Momentum Grows for Capital Gains Reform on Home Sales
A bipartisan push is gaining steam in Congress to modernize the outdated capital gains tax exclusion on home sales—an issue that’s keeping much-needed housing inventory off the market. The 28-year-old limit, unchanged since 1997, allows individuals to exclude up to $250,000 in gains from the sale of a primary residence, and $500,000 for married couples filing jointly. But home prices have nearly tripled since then, and the exclusion has never been adjusted for inflation. Now, lawmakers are taking action. Two bills are making headlines: the bipartisan More Homes on the Market Act and the newly introduced No Tax on Home Sales Act. Together, they signal growing momentum to update the law. Even President Donald Trump has weighed in, saying in a recent Oval Office conversation, “We are thinking about no tax on capital gains on houses.” Housing advocates say the outdated cap discourages longtime homeowners from selling, since many would face large tax bills on their gains. That’s fueling the current inventory crisis. The National Association of REALTORS® has been at the forefront of the reform effort, releasing data showing that nearly 29 million homeowners—about 34% of all current owners—could already be subject to capital gains taxes if they sell. That number is expected to rise significantly. Read more in Realtor Magazine here.
Source: Realtor Magazine, 7/24/2025

Small-time investors scooping up a growing percentage of single-family homes
Small-time investors—those owning fewer than 100 homes—now account for about 30% of single-family home purchases nationwide, the highest share in 14 years. These buyers are largely paying in cash, targeting homes around $250,000, and renting them out at rates near $2,200 per month. Builders in high-inventory markets like Texas and Florida are fueling this trend by offering steep discounts—over 38% reported price cuts in July—while large institutional firms are retreating from the market due to tighter financing. The result is increased competition in the entry-level price range, making it tougher for traditional first-time buyers to compete. In southeastern Pennsylvania, where some communities fall within these price points, agents may already be seeing the impact on inventory and buyer dynamics—especially in the ring and outer suburbs of Philadelphia.
Source: NY Post, 7/28/2025; Wall St. Journal, 7/28/2025

Bensalem development proposal moves forward
Bensalem Township Planning Commission members voted to recommend approval of a plan for eight single-family homes along Byberry Road. Bristol-based Mar Mar Homes proposed the eight homes around a cul-de-sac on a vacant, 3.5-acre lot with one point of entry and exit onto Byberry Road. The homes are expected to sell for more than $900,000. A higher-density project was previously proposed for the site, but it was revised following a court settlement between the township and developers. The lot is entirely wooded, and much of the concern about the project from neighbors’ centers on protecting wildlife and vegetation on one of the township’s last remaining undeveloped spaces. Bryce McGuigan, an attorney representing the developers, said it is not the intent of the developer to remove 100% of the trees, rather they will only remove what they deem necessary. Planning commission approval is just one step, as the project still needs approval from Bensalem Township Council and needs to comply with fire marshal regulations.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 7/18/2025

Warminster approves trash discount for veterans
Warminster Township officials have approved a discount on annual trash collection fees for qualified disabled veterans. Supervisors voted to extend the $55 trash fee senior citizen discount to all eligible disabled veterans in recognition of the "unique and special place disabled veterans occupy in our community." Anyone who has already paid the full 2025 trash fee will receive a $55 payment from the Warminster tax collector.
Source: Warminster Patch; 7/18/2025

The Next Step Programs selects architect for Vision 2030 Integrated Housing Project
The Next Step Programs (TNS), a Doylestown Borough nonprofit, recently announced the selection of Union Studio Architecture & Community Design as the lead Vision 2030 architecture firm. Union Studio will help build an inclusive housing and workforce development campus for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Doylestown area. TNS aims to raise $4 million to build a transformative apartment/marketplace complex on Clinton Street. “We’re determined to create a space for people with and without disabilities to thrive independently, participate as active members within our community, and feel seen,” a TNS statement said. “With the leadership and guidance of Union Studio, we’re eager to see what the future will look like.”
Source: Bucks County Herald; 7/18/2025

Bucks County port gets $25M grant
A $25 million federal grant has been procured to revitalize the Bristol Port Terminal, part of the Riverside Industrial Complex in Bristol Township. The grant will prop up a $65 million revitalization of the port complex that includes the rebuilding of a 1,000-foot dock on the Delaware River, the installation of modern crane off-loading equipment, dredging and a rail spur to improve access to the port. Jeff Darwak, executive director of the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority, said he hopes the rail spur will reduce truck traffic in the area. Heavy truck traffic has been a problem for residents near Riverside Industrial and neighboring Tullytown. U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick procured the grant and said in a statement that renovations will be “transformative” and that they're intended to “reshape the regional economy, enhance freight mobility, and position Bucks County as a critical, strategic hub in America’s supply chain.”
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 7/23/2025

