**House Passes Bipartisan Housing Bill Aimed at Boosting Supply and Curbing Investor Purchases**
The House of Representatives delivered a decisive bipartisan victory this week, approving an amended version of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act by a 396-13 vote. The legislation seeks to expand homeownership opportunities, increase housing supply, reduce regulatory barriers that inflate costs, and restrict large institutional investors from purchasing newly built single-family homes.
Speaker Mike Johnson framed the measure as a direct response to the affordability crisis confronting American families. “Increased housing costs and lack of quality supply are two issues that impact nearly every American family,” Johnson said. He described the package as a “strong bipartisan” effort that would “put more American families into homes.”
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise echoed that message, arguing the bill would deliver tangible relief. “This is something that every American in this country is going to be happy to see, to have lower housing costs,” Scalise said.
At the core of the House-passed version is a provision limiting institutional investors from buying newly constructed single-family homes—an approach aligned with priorities advanced by the Trump administration. House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill emphasized the bill’s focus on families over large corporate buyers. “This bill prioritizes American families by expanding homeownership, enhancing affordability, reducing burdensome regulations that drive up costs, and increasing housing supply nationwide,” Hill said. “Importantly, it delivers on President Trump’s call to limit institutional investors from competing with the American people as they seek to purchase a home.”
A White House official confirmed administration support for the House measure, citing the changes made to the earlier Senate version.
Lawmakers rejected a more aggressive provision that had been included in the Senate bill. That language would have required large institutional landlords already holding single-family rental properties to divest those holdings within seven years. Progressive senators, including Elizabeth Warren, had backed the forced-sale requirement. House members instead opted for a narrower approach that targets future acquisitions while avoiding disruptions to existing renters.
Public opinion appears to favor restrictions on large-scale investor activity. A recent survey found that seven in ten voters support barring major investors who already own more than 350 homes from purchasing additional residential properties.
Despite the overwhelming margin, a small group of conservative Republicans opposed the final package. The 13 “no” votes came largely from Freedom Caucus-aligned members concerned about language involving central bank digital currencies. The bill includes a temporary prohibition on a government-backed digital currency through 2030. Rep. Warren Davidson criticized the approach, writing that “a temporary ban is the worst of both worlds: political cover today, a clear runway tomorrow. Make it permanent, or take it out.”
The legislation now heads to the Senate, where its path is less certain. Because the House amended the earlier Senate version rather than approving it unchanged, senators must decide whether to accept the modifications, reopen negotiations, or allow the package to stall. The removal of the forced-divestiture requirement is expected to be a key point of contention. The bill will also need to clear the Senate’s 60-vote threshold.
Housing affordability remains a top concern for voters facing elevated mortgage rates, limited inventory, and competition from well-capitalized institutional buyers. Republicans view the legislation as a potential cost-of-living win ahead of the midterm elections. Democrats face political risks if they are seen as opposing measures designed to limit investor competition in the single-family market.
Whether the Senate advances the bill quickly or allows procedural disputes to slow its progress will determine if Congress can deliver a concrete housing policy achievement before voters return to the polls.
