Tag: Affordable Housing

Real Estate Coalition Opposes Federal Rent Control Proposal

Posted on by Abigail Grenadier

On Monday, a coalition of national real estate associations, including The Real Estate Roundtable, wrote to President Biden expressing strong opposition to recently proposed nationwide rent control measures. (Letter)

Key Points

  • Last week, the White House announced a nationwide rent control plan that aims to cap rent increases at 5%. Owners of rental housing would only be able to take advantage of depreciation write-offs if they limit annual rent increases to no more than 5%, effectively trading depreciation deductions for price controls. (Roundtable Weekly, July 19)
  • Negative impacts of rent control: Rent control consistently leads to instability in the housing market and reduced supply, undermining efforts to foster a healthy and equitable housing environment.
  • Economic consensus: Economists across the political spectrum widely agree that rent control is a discredited policy. Jason Furman, the former Obama administration’s top White House economist, asserts that rent control would worsen housing supply issues instead of solving them.
  • Disincentive for investment: Rent control discourages necessary housing investments, particularly in areas with limited affordable options. It disproportionately benefits higher-income renters, impeding access for lower-income households.

Coalition Recommendations

  • Increase housing subsidies: Instead of imposing rent control, the coalition urges the administration to increase subsidies for those in need and to work with housing providers on solutions that expand the affordable housing supply.
  • Support proven solutions: The coalition advocates for enhancing federal programs such as the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and Section 8, which have been effective in creating and preserving affordable housing units.

Industry Testimony

  • On Wednesday, the House Financial Services Committee Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance held a hearing, “Housing Solutions: Cutting Through Government Red Tape” to discuss the nation’s housing affordability crisis and burdensome federal government reviews and permitting processes.
  • NMHC Chair Schloemer stated in his testimony, “Decades of research shows that rent regulation devastates rental housing quality and harms affordability. The Biden administration proposal to cap rents will not add a single new unit of housing, and, in fact worsens housing availability and quality.”
  • Hastening the permit approval process must be a critical part of any policy legislation aimed at increasing the supply of affordable housing. (NYT, July 8)

The Roundtable and the coalition will continue to educate policymakers about and push back against flawed rent control policies while advocating for bipartisan solutions to boost supply and affordability.

White House Calls on Congress to Enact Federal Rent Price Control Measure, Eliminate Depreciation Write-Offs to Help Reduce Housing Costs

Posted on by Abigail Grenadier

This week, the White House unveiled a nationwide rent price control plan that calls on Congress to “pass legislation giving . . . landlords a choice to either cap rent increases on existing units at 5% or risk losing current valuable federal tax breaks.” (White House Fact Sheet)

While the package is focused on imposing flawed rent price control policies and eliminating long-standing depreciation write-offs, it also includes policies to help build more housing. (WSJ, July 16)

Housing Proposals

  • Under President Biden’s plan, beginning this year and for the next two years, owners of rental housing would only be able to take advantage of faster depreciation write-offs if they limit annual rent increases to no more than 5%, effectively trading depreciation deductions for rent price controls.
  • This would apply to landlords with over 50 units in their portfolio, covering more than 20 million units nationwide—nearly half the U.S. rental market. It would include an exception for new construction and substantial renovation or rehabilitation. (White House Fact Sheet)
  • While intended to make renting more affordable, these proposals would impede the production of much-needed housing, particularly for affordable units. (Bloomberg, July 17)
  • The Biden-Harris Housing Plan also includes initiatives to:
    • Call on all federal agencies to assess surplus federal land that can be repurposed to build more affordable housing;
    • Rehabilitate distressed housing, build more affordable housing, and revitalize neighborhoods; and
    • Authorize $325 million in Choice Neighborhoods grants under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to build new deeply-affordable homes and spur economic development in communities across the country.
  • The proposal would require congressional action to become law.

