The Senate’s ROAD to Housing Act and the Battle Over Affordable Housing The U.S. Senate passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act on March 12, a sweeping bill aimed at addressing housing affordability and supply, with bipartisan support spanning 89-10 votes. The legislation, which includes over 40 provisions, focuses on reducing costs, streamlining construction processes, and expanding housing options. While the bill has garnered attention for its provisions targeting institutional investors, its potential to reshape the manufactured home industry could have a more significant impact on the nation’s housing crisis. The bill’s most contentious provision involves President Donald Trump’s executive order from January, which sought to ban large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes. This provision has become a major hurdle in the bill’s passage through Congress. Critics, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., a co-sponsor of the ROAD Act, argue that such restrictions could stifle investment in housing. However, the debate over investor participation in the housing market has overshadowed other provisions that may offer more immediate solutions to the affordability crisis. A key component of the ROAD Act is its focus on factory-built manufactured homes, such as those produced by Berkshire Hathaway’s Clayton Homes. The bill includes measures to boost the production and affordability of these homes, which have long been stigmatized as low-quality or temporary. By allowing manufactured homes to be assembled without a permanent chassis, the legislation aims to modernize the industry and reduce zoning barriers. This change could enable manufacturers to innovate designs and expand their offerings, potentially increasing the supply of affordable housing.#berkshire_hathaway #us_senate #road_to_housing_act #clayton_homes #manufactured_housing_institute
