1.Dr. Lars Powell – University of Alabama

Dr. Lars Powell, Director of the Center for Risk and Insurance Research at the University of Alabama, emphasized that rising losses from natural disasters are not solely an insurance problem but rather a reflection of how and where homes are built. Over the past decade, Alabama’s coastal counties have increasingly adopted the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety’s (IBHS) FORTIFIED building standard for new single-family homes. The results have been notable—during recent hurricanes, FORTIFIED homes experienced roughly half the loss frequency and severity compared to conventional structures. Powell also discussed the state’s proactive efforts, including grant programs that help homeowners retrofit properties to FORTIFIED standards, as well as insurance discounts and mandatory endorsements requiring insurers to offer coverage for FORTIFIED roof replacements.

2.Mary Tingerthal – Construction Revolution

Mary Tingerthal, founder of Construction Revolution and former Director of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, focused her testimony on the benefits and challenges of modular, or offsite, construction. She highlighted how modular building methods can shorten project timelines by 20–50% and lower costs by 10–20% on the portion of homes produced in factories, while also maximizing the use of limited skilled labor. However, she noted that federal and state regulations often hinder progress in this space. The FHA’s 221(d)(4) construction-to-permanent loan program, for example, does not allow draws for work completed in factories, and traditional building codes complicate cross-state permitting and inspection processes. Tingerthal expressed support for provisions in the Road to Housing Act requiring HUD to study the feasibility and scalability of modular housing nationwide.

3.Dennis Shea – Bipartisan Policy Center

Dennis Shea, Executive Vice President and Chair of the Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, centered his testimony on the ongoing housing-affordability crisis. He noted that 43 million Americans spend more than 30% of their income on housing, while home prices have risen 50% and rents 30% in the last five years. Shea endorsed the Road to Housing Act, emphasizing that regulatory compliance accounts for roughly 25% of the cost of a new single-family home and over 40% for multifamily developments. He also noted that eliminating outdated requirements such as the “permanent chassis” rule for manufactured housing could reduce costs by $5,000 to $10,000 per home.

4.Next Steps in Congress

The Road to Housing Act was included as a Senate amendment to the NDAA, which the Senate passed on October 9th. However, because the House version does not include the same language, the two chambers will now move to conference to reconcile differences. Reports suggest several House members oppose key Senate provisions, creating uncertainty about whether the Act (or parts of it) will survive in the final legislation.

If enacted, the Road to Housing Act could mark a significant step toward modernizing building standards, expanding modular-housing access, and reducing costs for consumers, lenders, and builders. The bill’s combination of innovation and regulatory reform has attracted broad bipartisan support but faces a complex legislative path ahead

5.Why It Matters for Brokers and Lenders

For mortgage brokers and originators, the hearing underscores Washington’s increasing focus on affordability and housing-supply solutions. Potential reforms could expand opportunities to finance modular and FORTIFIED housing projects and reduce costs that currently burden both borrowers and lenders.

The Road to Housing Act continues to generate bipartisan momentum as policymakers seek to balance innovation, affordability, and resilience. While passage this year is uncertain, the growing policy conversation reflects a clear acknowledgment that addressing housing costs and construction inefficiencies is essential to sustaining homeownership and market stability.