FHFA Proposed Tenant Protections

  • This is the first time tenant protections will be a standard component of Enterprise multifamily financing.   
  • These protections apply to future loans acquired by the Enterprises and would include:
    • Requiring 30-day notice before rent increases;
    • Requiring 30-day notice on lease expiration; and
    • Providing a 5-day grace period before imposing late fees on rental payments.

Industry & Roundtable Response

(L-R): Heidi Sommer (POLITICO), Jeffrey DeBoer (The Real Estate Roundtable), and Shannon McGahn (National Association of Realtors)
  • This week at the Republican National Convention, our National Real Estate Organizations (NREO) partnered with POLITICO to host a series of discussions on the elections, affordable housing, revitalizing cities, the commercial real estate industry, and proactive policy solutions. (Watch here)
  • The Roundtable’s President & CEO Jeffrey DeBoer was a featured speaker alongside Shannon McGahn (National Association of Realtors), joining Heidi Sommer (POLITICO) for a discussion on affordable housing, upcoming tax priorities, interest rates, and the economy.
  • DeBoer stated in response to the administration’s recent rent cap proposal, “Rent control is fundamentally flawed and historically ineffective. Wage and price controls, even during wartime, have consistently failed to deliver the intended results. Implementing such measures now will only exacerbate the root cause of America’s housing problem by discouraging new housing development and reducing investment in existing housing.”

The Roundtable is developing comments on the proposed plans and will continue work to enact measures that will help spur the expansion of America’s affordable housing infrastructure.

Property Conversions Legislation Introduced

Posted on by Abigail Grenadier

On Thursday, House Ways and Means Committee Members Mike Carey (R-OH) and Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) introduced the bipartisan Revitalizing Downtowns and Main Streets Act (H.R.9002), which would create a market-based tax incentive for converting older commercial buildings to residential use.

Revitalizing Downtowns and Main Streets Act

  • The bill is a positive step forward in the effort to modernize U.S. real estate, create new and affordable housing, and strengthen cities and neighborhoods that continue to suffer from the aftereffects of the pandemic and changing business needs. 
  • “Between high housing costs and the rise of remote work, formerly prosperous neighborhoods across the country are struggling,” said Rep. Carey (R-OH). “The solution is right in front of us. But even though vacant commercial and office space is sitting unused, converting these properties into housing is so expensive it is often uneconomical. This bill will allow communities to meet their residents’ need for affordable, abundant housing and allow American downtowns and main streets to thrive.” (Rep. Carey Press Release)
  • The bill would create a new and temporary 20% tax credit for qualified property conversion expenditures, modeled after the historic rehabilitation credit. (RER’S One-Page Summary)
  • The total credit authority would be limited to $15 billion, allocated by state housing finance agencies based on feasibility and impact.
  • Larger credits would be available for projects in rural areas, low-income census tracts, and economically distressed areas.
  • The credit could be stacked with other federal tax benefits, including LIHTC, the rehabilitation credit, and Opportunity Zone benefits. 

Roundtable Advocacy

  • The Real Estate Roundtable has supported similar versions of conversion legislation, such as the Revitalizing Downtowns Act (S. 2511, H.R. 4759), introduced by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA). The Roundtable has also worked closely with the White House on administrative actions designed to provide low-cost financing for conversion projects. (Roundtable Weekly, April 19)
  • “The Revitalizing Downtowns and Main Streets Act is a proactive, market-based policy measure that aims to breathe new life into underutilized commercial properties, create jobs, generate local property tax revenue, and help reinvigorate our nation’s cities and suburbs,” said Jeffrey D. DeBoer, President and CEO of The Real Estate Roundtable. “We commend the leadership of the bill sponsors for their vision and urge support for this critical bipartisan legislation.”
  • The bill addresses and incorporates most of the recommendations a Roundtable-led coalition had collectively made to the Revitalizing Downtowns Act in comment letters submitted in October 2022 and June 2024.  
  • Since then, many states and localities have taken bold action to support property conversion efforts.
  • Both letters are the product of a property conversions working group created by The Roundtable’s Tax Policy Advisory Committee (TPAC). The working group has reviewed and considered the challenges and impediments confronting potential property conversion activities. (Roundtable Weekly, June 28)

The Roundtable’s Tax Policy Advisory Committee will continue working with policymakers to advance tax policies that encourage and facilitate property conversion efforts.

