October 11, 2026 to October 17, 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

Mortgage and Loan Insurance Programs: New Debenture Interest Rates Announced

The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced updated debenture interest rates for loans and mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration. For debentures issued under Section 221(g)(4) during the six-month period beginning July 1, 2026, the rate is set at 4.5%. All other debentures issued under the National Housing Act during this period will bear a 5% interest rate. These updates apply to commitments or endorsements occurring between July 1, 2026, and January 1, 2027. HUD published a historical chart of rates since 1980, and regulatory details are outlined in notices and relevant sections of the National Housing Act. The action is authorized under sections 211, 221, and 224 of the Act.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Notice of HUD Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee Meeting

HUD announced a virtual meeting of the Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee (MHCC) on October 27-28, 2026, which is open to the public. The session, established under the Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act, will address implementation of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. Main topics include proposed amendments to standards for manufactured housing, notably the removal of permanent chassis on the lowest floor and updated state certification requirements. Public comments are invited, with registration due by October 21 and written comments by October 19. The agenda covers opening remarks, a public comment period, and detailed discussion of chassis requirements and certification frameworks.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

HUD Seeks Public Comment on Extension of Congregate Housing Services Program Data

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is requesting public comment until December 14, 2026, regarding the extension of information collection for the Congregate Housing Services Program (CHSP). Forms included in the extension gather data related to grant usage, participant services, and budget reporting for program compliance and funding decisions. Respondents include state, tribal, and local governments, in addition to nonprofit housing sponsors, with an estimated annual burden of 1,050 hours. HUD seeks input on the necessity and burden of the proposed data collection.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

HUD Proposes Continued Collection of Training and Technical Assistance Survey Data

HUD issued a 60-day notice seeking comment on continuation of its Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Survey program. The surveys measure feedback and outcomes for participants in HUD-sponsored training activities, supporting quality improvement efforts under the HUD Act of 1970. Approximately 13,558 individuals respond annually, at a total estimated cost to HUD of $92,575.23 and 2,837 annual burden hours. Comments regarding necessity, relevance, data quality, and reporting burden can be submitted until December 14, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

FHWA Requests Public Input on Grants State Survey and Grant Accrual Reporting

The Federal Highway Administration submitted a new information collection request, inviting comments by November 16, 2026. The survey targets all 50 State Departments of Transportation and the District of Columbia, with 29 annual questions on Federal-aid grant payments and billing. The collected responses are utilized for quarterly grant accruals and compliance reviews, with variances above $50 million and 20% requiring explanations. Expected annual burden is 1,951.15 hours, and FHWA provides variance breakdowns to reduce reporting difficulty for respondents.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

USGS Seeks Renewal of Consolidated Consumers’ Report on Metals and Ferroalloys

The U.S. Geological Survey has published a request for public comments regarding renewal of the Consolidated Consumers’ Report information collection under OMB Control Number 1028-0070. The collection, which requires no substantive changes, gathers consumption data on 12 metals and ferroalloys to support Defense National Stockpile goals and is used in several USGS publications. Roughly 251 respondents are expected to provide 1,373 responses annually, with an estimated 1,030 hours of burden. Input concerning the necessity and reporting requirements is requested by November 12, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

President Trump Cites Infrastructure and Economic Initiatives During Montana Visit

President Trump visited Montana and outlined accomplishments related to tax reform, manufacturing, and energy. Notable items included tax relief measures that raised average state tax refunds to $3,304 and preserved $4 billion in GDP and 20,000 jobs. The visit also referenced federal funding for rural healthcare and the construction of Janicki Industries’ $800 million facility in Great Falls. The administration supported increased coal mine activity and promoted critical minerals production, notably antimony. The event included discussion of land and water management reforms and Sentinel ICBM modernization at Malmstrom Air Force Base.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

White House Announces Major Investments in U.S. Shipbuilding

The White House, recognizing the U.S. Navy’s 251st birthday, detailed more than $150 billion in investments since 2025 to expand national shipbuilding capacity. Initiatives include a National Security Presidential Memorandum, the creation of a fifth Naval shipyard, and beginning work on the largest shipyard since World War II to build submarines. These developments are positioned as efforts to revitalize the American shipbuilding sector and military readiness.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Canada Housing Starts Rise in September, Though Market Faces Longer-Term Supply Gap: Canadian housing starts climbed in September, but analysts point to ongoing supply challenges over the longer term.
• The Immigration Crackdown Is Making It Much Harder to Build Houses: Tighter immigration enforcement is contributing to construction labor shortages and complicating housing development.
• Home Sellers Are Starting to Blink on Prices. That’s Bad for Builders.: As home sellers trim prices, competition extends to builders facing increased market pressure.
• Canada Building Permits Rebound in August: Building permit approvals in Canada saw a rebound in August, signaling potential momentum for upcoming construction.
• Opinion | Why Is No One Doing Anything About Affordability?: A columnist critiques lack of federal progress on the housing affordability crisis.
• Dzala General Contractor Outlines Whole-House Remodeling Approach: Dzala General Contractor details its methodology for managing complete home renovation projects.
• 'Affordability’ Isn’t an Impossibility: An opinion piece examines policy routes and market factors affecting housing affordability.
• Could Embracing Sprawl Ease California’s Housing Crunch?: California’s Proposition 45 stirs debate over exurban development as a measure to expand housing supply.
• Edward Waters announces it will build first on-campus dorm since 1982: Edward Waters University is planning its first new on-campus dormitory in over four decades.

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