State rep proposes ‘Golden Girls’ bill to reverse antiquated housing laws
Pennsylvania state Rep. Tarik Khan (D-194), of Philadelphia, has introduced legislation dubbed the “Golden Girls” bill to eliminate outdated local laws that restrict how many unrelated people can live together, arguing such rules worsen the state’s housing affordability crisis and contribute to a shortage of at least 265,000 homes. Inspired by the 1980s sitcom’s shared-living model, Khan says the regulations prevent friends, older adults, workers and families from saving money and supporting one another by sharing housing. House Bill 2109 would bar arbitrary occupancy limits based on relationship status, allowing restrictions only for legitimate health, safety, fire code, wastewater and water quality standards, or affordable housing program guidelines. The bill, which was referred to the House Housing and Community Development Committee on Jan. 5, has 21 Democratic co-sponsors and one Republican, Rep. Abby Major (R-60), and follows similar policy changes adopted in states like Iowa and Colorado.
Source: Phillyburbs; 1/10/2026

Household debt levels and the economy
U.S. household debt climbed to a record $18.59 trillion as of September 2025, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, fueling debate among economists over the outlook for the economy. Some experts say rising credit card, auto and student loan balances — along with increasing delinquency rates, particularly among lower-income households — pose a growing risk if job growth slows and borrowing costs remain high. Others argue the broader economy remains resilient, pointing to low unemployment, rising incomes and the fact that household debt as a share of GDP is well below levels seen during the Great Financial Crisis. Overall, analysts agree the economy is not facing an immediate crisis, but elevated debt levels are emerging as a potential headwind to future consumer spending and growth. Read the full article here.
Source: Daily Local; 1/5/2026

NAR urges incentives to boost home sales
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) supports the introduction of federal incentives to encourage investors to sell homes to owner-occupants and expand housing supply. The White House had posted a statement calling for taking steps to ban large institutions from buying more single-family homes. NAR said it shares the administration’s goal of improving affordability and access to homeownership but argued that data show institutional investors make up a relatively small share of the market, with corporations accounting for about 3.2% of purchases in 2024. NAR said a collaborative, data-driven approach that transitions rental homes back to owner-occupants while increasing new supply would better address the nation’s housing shortage. Read more here.
Source: NAR; 1/8/2026

Inside NAR’s advocacy strategic plan
In their latest Advocacy Scoop podcast, National Association of Realtors (NAR) executives Shannon McGahn and Patrick Newton outline the advocacy portion of NAR’s new Strategic Plan and discuss policy goals for 2026. Those goals include unleashing housing inventory, confronting NIMBYism and the growing equity gap, and protecting access to homeownership and Realtor representation. Building on 2025 wins, McGahn shares what it will take — from a legislative and grassroots perspective — to increase housing supply and affordability and to ensure homeownership is attainable for more Americans. Listen at the NAR website.
Source: NAR; 1/9/2026 

Long-shuttered Northampton swim club reimagined as inclusive waterpark
A long-shuttered swim club in Northampton Township could be transformed into Playa Raya, an all-abilities splash and sports park designed to serve individuals with special needs and their families while acting as a potential national model for inclusive recreation. Led by Rabbi Yehuda “Yudy” Shemtov of Chabad Lubavitch of Bucks County, the $6 million project would redevelop the former Breezy Point Swim Club into a fully accessible water and activity park and permanent home for Gan Izzy Day Camp. Township officials have approved Phase 1, which includes renovating the existing pool, while additional phases remain under review pending engineering evaluations and future land development submissions.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 1/8/2026

Bucks family featured on HGTV’s ‘House Hunters’
A Bucks County family was featured on HGTV’s “House Hunters” in an episode titled “Philly Charm vs. The Burbs” that aired on Jan. 9. The family was searching for a home in Doylestown, drawn by the Central Bucks School District and the town’s strong sense of community. The family weighed practical needs, such as space, layout, schools and budget, while navigating differing personal preferences, from kitchens and craftsmanship to large suites and garages. The family said the experience became a meaningful milestone, capturing not just a real estate search but a deeply personal decision about the next chapter of their life.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 1/9/2026

Haycock to reopen budget, cut zoning officer position
Newly elected Haycock Township supervisors voted unanimously on Jan. 5 to reopen the previously approved $805,900 budget for 2026. Officials said the township finished about $155,000 under budget last year due to increased earned income tax revenue, unexpected PennDOT winter weather funds and reduced employee benefit costs, a sharp turnaround from last year’s deficit. The board plans to reallocate funds, including additional support for the Haycock Township Community Center, but maintain the current 6-mill tax rate. The supervisors are expected to discuss changes to the budget at a special meeting on Monday, Jan. 19, and adopt a revised budget by Feb. 15. As part of cost-cutting measures, supervisors eliminated the zoning officer position and will outsource zoning services to Barry Isett and Associates, with the current zoning officer retained briefly for transition.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 1/10/2026