Real Estate Coalition Urges House Members to Support Bipartisan CRE Conversions Bill

Posted on by Abigail Grenadier

A Roundtable-led coalition of 17 national real estate organizations wrote to members of the House of Representatives voicing their support for the introduction of the Revitalizing Downtowns and Main Streets Act, which would create a market-based tax incentive for converting older commercial buildings to residential use.  (Coalition letter)

 Revitalizing Downtowns and Main Streets Act

  • The House Ways and Means Committee Members Mike Carey (R-OH) and Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) will introduce the Revitalizing Downtowns and Main Streets Act in the coming weeks.
  • If enacted, the bill would be a step forward in the effort to modernize U.S. real estate, create new and affordable housing, and strengthen cities and neighborhoods that continue to suffer from the aftereffects of the pandemic and changing business needs. 
  • Currently, only 2% of vacant offices are undergoing the conversion process (CBRE). However, 15% of office buildings are suitable for residential conversion. (White House, Oct. 2023)
  • The bill would create a new and temporary 20% tax credit for qualified property conversion expenditures, modeled after the historic rehabilitation credit.
  • The total credit authority would be limited to $15 billion, allocated by state housing finance agencies based on feasibility and impact.
  • Larger credits would be available for projects in rural areas, low-income census tracts, and economically distressed areas.

Roundtable Advocacy

The Roundtable’s Tax Policy Advisory Committee Meeting
  • The Real Estate Roundtable has supported similar versions of conversion legislation, such as the Revitalizing Downtowns Act (S. 2511, H.R. 4759), introduced by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) to encourage the conversion of older buildings into new uses.
  • The new bill addresses and incorporates most of the recommendations the coalition made collectively to the Revitalizing Downtowns Act in the October 2022 letter.  (June 2024 letter  | October 2022 letter)
  • Since then, many states and localities have taken bold action to support property conversion efforts.
  • Both letters are the product of a property conversions working group created by The Roundtable’s Tax Policy Advisory Committee (TPAC). The working group has reviewed and considered the challenges and impediments confronting potential property conversion activities. 

The Roundtable’s Tax Policy Advisory Committee will continue to respond to legislative proposals affecting potential property conversion activities.

Housing Coalition Calls on Lawmakers to Address Rising Insurance Costs

Posted on by Abigail Grenadier

On Monday, The Roundtable as part of a broad housing coalition wrote to policymakers offering solutions to address rising insurance premiums across the nation’s housing market and its significant impact on all stakeholders throughout the commercial real estate industry. (Letter)

Coalition Policy Solutions

  • The lack of affordability and availability of insurance options has both short- and long-term implications for the real estate industry’s ability to address the housing crisis.
  • The letter suggests several measures to mitigate these issues, including regulatory reforms, public-private partnerships, and innovative insurance products tailored toward affordable housing projects.
    • Federal Backstop for Catastrophic Coverage: A federal backstop, similar to terrorism risk and national flood insurance, could help stabilize the market.
    • Adjust Operating Cost Adjustment Factor (OCAF) Methodology at HUD: Use industry data for property and casualty insurers to reflect actual insurance costs for rental housing.
    • Modernize Insurance Requirements: Revise stringent insurance requirements for federally-backed loans to provide more flexibility.
    • Expand Federal Grants and Programs: Leverage existing federal programs to subsidize insurance costs and support resiliency investments.

Unprecedented Insurance Rates

  • The volatility in the insurance market, driven by more frequent natural catastrophes and inflation, has led insurers to raise premiums, increase deductibles, and limit coverage.
  • Rising insurance premiums significantly impact housing providers, developers, and renters across the U.S., exacerbating housing affordability challenges and disincentivizing providers from participating in the affordable housing market.
  • Insurance rates have surged dramatically, with property insurance rates increasing for 25 consecutive quarters and casualty insurance rates for 17.
  • Over the past three years, affordable rental housing communities have seen premium increases ranging from 30% to 100%.

