This low-cost housing option is expensive to build. New law, regulatory tweaks could change that.

Rule changes proposed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Congress’ pending Road to Housing Act could clear the way for cheaper manufactured homes. But will cities accept them? 

By Ryan Kushner • June 26, 2026

These 10 metro areas have added the most housing units since 2020: report

Texas metro areas have led the nation’s 6.6% uptick in metro-area housing units, an Urban Institute analysis found.

By Ryan Kushner • June 25, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Smart Cities Dive

From worsening climate change to a shifting transportation landscape and the housing affordability crisis, cities have their work cut out for them.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

Trump blocks Road to Housing Act after it passes Congress

Municipal leaders, who have long sought federal action to address the housing crisis, say this bill is the answer. President Trump said he won’t sign it until an election law overhaul is approved.

By Ryan Kushner • June 24, 2026

Starter homes cost $1M in a record 242 US cities: Zillow

Cities with million-dollar starter homes now span 26 states, up from nine before the pandemic, a Zillow analysis found.

By Ryan Kushner • June 23, 2026

7 takeaways from Harvard’s 2026 state of housing report

“Construction is down, home sales are flat and cost burdens are up,” the lead author of the annual Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies report said. 

By Ryan Kushner • June 18, 2026

As a Maryland city mulls upzoning, a Realtor association study touts its benefits

A “missing middle” housing proposal in Rockville, Maryland, would boost the city’s housing stock 4.5%, the local Realtor association said.

By Ryan Kushner • June 17, 2026

We can’t build our way out of the housing crisis while losing homes every day

The path forward is not just about adding supply. It is also about protecting it.

By Michael T. Pugh • June 17, 2026

HUD suspends LA homeless services funding

A pause on federal funding for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority could become permanent pending an investigation, the federal agency said.

By Ryan Kushner • June 15, 2026

Town sues Massachusetts over plans to build housing on state-owned land

Wellesley, Massachusetts, officials called the plan to build 180 housing units on a state-owned parking lot “commendable” but said the ends don’t justify the means.

By Ryan Kushner • June 12, 2026

More cities are embracing AI permitting systems. HUD funding is available for them.

Local governments have until July 13 to apply for up to $3 million in grants for automated permitting and building code systems.

By Ryan Kushner • June 11, 2026

Seattle’s social housing experiment takes first major steps

Seattle Social Housing Developer agreed to purchase its first building and wrapped up a lottery to determine who will live there.

By Ryan Kushner • June 9, 2026

How local incentives helped clinch an apartment deal in a rent-controlled Maryland county

Investors took advantage of Montgomery County’s by-right Payment in Lieu of Taxes program to buy a multifamily building that will be converted to a mixed-income affordable housing community.

By Leslie Shaver • June 8, 2026

Housing tops nation’s urban agenda, mayors say

Mayors from cities of all sizes and both sides of the political spectrum urged Congress to pass the ROAD to Housing Act at the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ annual meeting.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • June 5, 2026

Illinois governor vows continued housing push as statewide zoning proposal hits a wall

The Illinois Municipal League actively opposed the housing bill that it said would preempt local land use and zoning authority.

By Ryan Kushner • June 5, 2026

HUD’s point-in-time count misses this form of homelessness

Millions of people are estimated to be in “doubled-up” housing situations. Monitoring the trend could help cities prevent more of them from ending up on the street, one researcher says.

By Ryan Kushner • June 4, 2026

How Charleston, South Carolina, is setting the stage for thousands of affordable homes by 2032

An “aggressive” new housing strategy includes pre-permitting city land and preapproving housing designs to fill gaps more quickly, the mayor said. 

By Ryan Kushner • June 2, 2026

Nominate a project for the 2026 Smart Cities Dive Community Project Awards

The awards will highlight innovation and effective use of technology to solve real community problems.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • June 2, 2026

Homelessness dropped 3% last year after record highs: HUD

 A 4% decrease in people seeking emergency shelter was the largest contributor to the decline, according to the annual report.

By Ryan Kushner • June 1, 2026

A housing raffle is one community’s effort to ensure new homes go to current residents

Elk Grove Village, Illinois, created a “first-of-its-kind” public-private partnership to give residents first dibs on a new batch of single-family homes.

By Ryan Kushner • May 29, 2026

Lawsuit targets fair housing rule change

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s final rule amending how the Equal Credit Opportunity Act is applied “effectively guts” fair lending protections, according to four plaintiffs.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • May 28, 2026

To expand housing, Maryland is turning to its largest landowner: itself

New laws zone land near transit for housing and delay local impact fees for developers.

By Ryan Kushner • May 28, 2026

Preapproved housing designs can cut costs — and cities are embracing them, Pew says

Front-loading the permit approval process can shave months off of preconstruction timelines and cut architectural and design costs, according to a new report.

By Ryan Kushner • May 27, 2026

Municipal groups push for ROAD to Housing Act approval

The latest version of the landmark housing bill appears to be nearing the finish line in Congress and includes a “major win for counties,” one group said.

By Ryan Kushner • May 22, 2026

HUD releases housing regulation ‘best practices’ for state, local governments

The recommendations follow a Trump order to cut red tape but stop short of density directives for municipalities.

By Ryan Kushner • May 21, 2026

House overwhelmingly passes amended ROAD to Housing bill

Housing groups applauded the passage of the major bipartisan legislation on Wednesday and urged the Senate to approve it.

By Julie Strupp • May 21, 2026