U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner
 | Scott Turner Secretary U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development |
 | Clayton Collins CEO HousingWire |
Overview
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Session Notes
Key takeaway
HUD Secretary Scott Turner used the HousingWire stage to announce that HUD is rescinding a Biden-era energy code rule tied to FHA- and USDA-backed new construction, arguing it added unnecessary homebuilding costs. More broadly, Turner said HUD is targeting affordability through deregulation, modernization and stronger public-private partnership.
What leaders need to know:
- HUD is taking an “all-of-the-above” approach. Turner said there is no single policy fix for affordability and HUD is focused on steady, practical changes across regulation, technology and program operations.
- Credit modernization is moving forward. Turner pointed to FHA’s move to allow VantageScore 4.0 and FICO 10T as part of an effort to promote competition and expand access for creditworthy borrowers.
- Deregulation is a top priority. Turner said regulatory costs can add more than $100,000 to the price of a new single-family home, making it harder for families to buy.
- HUD is rescinding a Biden-era energy code rule. Turner said HUD is rolling back a rule tied to the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code for FHA- and USDA-backed new construction, arguing it added unnecessary cost.
- Modernization is also on the agenda. Turner said HUD is working to streamline grant systems, improve data sharing and move legacy systems to more secure, flexible cloud environments.
- Public-private partnership is central to the strategy. Turner said the private sector will be essential to building more homes and reducing costs.
HousingWire perspective
Turner’s remarks underscored that housing affordability will remain a major HUD focus, with deregulation and modernization at the center of his agenda. The energy code rollback offered a real-time example of that approach. For housing leaders, the takeaway is that the administration wants industry partners to play a larger role in addressing supply and affordability, while HUD works to remove barriers that slow construction, raise costs or limit access to homeownership.
Presentation Materials
U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner
Download the full presentation from the session including charts, data visualizations, and key takeaways.