  • An October 2023 survey and report, commissioned by the National Leased Housing Association (NLHA), found that affordable housing providers are facing much higher premiums, with nearly one in every three policies experiencing rate increases of 25% or more in the most recent renewal period.

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

  • A recent report by the Joint Economic Committee Democrats found that the total annual economic burden of flooding in the United States is between $179.8 and $496 billion—equivalent to 1-2% of U.S. GDP in 2023. (JEC Report on Flooding)
  • Congress has enacted 30 short-term extensions of the NFIP. The most recent stopgap spending bill extended the NFIP’s funding through September 2024. (PoliticoPro, June 10)
  • The Roundtable has been a long-standing supporter of a long-term reauthorization of the NFIP with appropriate reforms.
  • A long-term reauthorization of the NFIP is essential for residential markets, overall natural catastrophe insurance market capacity, and the broader economy.

The Roundtable, along with its industry partners, continues to work constructively with policymakers and stakeholders to address commercial insurance gaps and rising costs through targeted policy solutions that can help alleviate the burden on housing providers and ensure the availability of affordable housing nationwide.

Reports Show Single-Family Rentals Increase Housing Availability, Drive Educational Advancement

Posted on by Abigail Grenadier

Recent studies show major investments that grow the single-family rental (SFR) market increase housing supplies for low-income and middle-class households, and create more educational opportunities for families with improved access to quality school districts.

Positive SFR Research

  • A report released last month by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlights the positive impact of major SFR investors in the aftermath of the 2007—2009 financial crisis. Large investors leveraged capital and technology to convert foreclosed homes into rentals, stabilizing neighborhoods and increasing housing availability. (GAO Report Highlights | Full GAO Report)
  • Another study out of UNC Charlotte, also released in May, finds that children from low- and moderate-income households see improved achievements in school when they rent single-family homes in neighborhoods where they cannot afford to buy.  (UNC Study Highlights | Full UNC Report)

Key Findings

Apartments
  • Market Stabilization: The GAO explained that institutional investors bought foreclosed homes in bulk, converting them into rental properties, during the Great Financial Crisis. This helped stabilize neighborhoods and increased home values.
  • Technological Efficiency: Advanced digital platforms and online management tools enabled investors to efficiently manage large property portfolios, improving tenant experiences and reducing costs, according to the GAO.
  • Improved Housing Stock: Larger equity investors were able to underwrite substantial repairs and renovations to the units they purchase, “the cost of which is out of reach for many homebuyers,” according to a study cited by GAO.
  • Educational Achievement: According to the UNC-Charlotte study, “low-income parents [are] taking advantage of these newly available rental units” and “their children are experiencing substantial achievement gains from attending high-performing schools.”

Clear SFR Benefits

  • Expanding the supply of housing across the geographic and economic spectrum is essential for the nation’s economic vitality.
  • Large-scale SFR investments have helped revitalize distressed properties and communities, contributing to economic growth and stability.
  • “Changing lifestyles are driving people to seek more flexible housing options that also provide better education opportunities without the long-term financial commitment of homeownership. Large-scale single-family rental businesses are responding to meet this demand,” said Jeffrey DeBoer, Roundtable President and CEO.
  • As American households increasingly turn to the rental market for housing, a strong housing finance system should support homeowners and aid the expansion of affordable rental housing.

The Roundtable’s Annual Meeting on June 20-21 in Washington, DC, will feature discussions regarding the policies needed to help expand the supply of affordable and workforce housing.

