Construction News Today — September 22, 2026

The construction industry is seeing a mix of developments that could impact the way homes are built, sold, and financed. In Florida, a new law has been passed that prohibits local governments from using zoning laws to discriminate against factory-built homes, potentially paving the way for more affordable housing options in the state. This comes as the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is highlighting innovative manufactured home designs, including a chassis-free model from Cavco, which could help change perceptions of factory-built homes.

Meanwhile, the real estate industry is grappling with challenges related to agent recruitment and training, with a new report suggesting that the problem lies not in finding new agents, but in launching them successfully. On the financing side, mortgage forecasts are being revised downward as interest rates remain high, which could impact demand for new construction. Technology providers are also responding to industry needs, with ACES Risk Management launching a new tool for loan policy reviews that aims to help lenders manage risk more effectively. These stories and others are helping to shape the conversation around housing and construction, and we'll be exploring them in more depth throughout the day.

Today's signal:
• Florida’s new law bars zoning discrimination against factory-built homes (housingwire.com)
• HUD showcase spotlights Cavco chassis-free manufactured home (housingwire.com)
• Real estate has a new-agent launch problem, not recruiting (housingwire.com)
• Mortgage forecasts reset lower amid higher rates (housingwire.com)
• ACES launches Population Testing for loan policy reviews (housingwire.com)