NMHC

NMHC and NAA are calling on Congress to eliminate this harmful Build-to-Rent provision before passing final legislation. The BTR language would effectively deny housing to Americans who choose to rent at different stages of life—limiting housing choice for seniors, military service members, families and students. Read the full statement: hubs.li/Q046zpKN0

ATTN NMHC Members: The Senate will have a vote on the final passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act in the coming days—but a new provision could effectively shut down Build-to-Rent housing. Make your voice heard. Urge your Senators to remove the language that would ban BTR. Take Action Now: hubs.li/Q046fWXH0

16 million one- and two-unit rental homes owned by investors—large and small—are a critical part of America’s housing supply. About 45 million Americans live in these homes, including 8 million low-income workers and 2 million seniors, showing how essential rental housing is for communities across the country. As Congress debates housing legislation, NMHC, our partners and members are fighting to protect and support current and future residents. Build-to-Rent communities create homes that meet families where they are in their lives and are a vital part of the housing ecosystem. Read more: hubs.li/Q0462CZJ0

"It really undermines the whole purpose of the bill," @ApartmentWire's Sharon Wilson Géno told me earlier today of the build-to-rent provision in the Senate's housing legislation. "We're really working very hard at educating [policymakers]. There's a perception that somehow this is going to allow for people to have more access to more homes; it's just not true. People just aren't going to build these homes."

Build to Rent (BTR) homes meet many American families where they are and play an important role in creating new housing supply in states where it is badly needed, lowering costs and broadening housing opportunity. The legislation currently being debated in Congress poses a significant risk to BTR communities and would potentially worsen housing affordability by limiting options for Americans in search of a home by mandating dispossession of BTR homes after seven years. NMHC, our members and partners, are actively working to educate Members of Congress about BTR communities and the vital role they play in the housing ecosystem. hubs.li/Q045yX530

Join us next week for our State of the Market Webinar! NMHC Senior Director of Research and Chief Economist Chris Bruen will be joined by Ivy Zelman, of Zelman - A Walker & Dunlop Company, to discuss the latest Quarterly Survey of Apartment Market Conditions. RSVP Today: nmhc.org/meetings/calen…

Tune in on January 22nd at 2PM ET for our first State of the Market Webinar of 2026! Chris Bruen will be joined by a special guest to discuss findings from the upcoming Quarterly Survey of Apartment Market Conditions and what the results indicate for sales , equity financing and debt financing. RSVP: nmhc.org/meetings/calen…

"More supply is the answer to housing affordability." In a recent article from Bloomberg, NMHC President Sharon Wilson Géno underscores a simple reality: when communities allow more apartments to be built, rents don’t just stabilize—they fall. Read more: bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

A day after the Wall Street Journal's piece comparing rent controls in St. Paul and Minneapolis, the Washington Post editorial board makes its stance clear, calling price caps “a textbook policy failure” that leaves renters worse off through reduced supply, deferred maintenance and limited mobility. washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/…

Real-world data on how housing policy choices shape markets: strict rent control in St. Paul coincided with a sharp drop in housing permits and slower investment, while Minneapolis’ supply-focused approach saw more development and steadier rent growth. wsj.com/real-estate/mi…

Chris Bruen's latest Research Notes unpacks how a cooling labor market and a wave of new apartment supply are reshaping rent growth. As job gains slow and deliveries remain elevated in many metros, understanding these dynamics is essential for planning ahead. Read more: nmhc.org/research-insig…

NMHC Vice Chair Julie Smith is testifying today before the @FinancialCmte at its hearing, Building Capacity: Reducing Government Roadblocks to Housing Supply. She’s appearing on behalf of NMHC, NAA and RETTC to highlight the barriers that limit new housing production and the policy opportunities that can help increase supply. Tune in here: youtube.com/watch?v=aDuIxl…

FHFA just raised the 2026 multifamily caps—Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will each have $88B in loan purchase authority next year, a 20% increase driven by rising demand, improving rates and a busier transaction pipeline. Mission-driven lending stays at 50%, and affordable/workforce products remain uncapped. Read more: fhfa.gov/document/2026-…

This USA Today piece offers clear commentary on why rent control in cities like LA and New York hasn’t solved the housing shortage and, in many cases, has made it harder to build the homes communities need. Policymakers should focus on solutions that increase supply and support long-term affordability. usatoday.com/story/opinion/…

On October 9, the Senate took a significant step in addressing national housing challenges by passing the bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act, a positive move that will increase housing supply and lower housing costs. It is encouraging to see recognition of the need for more housing on both sides of the aisle! Read more: nmhc.org/news/nmhc-news…

Check out our latest Research Corner, where Caitlin Sugrue Walter, PhD and Chris Bruen looked deeper into the reasons behind data discrepancies found in our July Market Trends report on multifamily construction starts and completions as reported by CoStar and the Census. Read more: nmhc.org/news/research-…

Check out our latest report with MetroSight and @NAAhq . Research shows certain housing regulations, like eviction and source-of-income laws, may increase rent costs, especially for lower-income renters. As affordability challenges grow, it’s critical to align policy with real outcomes. Read more: nmhc.org/research-insig…

The debate around rent control (now sometimes called "rent stabilization") is heating up again in Massachusetts. But as this editorial points out, history has shown that rent control doesn’t solve the housing crisis—it often makes it worse. It’s time to focus on solutions that actually increase housing supply, reduce regulatory barriers, and support long-term affordability for all. Read more: bostonherald.com/2025/08/12/edi…

Check out our latest Research Notes where Chris Bruen and Ryan Hecker explore how new development affects renter mobility in today's shifting housing market. Key insights on affordability and the ripple effects of supply expansion. Read more: nmhc.org/research-insig…

Tune in next week as NMHC's Caitlin Sugrue Walter, PhD discusses the impact of rent regulation on housing supply, quality and affordability in a conversation hosted by the @BPC_Bipartisan. Register here: bipartisanpolicy.org/event/rent-reg…