Roundtable to House Committee: Balance Housing and Energy Efficiency Priorities

Posted on by Abigail Grenadier

The Real Estate Roundtable asked House lawmakers on Wednesday to direct the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to reconsider a recent federal energy codes rule because it does not adequately consider impacts on affordable housing. (Roundtable Statement, May 22 for House Hearing)

HUD’s Energy Codes Rule

  • Last month, HUD and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a joint rule that applies the most recent, stringent—and costly—model energy code standards to new residential construction receiving the agencies’ financial support. (Roundtable Weekly, May 3)
  • The rule would apply to both single- and multifamily homes covered by HUD and USDA programs, including homes backed with federal mortgage insurance. HUD itself estimated the rule would add at least $7,229 to the cost of building a new single-family home. (HUD’s rule | House subcommittee memo)
  • The May 22 House hearing considered how HUD’s rule and other green building policies impact homeownership, price buyers out of the market, and burden renters. The National Association of Home Builders testified at the hearing, and the National Multifamily Housing Council and National Apartment Association submitted a joint statement. (Subcommittee hearing YouTube video)

Roundtable Recommendations

  • The Roundtable’s statement explained that policymakers must prioritize both the climate crisis and our nation’s housing crisis, but that HUD’s federal codes rule is not balanced and should be re-considered.
  • The new nationwide rule imposing the highest energy efficiency standards, currently adopted by only a handful of states, must be assessed in light of the Biden-Harris administration’s goals to address the serious U.S. housing shortage and create two million affordable units. (Biden Administration Affordable Housing Policy Fact Sheet, March 7)
  • RER’s letter also explained how the new federal codes rule adds yet another layer to a stacked mix of stringent government rules and other headwinds that have made single- and multifamily housing construction a “hyper-regulated business.”
  • Reducing buildings’ energy use and climate emissions are critical policies, but the Administration should not pass new regulations that “make the housing crisis worse,” The Roundtable explained. A more balanced re-assessment of HUD’s and USDA’s action is warranted.

This week’s hearing follows House testimony recently delivered by Roundtable President and CEO Jeff DeBoer, who reinforced the messages that the health of commercial and residential real estate markets are intertwined—and excessive regulations that make housing prices and rents unaffordable for working-class families must be avoided. (DeBoer’s April 30 oral statement and written testimony | Roundtable Weekly, April 30)

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House Committee Passes Roundtable-Supported Yes in My Backyard (YIMBY) Act

Posted on by Abigail Grenadier
House Financial Services Committee

Yesterday, the House Financial Services Committee passed the bipartisan Yes in My Backyard (YIMBY) Act, which would help eliminate discriminatory land use policies and remove barriers to production of affordable housing. The Roundtable and 17 other national organizations submitted a letter of strong support for the bill the day before the committee mark-up. (Coalition letter, May 15 | Committee news release and video of committee mark-up, May 16)

Affordable Housing

  • The YIMBY Act (H.R. 3507) requires recipients of certain federal grants to submit public reports about their implementation of certain land-use policies, such as policies for expanding high-density single-family and multifamily zoning. The reports must detail how federal grant recipients are removing discriminatory land use policies and other barriers to constructing affordable housing, while promoting inclusive and affordable housing.
  • Committee Chairman Patrick McHenry (R-NC) expressed his support for the legislation during the May 16 mark-up. Previously, the YIMBY Act passed the House without opposition in 2020 but stalled in the Senate (S. 1688).

Roundtable Support

  • The Real Estate Roundtable and 21 other national organizations also expressed their strong support for the bipartisan bill in February to the House Financial Services Committee (Coalition letter, Feb. 20, 2024)
  • The Roundtable joined another coalition of 285 housing, business, and municipal organizations last year in a letter of support when the YIMBY Act was reintroduced. (Roundtable Weekly, May 26, 2023 and coalition letter)
  • Separately, the Wall Street Journal (Feb. 20, 2024) reported that community opposition to new projects is not just restricted to housing developments. E-Commerce hubs are also “increasingly contending with a headache” of NIMBY sentiments, as developers of warehouse and logistics properties face the conundrum of siting projects that are necessary to deliver goods to residents and consumers. (“Don’t Build That E-Commerce Warehouse in My Backyard, More Communities Say”)   

