Organization Updates
Join Us for YIMBYTOWN Sponsors & Speakers Happy Hour
After the first day of YIMBYTOWN, don’t miss the Sponsors & Speakers Happy Hour benefiting the NC Housing Coalition! Join us at Transfer Co. Food Hall in Raleigh from 7-9 for food, drinks, and networking! The Happy Hour will feature Lawson’s Finest Liquids’ Cosmic Shift, and a portion of the proceeds of each Cosmic Shift sold in NC will benefit the NC Housing Coalition.
Post-Election Update
Federal
Republican Senate & House Leadership Elections Expected Today
Republicans in the House and Senate are expected to hold leadership elections today for the next Congress. In the House, Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan will be vying for House Speaker after Speaker Mike Johnson announced will step down at the end of this Congress. Senate Majority Leader John Thune is expected to be re-elected to his position.
Federal Budget: Another Continuing Resolution Expected
Legislators only have a few weeks remaining to accomplish a list of to-dos that got pushed until after the election. Among those items is passing a budget or Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government funded past December 11, when the current CR expires. We’re most likelylooking at another CR for HUD funds.
Looking Ahead
The next Congress will need to fund the ROAD to Housing Act and housing advocates will need to work to recruit more cosponsors of the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act (AHCIA), since many legislators currently signed on will not be returning next year.
State
Election Results Bring new Housing Possibilities for NC
The dramatic results of this week’s midterm elections will give us plenty to analyze for weeks to come. In the meantime, we’ve assembled some of the highlights related to housing in North Carolina. These election results will have a significant impact on the 2027 legislative long session, and everyone across the housing ecosystem should be gearing up to engage with our legislators.
Housing Bonds
Four local housing bonds on the ballot in NC all passed, totaling more than $270M for housing in Raleigh (101.5M), Charlotte (125M), Buncombe County ($40M), and Greensboro ($5M specifically for permanent supportive housing). These funds will leverage additional public and private dollars to multiply their impact. Housing bonds typically perform well in North Carolina, and we are happy to see that trend continue as the need for more housing across the state grows.
Constitutional Amendments
All three constitutional amendments passed, including an amendment that will require the NC General Assembly to impose a statewide levy limit on property taxes. While this is disappointing, it’s important to note that the amendment doesn’t actually set the levy limit–the General Assembly will have to do that. They are expected to reconvene later this month and may consider a bill to implement the amendment at that time. The NC Housing Coalition will advocate for the best possible version of a levy limit. For more information, review our analysis on the potential impact of a property tax levy limit, and learn more about what’s next for this amendment.
Democrats Secure NC House Majority
For the first time in 16 years, Democrats secured a majority in the state House. Pending the final election results, the margin in the state Senate will also be razor thin. This will be a season of change going into the 2027 legislative long session, where the NC General Assembly will pass a two-year budget. This is significant for affordable housing policy and funding in North Carolina, and we will need everyone across the housing ecosystem engaged in advocacy.
New Legislator Engagement
Dozens of new elected officials will need education about housing heading into the 2027 long session. We encourage everyone in our network to look up your 2027 elected officials and make an outreach plan. As we build relationships, we continue to cultivate champions for affordable housing in all of our elected bodies: Congress, the Senate, the state House, the state Senate, and the Governor’s Mansion.
Save the Date: Housing Day 2027
And save the date for Housing Day 2027 on March 30-31, where we will meet with our state legislators in Raleigh to share a unified message that the NC General Assembly has a significant role to play in creating more affordable housing for North Carolinians.
Other Federal Updates
Housing Counseling Litigation Update
Oral arguments in our lawsuit against the Trump administration for withholding housing counseling funds are scheduled for two weeks from today – November 24, 2026– in Washington, D.C. There will be a press conference on the courthouse steps immediately following the hearing. We are asking any and all housing counseling agencies to join us in D.C. for this hearing. Tell you clients, talk to your family and others in your sphere of influence. We need a large crowd to draw attention–the more the merrier!
The National Housing Resource Center also has a sign on letter to protectHousing Counseling assistance in the final Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill. We are encouraging every housing counseling agency to add their name to the list. Your organization can sign on to the letter here.
State & Local Headlines
Asheville Housing Authority plans major overhaul of public housing communities | WLOS
Renovate units, rebuild aging properties. Aston Gardens, Aston Towers, and PVA are among the properties slated for big changes.
In their Backyard: Glenwood [Greensboro] residents push for 52 units of affordable housing for seniors ahead of city council vote. | The Greensboro Thread
Two affordable housing proposals under review for the redevelopment of a former church property now owned by the city. A decision from City Council is expected later this month.
Parking Lots and Opportunity: The Development Finance Initiative Helps Local Officials Bring Affordable Housing to Downtown Durham | UNC School of Government
Joint Venture Breaks Ground on $58M Affordable Housing Development in Raleigh | Multifamily Affordable Housing
A joint venture comprising Gilbane, Harmony Housing Affordable Development Inc. and F7 International Development are underway on construction of Chapanoke, a 200-unit community in Raleigh, serving residents earning between 30 and 70 percent of area median income
Events
[webinar] What the 2026 Election Results Mean for North Carolina Nonprofits | November 13, 10:00-11:30am
NC Center for Nonprofits is hosting a free webinar on Friday, November 13 from 10:00-11:30 a.m. to provide a preview of what’s in store for public policy issues affecting North Carolina nonprofits after the 2026 election. Register here.
YIMBYTOWN | November 17-19, 2026 at the Raleigh Convention Center. Register here.
Hosted by our friends at CITYBUILDER
YIMBYTOWN Sponsors & Speakers Happy Hour with NC Housing Coalition | Nov 17, 7-9pm, Transfer Co. Food Hall, Raleigh
After the first day of YIMBYTOWN, don’t miss the Sponsors & Speakers Happy Hour benefiting the NC Housing Coalition! Join us at Transfer Co. Food Hall for food, drinks, and networking! The Happy Hour will feature Lawson’s Finest Liquids’ Cosmic Shift, and a portion of the proceeds of each Cosmic Shift sold in NC will benefit the NC Housing Coalition.
2027 Housing Policy Forum | March 2-5, 2027
Early Bird Registration is still open! NLIHC’s 2027 Housing Policy Forum will convene community leaders, policy experts, researchers, tenant advocates, affordable housing practitioners, and members of Congress for thought and action partnership on ending the housing crisis impacting the lowest-income and most marginalized renters in America.
Reports & Resources
2026 NFHA Fair Housing Trends Report
The 2026 Fair Housing Trends Report is the latest in a series of annual reports about fair housing trends that NFHA has produced since the mid-1990s. The data compiled in this report is from fair housing complaints in 2025.
Top 10 Takeaways from NAR’s 2026 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers | National Association of Realtors
- The median age of first-time buyers is 40, which is level with last year’s findings. Since 2010, the average age of buyers has been steadily increasing from 30 years old. Limited inventory, higher barriers to entry and priced out.
- First-time buyers who made all-cash purchases rose to a record of 10%, though these were typically older first-time buyers with a median age of 54. First-time buyers who financed their purchase with a mortgage had a median age of 38.
Department of Housing and Urban Development: 2025 Workforce and Spending Changes | US Government Accountability Office
A New ROAD for Factory-Built Homes: States Must Act in Coming Year | The Pew Charitable Trusts
Who’s Moving In? The Changing Age Composition of Migration to the Carolinas | The Richmond Fed
