More than 50 provisions in the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act aim to cut red tape, expand starter-home supply and limit corporate buyers, with the law set to take effect Friday unless Trump vetoes it.
Nearly a third of single-family home sales now go to investors, the report says, often with all-cash offers that outbid traditional first-time buyers and help push prices higher.
A home that cost $50,000 in 1992 now costs about $250,000, while a 10% down payment has climbed to $25,000 and housing plus food now consume 55% of a typical household's income.
That squeeze reaches beyond housing because consumer spending drives about 70% of GDP, leaving less money for retail, travel and entertainment as shelter costs absorb more paychecks.