September 20, 2026 to September 26, 2026

This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news related to residential and commercial construction as well as infrastructure and government initiatives and programs concerning housing and housing affordability. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🇺🇸 Federal Government News
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

Federal Government News

HUD 2026 Civil Monetary Penalty Adjustment

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued notice that statutory annual inflation adjustments of civil monetary penalty amounts will not be made for 2026. The Office of Management and Budget stated that the Bureau of Labor Statistics was unable to produce October 2025 CPI-U data due to the government shutdown, resulting in no updated cost-of-living adjustment multiplier for 2026. Agencies will use 2025 civil monetary penalty levels as applicable, maintaining all HUD civil money penalties at their 2025 level.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Notice of Proposed RHFS Information Collection for 2027

HUD solicited public comment on its proposed 2027 Rental Housing Finance Survey (RHFS), focusing on financial, mortgage, and property characteristics of rental housing in the United States. The survey will gather additional data on maintenance, repair, and capital improvements, including costs due to natural disasters and eviction processes. RHFS is scheduled to cover approximately 10,000 respondents, collecting data every three years. New categories are included for property owners with multiple holdings and federal, state, local, and non-governmental benefits received.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

G20 Energy Abundance Ministerial Yields Four Consensus Outcomes

Twenty nations participated in the G20 Energy Abundance Ministerial in Houston, organized by the White House National Energy Dominance Council, Department of the Interior, Department of Energy, and EPA. The meeting led to consensus outcomes on energy access, permitting efficiency, water reuse, and critical mineral supply chain security. Agreements involve expanding LPG use, launching water initiatives, and repealing prior greenhouse gas requirements with projected savings of $310 billion. Major investments include Hitachi Energy’s Mississippi facility, Caturus LNG’s expansion in Louisiana, and Continental Resources partnering with Venezuela’s PDVSA.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

FHA-Insured Mortgage Loan Servicing Information Collection Notice

HUD published a 60-day notice seeking comment on proposed information collection for FHA-Insured Mortgage Loan Servicing involving Loss Mitigation Programs. The package includes revised forms reflecting changes to the Pre-Foreclosure Sales Program and the new Reinstatement Advance Payment Agreement. Estimated impact covers 990,284 respondents and 3.43 million responses annually, imposing a total burden of 1.46 million hours at an annual cost of $36.82 million. HUD requests feedback on the necessity and burden of this data collection.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

HUD Announces Healthcare and Vacant Loan Sales

HUD intends to conduct the competitive sale of 11 unsubsidized healthcare mortgage loans (HLS 2027-1) and approximately 4,200 reverse mortgage loans secured by vacant properties (HVLS 2027-1). The sales are structured as competitive sealed bid and open whole-loan processes, with specific eligibility and bidding requirements. Deadlines for bidder information packages and bid submissions are set for October and November 2026, with settlement and servicing transfer by year-end. The Vacant Loan Sale aims to reduce financial risk to HUD and facilitate the disposal of defaulted assets.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov, www.federalregister.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Mortgage rates top 7%, dealing a further blow to the frozen housing market: Average U.S. mortgage rates surpass 7%, intensifying pressure on the housing market.
• How Do I Find the Right Continuing Care Facility for Me?: Current trends in identifying and selecting continuing care facilities for older adults.
• ‘Hippie architecture’: Discovering the forgotten communes of 1960s America: CNN examines historic communal housing projects and their architectural legacy.
• Billions in collateral damage: The hidden cost of Australia's housing slowdown: Australia's housing market slowdown leads to significant financial consequences.

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