Track the latest mortgage and housing legislation moving through Congress. See which bills are most popular with readers and could help first-time buyers.
These are the housing bills most popular with readers like you this week, based on page views and reader engagement. Join the millions who have trusted Homebuyer.com.
Stats updated December 5, 2025 at 5:11 AM
The proposed $15,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit would provide refundable tax credits to eligible buyers. It's currently under consideration in Congress but not yet passed into law.
The Bipartisan American Homeownership Opportunity Act is a bill that creates a down payment tax credit for first-time homebuyers and a construction tax credit for builders of starter homes.
The Home of Your Own Act provides cash grants up to $30,000 for eligible first-time home buyers.
The HELPER Act of 2025 is a bipartisan bill to create a no-down payment, no-monthly-mortgage-insurance loan program for teachers, firefighters, law enforcement, and first responders.
A guide to the Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2025, a proposed program giving $20,000 in downpayment assistance or more to first-generation home buyers.
Learn about the LIFT Act including how it creates 20-year mortgages with 30-year payments for first-time home buyers.
The American Housing and Economic Mobility Act proposes down payment assistance grants and housing affordability reforms to address discrimination and make homeownership more accessible.
The American Dream for All Act provides shared-appreciation down payment loans up to 20% of the purchase price for eligible first-time and first-generation buyers.
The First Time Homeowner Savings Plan Act raises the IRA first-time homebuyer penalty-free withdrawal cap from $10,000 to $25,000 and adds inflation indexing.
The Uplifting First-Time Homebuyers Act raises the IRA first-time homebuyer penalty-free withdrawal cap to $50,000.
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A bill is introduced in the House, Senate, or both chambers by a member of Congress. This is the first step in the legislative process. Bills can be introduced by any member of Congress and are assigned a number (H.R. for House bills, S. for Senate bills). Multiple bills on the same topic are often introduced simultaneously.
Bills are assigned to relevant committees for review, hearings, and potential amendments. Most bills never make it past this stage. Committees hold public hearings, invite expert testimony, and may make significant changes to the bill. This is where most bills die or are substantially modified.
If approved by committee, bills move to the full chamber for debate and voting. Both chambers must pass identical versions. Floor debate can last days or weeks, with members offering amendments and arguing for or against the bill. A simple majority is required to pass most bills.
If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee works to reconcile the differences into a single bill. Conference committees include members from both chambers and must create a compromise version that both houses can agree to. This step is often where bills fail or are significantly changed.
The President must sign the bill for it to become law. The President can also veto the bill, sending it back to Congress. If vetoed, Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds majority in both chambers. Once signed, the bill becomes law and takes effect according to its provisions.
The legislative process can take anywhere from a few months to several years. Most bills that become law take at least 6 months to pass through all stages. Some bills are introduced multiple times over several years before finally becoming law.
Only about 4% of bills introduced in Congress become law. The vast majority of bills never make it past the committee stage. This is why tracking active legislation is important for understanding which programs might actually become available.
You can track bills through Congress.gov, subscribe to our newsletter for updates, or contact your representatives' offices directly. Many congressional offices provide email updates on bills they're working on.
Many housing assistance bills include retroactive provisions that allow recent homebuyers to claim benefits. The specific details depend on each bill's language. It's worth tracking bills even if you've already purchased, as you may be able to claim benefits later.
You can find your representatives at House.gov and Senate.gov. Most offices have contact forms on their websites, or you can call their Washington or district offices. Personal stories about how these bills would help you are often the most effective.
Yes! Many states have their own downpayment assistance programs, tax credits, and first-time buyer incentives. These programs are often more likely to be available than federal legislation. Check your state's housing authority website for local programs.
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