A week in housing

Housing and development news from August 13-20

As we continue to do some evening experimentation at Slow Boring, we thought we’d catch up on housing and development news from the last week. As always, please feel free to discuss any topic in the comments, which Ben will be back to moderate in the coming weeks.

Colorado links millions to housing policies

Last Wednesday, Colorado Governor Jared Polis announced that if local governments do not comply with his housing policies, they will lose out on $280 million in state grants. The policies include raising occupancy limits, permitting secondary housing units to be built on the same property as a primary residence, and encouraging housing development near transit hubs. The move brought backlash from municipalities claiming the mandates exceed state authority. (Colorado Public Radio)

Connecticut funds new affordable housing

The Build for CT program, a $200 million state initiative that began in 2023, helps developers include below‑market‑rate housing in their projects. On Monday, CT Insider reported that 20 developments have been funded so far, creating approximately 2,700 new units, 740 of which target middle‑income residents. Additional housing developments are in the works, along with a down‑payment-assistance program. (CT Insider)

U.S. home builders step up incentives amid weak market

MarketWatch reported on Monday that home builders are increasing incentives for buyers. Builder confidence remains low, with the NAHB index at 32 — down from 39 a year ago. The 30‑year fixed mortgage rate is around 6.58 percent, and the median for new home prices is about $401,800. To drive sales, 66 percent of builders are offering discounts and incentives, and 37 percent of builders have applied price cuts, the average of which is 5 percent. Despite challenges, investors are still betting on builders: Berkshire Hathaway and others continue to back home builders such as D.R. Horton and Lennar. (MarketWatch)

The federal housing agency will use only English

The New York Post on Monday reported that the Department of Housing and Urban Development will provide materials only in English and will remove all paper and online materials in other languages. According to The New York Times, critics warn this move will jeopardize access to government services including “affordable housing, health care and registering to vote” for non-English speakers. (The New York Post)

Downtown Brooklyn sees record housing boom

Downtown Brooklyn has been transformed into a residential hotspot since it was rezoned in 2004 for the Downtown Brooklyn plan, with over 3,700 new units built in the first half of 2025 — 1,048 of which are affordable units. The neighborhood’s last housing development peak was in 2022, during which 2,925 units were developed. Another 1,183 units are expected by the end of the year. (Crain’s New York Business)

Federal Reserve weighs housing weakness and AI spending

Reuters reported today that the Federal Reserve is facing a policy dilemma: whether to lower interest rates to support a weak housing market or hold rates steady due to surging AI‑sector investment in data centers. Lowering rates may boost housing, but analysts cautioned that such a move could stoke broader inflation, complicating an already delicate balance. (Reuters)

Florida’s housing market cools off

During the Covid pandemic, Florida and other southern states saw their housing markets thrive as people moved from northern states for a lower cost of living and relatively affordable housing. According to Bankrate, the market trend has reversed as the cost of living, which includes home insurance and property taxes, increases in Florida. (Business Insider)