behind on their mortgages and heading toward foreclosure, according to data from ICE Mortgage Technology, a number that could have been alleviated with help from the Veteran Affairs Servicing Purchase (VASP) program. But just last month, the program was abruptly discontinued by the U.S. Department of Veterans […]

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Nevada senator criticizes Republican federal lands proposal

As Republican lawmakers continue to press ahead with a proposal to sell wide swaths of federal land, one official in a state that would be impacted is ramping up her opposition to plans from both the Trump administration and her congressional colleagues. Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada on Wednesday lambasted Department of the

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House Democrats call for more action on US housing crisis

As the economic situation for many Americans continues to evolve due in part to the cost of housing, one Democratic member of the House of Representatives used her time on the floor Tuesday to call for more action to address rising housing expenses. Rep. Shontel Brown (D-Ohio) on Tuesday introduced a House Resolution calling for

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Philadelphia lawmakers advance ordinance to speed affordable housing construction

In an effort to impact the housing supply crunch faced by the city of Philadelphia, municipal lawmakers have advanced legislation designed to speed the approval process for the production of affordable housing. The move, reported by Philadelphia-based NPR affiliate WHYY, represents a coordinated effort by city leadership to speed the process for developers who specifically

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Bipartisan Senate duo finds common ground on fighting wildfires

In the halls of U.S. democracy, bipartisanship is a difficult concept. But some topics seem more likely to warrant collaboration between Republicans and Democrats, especially when it comes to housing or housing-adjacent issues. One such issue is natural disasters, including wildfires. Two senators with different bases of support are uniting in their efforts to fight

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NAR weighs speech code changes as industry pressure grows

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is considering major revisions to its Code of Ethics and policy statements, citing legal risks and the need for clarity. Meanwhile, a proposed law in Texas could complicate enforcement of its current rules. An agenda for NAR’s upcoming legislative meetings — which are scheduled for May 31 to June

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Pennsylvania lawmakers target protections against deed fraud

Amid a growing wave of real estate thefts that involve fraudulent property transfers, a bipartisan pair of Pennsylvania lawmakers are pushing for new legal protections the state’s homeowners. Reps. Chris Rabb (D) and Tim Bonner (R) have introduced H.B. 1406 to crack down on deed fraud — a crime they say is being exploited due

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Federal lands amendment draws bipartisan rebuke

As part of broader housing initiatives, Republicans in both the Trump administration and in Congress are pursuing the sale of large swaths of federal land to potentially develop housing. But the Republican front is not completely united. Earlier this month, lawmakers in the House of Representatives’ Committee on Natural Resources saw an amendment added to

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Despite new veteran partial claim bill, some advocates call for VASP revival

Housing issues for U.S. veterans continue to be a major topic of conversation among housing advocates and lawmakers. Despite Monday’s passage of a bill to establish a partial claim option for veterans, some are still calling for the reinstatement of the Veteran Affairs Servicing Purchase (VASP) program. VASP was started last year under the Biden

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House passes bill to give VA borrowers a partial mortgage claim option

Following about 20 minutes of debate on the floor of the House of Representatives on Monday, H.R. 1815 — known as the V.A. Home Loan Program Reform Act — was passed by voice vote and will now be given to the Senate for additional debate. The passage by the House keeps the bill moving through

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