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The ROAD to Housing Act Is Now Law
What the new housing law means for veterans buying in Portland and SW Washington
I've been following this bill since it was in Congress. It's now law. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act took effect on July 11, 2026, the most significant federal housing law in decades. Here's what it means for veterans buying a home in the Portland metro and SW Washington.
How It Became Law
The Act combined the Senate's ROAD to Housing Act and the House's Housing for the 21st Century Act into one package. It passed both chambers with strong bipartisan votes in June 2026 and became law on July 11, 2026, as Public Law 119-101, after the 10 day signing period passed.
What It Means for Veteran Buyers
Lenders Must Ask About Military Service
The standard mortgage application used by most lenders now includes a question about military service, so veterans are told about their VA home loan benefit. Too many eligible veterans still finance with conventional or FHA loans without knowing they qualify for $0 down and no PMI.
Help for Disabled Veterans Facing Homelessness
The law includes the Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act, which helps disabled veterans experiencing homelessness qualify for housing assistance.
Limits on Large Investors
Large institutional investors that own 350 or more single family homes can't buy more, with some exceptions. The goal is to leave more homes for people who want to live in them.
More Homes Over Time
The law encourages faster local permitting and updates manufactured and modular housing rules, including removing the requirement that manufactured homes be built on a permanent chassis.
What hasn't changed: your VA loan works the same way. You can still buy with $0 down and no monthly mortgage insurance with full entitlement. Many of the Act's provisions need federal agencies to write rules first, so they'll roll out gradually.
Watch the video: The ROAD to Housing Act: What It Means for Portland Veterans. Read the full video write up.
Related Reading
See my Complete VA Home Loan Guide and VA Loan Requirements Checklist to see how your benefit works today.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ROAD to Housing Act law?
Yes. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law on July 11, 2026, as Public Law 119-101. It passed both the House and Senate with bipartisan support.
What does the ROAD to Housing Act do for veterans?
It adds a question to the standard mortgage application so lenders make sure veterans know about their VA home loan benefit, and it helps disabled veterans experiencing homelessness get housing assistance.
Does the ROAD to Housing Act change VA loans?
Not directly. Your VA loan benefit works the same way. The law focuses on making sure veterans know about the benefit and on increasing housing supply.
What does the law do about large investors?
It bars large institutional investors that own 350 or more single family homes from buying more, with some exceptions. The goal is to leave more homes available for owner occupants.
When will these changes take effect?
The law took effect July 11, 2026, but many provisions require federal agencies to write rules or launch programs first, so they'll roll out over time.
More Guides for Veterans
Meet Your Veteran Realtor
Troy Doty, Principal Broker
Troy Doty is a Principal Broker with Northwest Realty Source in Portland, with 25 years in real estate and over 1,000 homes sold across the Portland metro and SW Washington. As a Marine Corps veteran, Troy has a true passion for helping Portland veterans and active duty military families buy and sell homes, whether you're PCSing in, transitioning out, buying your first home, investing in a duplex, triplex, or fourplex, or right sizing later in life.
Schedule a Call or Video Meeting ➜ More About Troy ➜ Free Veteran Buyer E-BookPrefer to call, text, or email? 503.997.4169 · Text Us · troy [at] nwrealtysource [dot] com
Troy Doty, Principal Broker, Northwest Realty Source. Licensed in Oregon and Washington. ABR®, MRP®, and SRES® are credentials of the National Association of REALTORS® and its affiliates. CIAS™ is a designation of U.S. Realty Training. This page is general information, not legal, tax, or lending advice.
