From Concord to Washington: Efforts to ease housing costs gain momentum

For years, residents of the Lakes Region have felt the effects of rising home prices and limited choices. Whether it's young families trying to stay in the area, residents looking to downsize, or workers priced out of their hometowns, finding affordable housing has become increasingly difficult.

This year, state and federal lawmakers have advanced bills aimed at tackling the root of the problem: A shortage of housing supply.

While proposals differ in scale and detail, they share a common focus — making it easier to build homes.

National efforts

In Washington, Congress has moved forward with what could be the most significant federal housing legislation in a decade: The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. The House passed an amended version on May 20, with strong bipartisan support, and the bill is now in the final stages of negotiations between the House and Senate.

The legislation emphasizes increasing housing supply rather than relying solely on subsidies. Among key provisions are reforms to make manufactured homes easier and less expensive to build and finance, updates to Federal Housing Administration loan limits for multifamily housing, modernization of the HOME program, and steps to streamline inspections and reduce regulatory delays.

The bill also includes provisions aimed at limiting large institutional investors from purchasing certain single-family homes. If the final version is signed into law, it would mark a coordinated federal attempt to address housing affordability through increased production.

NH takes steps

Closer to home, the state Legislature tackled similar issues in 2026, with mixed results. One closely watched proposal, HB 1357, would have allowed newly constructed manufactured homes by right in all residential zoning districts. The bill received support from the House Housing Committee, but was referred to be studied further in March.

Lawmakers had more success with updates to rules governing multi-family housing. HB 1010 and 1588 refine last year’s law requiring towns to allow residential development in commercial zones. The updated versions give communities more flexibility to consider infrastructure capacity while creating new tools — known as special assessment districts — that allow towns to front the cost of water and sewer infrastructure, and repay it through future property taxes.

Several bills expanding opportunities for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), such as in-law apartments or cottages, also advanced. These changes would make it easier to add housing units on existing properties, including in some commercial areas and non-conforming structures. Many attempts to repeal earlier pro-housing reforms were defeated.

A different model

A potential model is the creation of manufactured home communities in which individual lots are deeded to homeowners, rather than the traditional model where residents own their homes but rent the land. Under the current model, the cost of infrastructure — roads, water, sewer, and maintenance — is passed on to residents through monthly lot rent. In many cases, rent can equal or exceed a second mortgage payment, significantly reducing the affordability that originally attracted buyers to manufactured housing.

A deeded-lot approach would allow buyers to own both the home and land, building equity in a way that is currently difficult. This model has the potential to make homeownership more attainable for lower-income households and first-time buyers, who might otherwise be priced out of traditional single-family housing.

One of the biggest barriers is the cost of extending public water and sewer infrastructure to support new development. Many suitable parcels of land lack the necessary utilities, making it difficult for developers to move forward without significant upfront investment.

The state could play a meaningful role by partnering with towns and developers to help finance these infrastructure expansions. One approach would be to expand the use of tools like the special assessment districts recently advanced in the Legislature, allowing communities to front the cost of water and sewer extensions and recover those costs over time through increased property tax revenue.

If structured properly, this model could deliver genuinely affordable home ownership. Many manufactured homes are priced well below the cost of site-built housing, making them accessible to a wider range of buyers. Removing the ongoing burden of lot rent would allow more families to keep their total monthly housing costs manageable, while building long-term equity.

For lower-income and first-time home buyers, this could represent one of the more realistic paths to ownership, in a market where traditional single-family homes remain out of reach.

What it could mean locally

For the Lakes Region, these efforts could open new possibilities, particularly on larger parcels, and in areas near existing commercial zones. Towns that have faced infrastructure limitations may gain new mechanisms to support growth.

Landowners considering development or sale could see additional options, especially if manufactured housing or ADU rules become more flexible.

The impact will likely unfold gradually. Most of these changes still require local decisions, and practical factors such as septic capacity, wetlands regulations, and individual town zoning processes will continue to play major roles.

Recent data shows the Lakes Region market remains relatively strong, with signs of modest stabilization. Inventory has increased compared to last year, giving buyers slightly more choices, while home prices have continued to rise, though at a slower pace than during the peak years of the pandemic.

Looking ahead

Supporters of these bills argue they represent meaningful progress by focusing on housing supply. Critics continue to raise concerns about local control, potential impacts on infrastructure, and changes to neighborhood character.

It's worth noting even if federal legislation is finalized, its effects will take time. Housing supply responds slowly to policy changes, and many significant outcomes will depend on how individual communities choose to implement new rules.

Across Concord and Washington, 2026 has seen increased attention on growing housing supply as a path toward affordability. While no single bill will solve the Lakes Region’s housing challenges overnight, the combination of state-level zoning and infrastructure reforms and potential federal changes represents one of the more active periods of housing policy in recent years.

For local residents, landowners, and town leaders, the coming months will reveal how these policies translate into real-world results.

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Randy Miller is a Realtor at Roche Realty Group in Meredith, and can be reached at 603-279-7046. Visit rocherealty.com to learn more about the Lakes Region and its real estate market.