Next week, a House Energy Subcommittee will hold a hearing on “Green Building Policies: Jeopardizing the American Dream of Homeownership.” The May 22 hearing will focus on excessive regulations that constrict housing supply, including a recent Biden administration “final determination” that all new single- and multifamily homes financed with federal mortgages must be built to stringent “model energy codes.”  (Roundtable Weekly, May 3)

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Roundtable Testifies on Health of CRE Markets and Recommended Policies

Posted on by Abigail Grenadier
House Oversight Committe hearing included testimony from Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer
Click to watch a compilation of select testimony by Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer

Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer testified this week before a House subcommittee on the “Health of the Commercial Real Estate Markets and Removing Regulatory Hurdles to Ensure Continued Strength.” (Videos of DeBoer’s testimony | Entire hearing | Select clips from the subcommittee’s wrap-up)

CRE Issues

  • The April 30 hearing before the House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services included The Roundtable’s views on market liquidity, the state of the office sector, remote work, affordable housing, and property conversions. (DeBoer’s oral statement and written testimony)
  • DeBoer emphasized that all stakeholders in the regulatory and private sectors should work together to ensure real estate continues to be a leading driver of the economy—and a primary way cities grow, business needs are met, and housing challenges are solved. (Transcript of entire hearing)
  • DeBoer also clarified, “The commercial real estate industry is not seeking a bailout of any sort.” (MarketWatch, April 30)
  • Subcommittee members heard testimony on how liquidity in CRE markets, particularly office, is an overriding industry concern. As nearly half the value of the $4.7 trillion property debt market is scheduled to mature by 2027, base interest rates have risen nearly 500 basis points in 24 months while lenders are considering reductions in their CRE portfolios. (RER’s written testimony and Mortgage Bankers Association testimony)
Real Estate Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer testifies before House Oversight Subcommittee on April 30, 2024
  • DeBoer urged policymakers and regulators to acknowledge that not all CRE is the same. “In the office market, there are notable differences. Some individual owners are facing considerable pressure, potentially leading to increases in mortgage defaults, foreclosures and large losses of equity. Many top-tier modern office buildings with strong ownership and workspace amenities are currently weathering the storm. There needs to be a better distinction and not a monolithic treatment of commercial real estate.”

Policy Solutions

  • The Roundtable’s policy recommendations submitted to the subcommittee address a wide swath of concerns for owners, lenders, and local communities, including:
  • Ensure federal employees return to the workplace. DeBoer testified, “The federal government should lead by example by highlighting the value of in-office work” as it is critical for the health of cities, local economies, tax bases, and small businesses. (GlobeSt, May 2)

    He also commended efforts by House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) to bring federal workers back as the lead sponsor of the Stopping Home Office Work’s Unproductive Problems (SHOW UP) Act (H.R. 139). “This bill passed the House over a year ago and should be enacted into law,” Deboer said. (Roundtable Weekly, Oct. 20 and Feb. 3, 2023)
House Oversight Subcommittee wide shot
  • Encourage banks and loan servicers to extend maturing loans and restructure maturing loans with new equity—effectively making “cash-in refinances”—by converting non-performing and criticized loans to new performing loans.
  • Encourage foreign capital investment in U.S. real estate by amending or repealing the outdated Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA).
  • Reject pro-cyclical measures such as the Basel III Endgame and other regulatory measures that will restrict credit and capital formation.
  • Stimulate the production of affordable housing. The Roundtable and a broad real estate coalition submitted a set of specific policy recommendations this week to Congress detailing a host of pending legislative and regulatory actions that would help provide housing to more Americans.

  • DeBoer informed the subcommittee that these solutions include converting obsolete buildings into housing, increasing the Low Income Housing Tax Credit volume caps, incentivizing local zoning and permitting reforms, increasing efficiency in the Section 8 housing voucher program, and more. (see Affordable Housing story below)
Left to right: Real Estate Roundtable President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer with House Oversight Subcommittee Ranking Member Katie Porter (D-CA) and Subcommittee Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-MI)
House Oversight Subcommittee Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-MI), right, and Ranking Member Katie Porter (D-CA), center, with Jeffrey DeBoer
  • He added, “Rent control and eviction moratoriums are on first blush appealing concepts, but they’ve proven time and again, that they’re counterproductive to addressing the housing shortfall.”
  • Congress should also enact a time-limited tax incentive to convert older, underutilized commercial buildings to housing that would help revitalize America’s cities, accelerate the economic recovery of office buildings, and create new supplies of housing in close proximity to jobs.

