House Passes Bipartisan Housing Bill Targeting Corporate Homebuyers
The House delivered a massive bipartisan victory Wednesday, passing a housing bill designed to expand homeownership, lower costs, and limit institutional investors from snapping up single-family homes.
The amended 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act passed by a commanding 396-13 vote, sending the legislation to the Senate and giving Republicans a potential cost-of-living win heading into the midterm elections.
House leaders framed the bill as a direct response to the housing affordability crisis squeezing millions of Americans.
Speaker Mike Johnson argued the stakes could not be clearer.
“Increased housing costs and lack of quality supply are two issues that impact nearly every American family,” Johnson said.
He called the legislation a “strong bipartisan package that will put more American families into homes.”
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise made a similar argument.
“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 center of the legislation is a provision aimed at institutional investors.
The House version preserves a ban on large corporate investors buying newly built single-family homes, a priority backed by the Trump administration.
House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill said the bill directly aligns with President Donald Trump’s housing agenda.
“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 support.
“The White House supports the House’s housing bill thanks to the changes that were made,” the official said.
The House, however, rejected a tougher Senate-backed provision that would have forced large institutional landlords already holding single-family rental homes to sell them off within seven years.
That proposal had support from progressives, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, but House lawmakers opted for a narrower approach that targets future purchases without forcing divestitures that could disrupt renters.
Polling suggests the political move may be popular.
A recent survey found seven in ten voters support banning major investors owning more than 350 homes from buying additional residential properties.
Despite the overwhelming margin, conservative opposition did emerge.
The 13 Republican “no” votes came largely from Freedom Caucus-aligned members objecting not to the housing provisions, but to language dealing with central bank digital currencies.
Rep. Warren Davidson explained his opposition in stark terms.
“A temporary ban is the worst of both worlds: political cover today, a clear runway tomorrow,” Davidson wrote.
“Make it permanent, or take it out.”
The provision temporarily blocks a government-backed digital currency through 2030, but some conservatives fear that simply delays rather than prevents future implementation.
Now the bill moves to the Senate, where its path becomes more uncertain.
Because the House amended the Senate’s earlier version instead of passing it unchanged, lawmakers in the upper chamber must now decide whether to accept the changes, negotiate further or stall the package entirely.
The biggest flashpoint could be the removal of the forced-sale requirement for institutional landlords.
The bill also faces the Senate’s 60-vote threshold, always a major obstacle.
Still, the lopsided House vote gives the legislation strong momentum.
For Republicans, the politics are straightforward.
Housing affordability remains a top concern for voters dealing with high mortgage rates, tight inventory and growing competition from deep-pocketed corporate buyers, Fox News reported.
For Democrats, opposing a bill aimed at limiting investor competition in the housing market could also carry political risk.
Whether the Senate quickly advances the legislation or lets it bog down in procedural fights could determine whether Congress delivers a tangible housing win before voters head to the polls.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
💥 PRESS DEBUT DISASTER!
Katie Zacharia’s Awkward First White House Press Briefing Draws National Attention
Katie Zacharia’s first appearance behind the White House podium quickly became a major talking point after several uncomfortable moments overshadowed her debut as President Donald Trump’s new press secretary.
The October 13 briefing lasted approximately 14 minutes, with Zacharia answering questions from only three news outlets before ending the session. Her short appearance immediately attracted widespread media attention.
Zacharia had recently been selected to replace former press secretary Karoline Leavitt, stepping into a highly visible role responsible for communicating the administration’s positions to journalists and the American public.
From the opening minutes, observers noticed her reliance on prepared notes. She delivered a lengthy account of Trump’s accomplishments, frequently looking down at the script instead of maintaining eye contact with reporters.
Her delivery also attracted criticism, with commentators describing her voice as hesitant and her presentation as unusually stiff. Others questioned whether the administration had given its newest spokesperson enough preparation time.
Much of the briefing focused on praising Trump’s economic agenda, energy policies, rally attendance, and political achievements. The extended list of talking points left relatively little time for substantive exchanges with journalists.
One particularly awkward moment occurred when Zacharia discussed the challenge of balancing her demanding position with family life. She explained that spending evenings away from her four children was unacceptable to her.
She then accidentally referred to her husband as “my president” before immediately correcting herself with “my husband.” Recognizing the slip, she added a brief joke, creating the briefing’s most widely discussed moment.
The verbal mix-up spread rapidly through news coverage and social media, becoming a defining image of her first appearance. Critics treated it as evidence of nervousness, while others viewed it as an ordinary human mistake.
Her response to a question about U.S. intelligence sharing with Ukraine also drew attention. When asked whether Washington had stopped sharing intelligence with Kyiv, Zacharia replied that she would have to get back to the reporter.
The exchange was brief, but it highlighted the difficulty of responding to sensitive foreign policy questions without immediately having the necessary information. Reporters continued seeking answers as the briefing moved forward.
Another significant announcement concerned Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece. Zacharia told reporters that the administration had asked Guilfoyle to resign, unexpectedly introducing a personnel development into the short briefing.
The announcement generated additional headlines and demonstrated that, despite the awkward delivery, Zacharia’s first appearance included consequential political news. Her handling of the announcement, however, also attracted scrutiny from commentators.
Questions about her readiness soon emerged among political observers and some administration allies. The Wall Street Journal described the debut as rocky, reporting that her nervous presentation prompted questions about the decision to put her before cameras so quickly.
The brief question-and-answer session was another unusual feature. After taking questions from Breitbart News, Fox News, and the Daily Mail, Zacharia announced that reporters could ask Trump questions directly as he prepared to leave.
Her decision to end the briefing after such limited questioning became another focus of criticism. Regular White House briefings often involve extended exchanges, making the short session particularly noticeable to journalists and political commentators.
Despite the criticism, Trump publicly defended his new press secretary. Asked about her performance, the president said he thought she had done very well, offering a clear show of support following the difficult debut.
The White House also presented the briefing positively, describing Zacharia’s performance as commanding. That assessment contrasted with critical media coverage, illustrating how differently supporters and detractors interpreted the same appearance.
Zacharia’s debut has therefore become an early test of her ability to manage a demanding communications role. Future briefings will offer a clearer indication of whether she can develop greater confidence and handle sustained questioning.
For now, the accidental “my president” remark remains the most memorable moment from her first appearance. Whether the incident becomes a brief viral embarrassment or a lasting political talking point will depend on what follows.
