Single-Family Housing

Close-up of white sign with red FOR SALE letters and blurred brick single-family home in background.

Congress Introduces Bill to Block Hedge Funds from Buying Single-Family Homes

The proposed legislation aims to help U.S. home buyers who can’t afford to outbid deep-pocketed institutional investors.

January 1, 2024 - HousingWire

Multi-Family Housing

Lack of Multi-Family Zones Contributes to Nashville’s High Housing Costs, Study Says

Nashville and surrounding communities allow for a relatively small amount of multi-family housing, according to a new zoning atlas of Middle Tennessee. A regionally focused nonprofit is using the atlas to push for zoning reforms.

June 6, 2023 - Axios Nashville

Denver Union STation TOD

Local Resistance Hinders Transit-Oriented Development

As states move to boost housing production near transit, opposition from neighborhood groups frustrates efforts to build new developments.

January 24, 2022 - Route 50

Wisconsin State Capital

City Council Approves South Madison Housing Plan

A proposal to redevelop an area of South Madison with higher density and more housing options has drawn criticism from local residents who wanted to see more single-family housing included in the plan.

January 7, 2022 - Wisconsin State Journal

Town Homes

Report Links Housing Growth and Climate Resilience

Data from three U.S. metro areas show a failure to address land use and sprawl as a key factor driving climate change.

December 26, 2021 - The Brookings Institution

Suburban House

Single-Family and Build-to-Rent Homes Growing in Size

As people perform more daily functions at home, homeowners and renters are seeking larger footprints to accommodate a broader range of uses.

December 14, 2021 - GlobeSt.com

4 abandoned homes in St. Louis's Greater Ville neighborhood

St. Louis Could Fine Developers For Multi-Family Conversions

The city is considering implementing a fee for developers who reduce the number of units in a rehabbed building in a bid to discourage the loss of housing.

November 22, 2021 - St. Louis Public Radio

Roanoke, Virginia

How Virginia Communities Are Encouraging 'Missing Middle Housing'

Local leaders hope that streamlining permit processes and eliminating restrictive zoning regulations will set the groundwork for increased production of small and mid-sized multi-family housing.

August 12, 2021 - The Virginia Mercury

Indian Trail, North Carolina

Record Number of Single-Family Rentals Reflect the Expensive U.S. Housing Market

Home builders are building a record number of single-family rentals, and young, modest-income households with children are more likely to live in those new homes.

May 2, 2021 - Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University

Duplex

Tacoma Plan Would Eliminate Single-Family Zoning in Favor of 'Missing Middle' Housing

If implemented, Home in Tacoma would create new housing categories to encourage more multi-family buildings.

March 21, 2021 - MyNorthwest

Suburban Home

What is Single-Family Zoning?

Single-family zoning is by far the most common form of zoning in the United States, but it's facing increasing criticisms both for its discriminatory origins and its sprawling effects.

February 23, 2021 - James Brasuell

facades of victorian style residences in San Francisco

How California Plans to Slow the Corporate Takeover of the Residential Market

The state of California is trying to prevent a repeat of one of the most significant consequences of the Great Recession: large Wall Street interests buying for-sale housing in bulk for conversion to apartments.

November 2, 2020 - Next City

Empty Homes

Neighborhood Homes Investment Act Picks Up Momentum

A proposed tax credit designed to stabilize single-family neighborhoods facing growing numbers of vacancies is making its way through Congress.

September 2, 2020 - Shelterforce Magazine

Large Lot Vacancies

Neighborhood Homes Investment Act Offers Tax Incentives for Single-Family Rehabs

In struggling communities full of single-family homes, the cost is too high for developers to acquire and renovate blighted properties. The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act would offer an incentive for investment in existing building stock.

July 23, 2020 - Affordable Housing Finance

Los Angeles Residential

L.A.'s Crackdown on McMansions Hasn't Stopped Them from Going Up

Legislation to stop construction of McMansions is being undermined by a zoning loophole.

March 25, 2020 - Curbed Los Angeles

San Francisco

The Journal of the American Planning Association's Single-Family Zoning Debate

Eric Jaffe, writing for Sidewalk Labs, details a recent issue of the Journal of the American Planning Association that debated the future of single-family zoning.

February 10, 2020 - Sidewalk Talk

Granny Flat

Thorough, Impactful ADU Reform Proposed in Washington State

A model of accessory dwelling unit reform will be under consideration this year in the Washington State Legislature.

January 16, 2020 - Sightline Institute

Sprawl

Modest Densification, a Strategy to Alleviate the Housing Crisis?

Incremental changes to density on single-family parcels could boost the nation’s housing stock without dramatic impacts at the neighborhood level.

January 2, 2020 - Curbed

Houston Townhouse

Op-Ed: Zoning Shouldn't Discriminate Based on the Definition of 'Family'

By designating that "family" refer to a specific set of ties, many zoning codes make it difficult for "functional" families without those ties to find a place to live.

July 10, 2019 - CityLab

Housing Development

Affordable Single-Family Rental Housing Supply Needs a Boost

The supply gap is hitting lower-income families especially hard, a new study shows.

April 12, 2019 - Housing Perspectives

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.