Where Housing Is Headed Next

This week’s stories highlight the trends redefining value, risk, and performance. 

There’s lots to unpack in this week’s news podcast: A proposed federal budget signals a shift in housing policy. The plan includes $73 billion in cuts to non-defense discretionary spending and a $10.7 billion reduction to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Programs like Community Development Block Grants and HOME Investment Partnerships are on the chopping block, while rental assistance funding remains largely intact. The result: a move away from community investment toward core rental subsidies, which could be bad new-home builders as well as for helping people build wealth through home ownership.

At the same time, a growing legal fight over allegedly defective PEX plumbing systems is raising concerns about durability and liability. Homeowners in multiple states report cracking, leaks, and costly damage within a few years of installation. Lawsuits are expanding, and manufacturers deny widespread defects.

FEMA has opened a new $1 billion BRIC funding cycle focused on disaster mitigation. This round prioritizes speed, with fewer hurdles and an emphasis on shovel-ready projects. $757 million will be distributed through a national competition. Applications are open through July 23.

Artificial intelligence is moving into the core of design and construction workflows. Industry conversations are shifting toward implementation, risk, and workforce impact. At the same time, the American Institute of Architects has released Document D503, a new framework addressing risk, responsibility, and performance in sustainable projects.

Plus: a new recycled concrete product gets editors’ nod, the disconnect between builders and consumers on housing resilience, and insights from the latest The Valuation Metric podcast featuring Scott Tew of Trane Technologies.

Market signals continue to diverge. Builders report resilience as a key selling point, but buyers remain unconvinced of its value. At the same time, research shows strong returns on resilience investments, though adoption remains limited due to misaligned incentives across homeowners, insurers, and governments.

More details, data, and context on these stories are in this week’s episode of This Week’s Sustainable Building News.

Upcoming Events

Save the Date! Green Builder Media’s 10th Annual Sustainability Symposium will be held virtually June 3–4. Bill McKibbon of 350.org will be the keynote speaker. Subscribe to our Vantage newsletter to stay informed! Registration will be open in a few weeks.

April 13–16: The National Home Performance Conference Columbus, Ohio

April 22: Housing 2.0 Seminar: Six Strategies for Better Homes at Lower Costs in-person Houston

April 22–23: Dallas BUILD Expo 2026

April 29-30: Solar & Energy Storage Summit Denver

May 5–6: Reuters Responsible Business USA 2026 Boston

May 6: Virtual Webinar: 30 Years of Energy Star for Homes: The Origin Story

May 8: Seven Habits of Highly Effective Builders: Powerful Fundamentals for Better Homes at Lower Cost in-person Denver

May 15: Green Building United’s Sustainability Symposium Philadelphia

May 27-28 California Green Building Conference 2026 Berkeley

June 1–4 NAREE’s 60th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference Miami

June 10–13 AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2026 San Diego

June 22–24 NFPA Conference & Expo Las Vegas

June 23–25 Trellis Impact 26 San Francisco