Downingtown to consider amendment of Neighborhood Blight Ordinance
Downingtown Borough Council is set to consider a proposed amendment to its Neighborhood Blight Protection ordinance. According to the public notice, the proposed ordinance would amend Chapter 114, Section 114-13, of the Borough Code by expanding the list of exemptions to include properties that have been actively marketed for sale over the previous 180 days. The hearing will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 6 at 7 p.m. at Downingtown Borough Hall, located at 4 W. Lancaster Ave.
Source: Daily Local; 7/25/2025

Spring City Council to consider vacant commercial property ordinance
Spring City Borough Council plans to adopt a new ordinance aimed at regulating and monitoring vacant commercial properties. The proposed ordinance would establish a regulatory framework for the registration and inventory of all commercial units in the borough. It would also require the registration, inventory, inspection and monitoring of vacant commercial units. Penalties for noncompliance are outlined in the ordinance. The meeting will convene on August 4 and is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at Borough Hall, located at 6 S. Church St., Spring City, Chester County.
Source: Daily Local; 7/28/2025 

Inside West Chester University's plan to add 900 new beds to campus
West Chester University is moving ahead with plans to add up to 900 on-campus beds through renovations and new construction, following years of student housing shortages. The university’s board of trustees approved a $92 million bond issuance last week to fund the first phase of the project, which includes adding a floor to each of 11 residence halls on South Campus. The additions will total 220 new beds over five years, beginning this fall. Temporary modular housing will be used at North Campus’s Matlack Court during the renovations. As part of a 2021 zoning amendment, the university submitted a 10-year master plan this spring to surrounding municipalities, proposing to increase housing capacity from 5,349 to 6,239 beds. The plan was developed with input from campus and community groups and will be presented at public forums this fall. Despite perceptions of enrollment growth, undergraduate numbers have remained steady over the past decade. President Lorraine Bernotsky said housing limitations are the main reason the school has capped undergraduate enrollment.
Source: Philadelphia Business Journal; 7/29/2025 

Kennett Square to consider short term rental ordinance and zoning amendments
Kennett Square Borough Council is set to consider three proposed amendments to the borough’s zoning and municipal codes during a public hearing on Aug. 4. The public hearing will take place on Monday, Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. on the third floor of Borough Hall at 600 S. Broad St. The proposed changes include:

• Short-Term Rentals: outlining regulations for short-term rentals, including permitting procedures, zoning district allowances, and updated definitions in the borough code.
• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): amend zoning and permitting rules to allow and regulate ADUs. It introduces updated definitions, adjusts parking requirements, and establishes a permitting process for rental units that include ADUs.
• Parking Provisions: aims to correct prior district reference omissions and clarify rules for shared and joint parking in zoning districts, including C-3 Mixed Use and OI-2 Office and Industrial zones.

Source: Daily Times; 7/23/2025

Chester County commissioners oppose sale of CWA to Aqua
Chester County commissioners have voiced strong opposition to the proposed sale of the Chester Water Authority (CWA) to private water company Aqua, which has offered more than $400 million for the system. The sale is at the center of an ongoing legal battle, as the Pennsylvania Supreme Court considers who actually owns the authority’s assets. The CWA’s nine-member board—made up of representatives from Chester and Delaware counties and the City of Chester—is supported by the authority and Chester County in asserting that it has the legal authority to decide the utility’s future. However, the City of Chester argues that it created the authority and therefore has the right to dissolve it. The court fight comes as Chester’s state-appointed receiver pushes to monetize the city’s water assets in an effort to pull the city out of financial distress. All three Chester County commissioners have taken a firm stand in favor of preserving the water authority. “CWA is an asset that needs to be protected,” said Commissioners Chair Josh Maxwell.
Source: Daily Times; 7/24/2025

Chester County highlights transportation resources for rural and agricultural communities
Chester County has 73 municipalities, and about 50 of them have rural and/or agricultural landscapes as defined by Landscapes3. In 2023 and 2024, the Chester County Planning Commission's Multi-Modal Transportation Division reached out to the rural and agricultural communities to learn more about roads that might be unsafe or have higher use by vulnerable road users, such as cyclists or pedestrians. The planning commission has created a guide for the county's rural and agricultural communities that addresses safety in rural areas and provides information on complete streets policies, maintenance, funding and training opportunities.
Source: Chester County Planning Commission; 7/21/2025