Property Conversions

  • Separately, The Roundtable provided a list of specific agency actions to accelerate property conversion projects in a recent letter to Jared Bernstein, Chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers. (Roundtable Weekly, April 19)
Doug Turner, Sr. Fellow, Housing, Center for American Progress
  • Turner stated in his written testimony and oral comments, “I want to compliment The Real Estate Roundtable for a second. They sent a letter to the Council of Economic Advisers in April and offered some very specific suggestions on how to improve the conversion process. Many of these are sensible. And they could help direct what is an evolving policy. We haven’t seen an attempt to convert this much real estate in a short period of time.” (Video clip of Turner’s full comment, or click on photo above)

The Roundtable’s all-member Annual Meeting on June 20-21 in Washington, DC will include speakers and policy advisor committee meetings focused on many of the topics discussed during this week’s House hearing. 

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Roundtable and Industry Coalition Urge Congress to Enact Affordable Housing Policies and Incentives

Posted on by Abigail Grenadier
Housing Coalition April 29, 2024 joint letter to Congress

This week, The Real Estate Roundtable and a broad real estate industry coalition encouraged lawmakers to pursue bipartisan solutions that would increase the supply of affordable and market-rate housing through specific policies and programs to help communities meet their housing challenges. (Coalition letter, April 29)

Legislation and Programs

  • The coalition letter to Congress and the Biden administration detailed policy solutions to help develop and preserve housing at all price points by enacting industry-supported bills in the House and Senate, encouraging incentive-based programs, streamlining regulatory burdens, and supporting public-private partnerships.
  • The specific proposals detailed in the letter will work best when paired with state and local government policies to meet the demand for rental homes.
  • Specific policies outlined in the letter would streamline and fast-track the entitlement and approval process; provide density bonuses and other incentives for developers to include workforce units in their properties; and enable “by-right” zoning and create more fully entitled parcels.
  • Other programs and bills defer taxes and other fees for a set period of time; lower construction costs by contributing underutilized buildings and raw land; create incentives to encourage higher density development near job and transportation hubs; and expand and strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. Legislation would also encourage Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) policies to remove discriminatory land use policies and other barriers that depress housing production.
  • Among the key bills strongly supported by the coalition are the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act (S.1557 & H.R.3238), Workforce Housing Tax Credit Act (S.3425 & H.R.6686), and Revitalizing Downtowns Act (S. 2511 & H.R.419). 
  • The coalition expects the Opportunity Zones program to spur the production of new multifamily housing, but to maximize its effectiveness, the industry groups recommend Congress revitalize and enhance Opportunity Zones to incentivize rehabilitation of housing units.

Biden Administration Proposals

The White House
  • The coalition described the Biden Administration’s Housing Supply Action Plan as a thoughtful proposal that rightly acknowledges that there is no single solution to the housing shortage. The letter also expressed support for several proposals included in the President’s FY25 federal budget proposal, including proposals to expand and enhance the LIHTC, the Neighborhood Homes Credit, and increased funding for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program.
  • However, the coalition also urged Congress to reject certain tax proposals included in the administration’s FY25 budget, such as increases in the capital gains rate. These policies would directly impact the operations of housing providers, as most are structured as “flow-through” entities where earnings are passed through to owners who pay taxes at the individual level. The tax increases under consideration would reduce real estate investment and inhibit the capital flows that are so critical to the development and preservation of critically needed housing. 

It is unlikely that new housing or tax-related legislation will be enacted before the November presidential election. Proposals now under consideration may have better opportunities for advancement in a post-election lame-duck session or during a new Congress in 2025.

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