At a congressional hearing, industry stakeholders called for increased funding to boost technology and staffing at rural housing programs.

Habitat for Humanity CEO Jonathan Reckford called on the group’s affiliates and other nonprofits to make new efforts to partner with USDA to improve homeownership in rural areas.

The government agency is investing $470,000 in a sweat equity program in which homebuyers in rural southwest Pennsylvania will contribute to the construction or rehabilitation of their houses.

Seeking to further advance the Biden’s administration housing agenda, the White House’s proposed budget allocation includes $11.6 billion more for HUD in fiscal year 2023.

Issuance of Ginnie MBS with USDA home loans increased by 3.8% last year compared to 2020 figures, with $25.78 billion in volume. (Includes two data charts.)

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 includes $53.7 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Department of Agriculture’s Rural Housing Service is taking pre-applications for loans and grants to improve off-farm labor housing.

The Rural Housing Service finalized rules overseeing a rental assistance program, as well as a new fee structure, for its multi-family housing direct loans and grants programs.

Starting May 9, lenders in the Rural Housing Service’s single-family loan program must use designated technologies.

The latest version of the Biden administration’s Build Back Better agenda retained several key programs intended to support homeownership.