Wrightstown looks to compel statewide action for those impacted by PFAS
Wrightstown Township supervisors have approved a resolution urging statewide legislative action to expand financial assistance for homeowners with PFAS-contaminated well water, seeking to allow the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) to offer grants and low-interest loans for installing treatment systems. The measure, directed to the Bucks County Association of Township Officials, aims to build broader municipal support that could prompt the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors to advocate for changes in state law. Officials said current PENNVEST programs do not cover private homeowners. Township leaders have been working with elected officials and providing residents with information on contamination risks, treatment options and potential aid as they push for a statewide funding solution.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 1/7/2026

Bucks County officials warn of mortgage assistance scam
The Bucks County Department of Consumer Protection is warning homeowners about deceptive “mortgage assistance” mailings from entities using names like “The Mortgage Help Center” that are not affiliated with any government agency, lender or legitimate housing program. The scam uses publicly available property records to personalize letters, falsely claim pending eligibility or loan modification deadlines, and prompt recipients to call or visit links so the scammers can steal personal and financial information. Residents are urged to ignore and destroy the mailings, never share sensitive information, verify concerns directly with their actual mortgage servicer, and report suspicious letters to Bucks County Consumer Protection, which recommends using HUD-approved nonprofit housing counselors for legitimate assistance.
Source: Levittown Now; 1/4/2026 

Old Exton offices are becoming ‘hotel-apartments’
Investors have turned one of Great Valley’s vacant office buildings into a suburban rarity: 24 studio apartments and eight single-bedroom apartments. The units, located north of the Exton Mall site in West Whiteland Township, are equipped with kitchens, bathrooms and washer/dryers, and they’re being marketed as months-long hotel accommodations for consultants and visitors to nearby employers. The owners, a group led by Main Line real estate lawyer David McFadden, broker John McGee and investment partner Chiu Bai, hope the building, which they’re calling The Flats On 100, will be a model for repurposing unused space in suburban office, industry and retail zones. “Office buildings are being given away these days. What do we do with them when there’s no demand for office space?" McFadden said. “At the right discount, developers can afford to turn them into something sustainable that people want.” West Whiteland’s “town center” designation allows a wide range of uses. The partners chose what McFadden calls “hotel-apartments.” He compared it to locally based Korman Communities’ AVE Living, with its furnished apartments at Philadelphia’s Navy Yard and other local sites.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 1/11/2026

Chesco Department of Community Development lauded for homelessness reduction efforts
The Chester County Department of Community Development (DCD) has received recognition from Built for Zero, an international advocacy group, for its progress in reducing and preventing homelessness. The DCD was recognized for achieving Quality Data for the Chronic Population, a milestone that reflects the county’s strong infrastructure for addressing homelessness. The metric recognizes communities that share a unified definition of ending homelessness, operate through a coordinated, countywide team, rely on real-time data, prioritize equitable service delivery, and make targeted, data-informed housing investments. “We’ve seen a 33% decrease in first-time homelessness over the past two years — from 694 individuals in 2022 to 465 in 2024, and the number of people entering emergency shelters has been cut nearly in half over the past five years,” Chester County CEO David Byerman said in a news release.
Source: Chester County Press; 12/24/2025

Downtown West Chester plans for a busy 2026
After being authorized to operate through 2030 by borough council, Downtown West Chester (formerly known as the business improvement district, or BID) has big plans for 2026. In 2025, its footprint expanded to include more small businesses, better aligning with the borough’s Town Center District, which will help improve marketing and events planning. The district has moved farther south on High Street and east on Market and Gay streets. With Philadelphia nearby, the borough is close to the epicenter of America250, the yearlong event celebrating the nation’s semiquincentennial. Read more on plans for 2026 community events here.
Source: Daily Local; 1/12/2026

Chester County to update Hazard Mitigation Plan
Chester County is inviting the public to participate in drafting its 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan. The meetings will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 21, from 2 to 3 p.m. and from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Chester County Government Services Center at 601 Westtown Road, West Chester. Community members can also participate virtually. More information about the meeting can be found here.
Source: Kennett Square Borough; 1/7/2026

Development plans continue for Kennett Square park
Kennett Area Park Authority (KAPA) and Friends of Anson B. Nixon Park recently launched a $7.2 million campaign to restore the park’s historic WaterWorks complex, which is made up of structures that once served as the center of Kennett Square’s public water system from 1876 to 1984. Ownership of the complex was transferred to KAPA in 1990. The four-year project — which began in 2024 and saw the upgrade of the Pole Barn — will include the creation of education and wellness resource classrooms, multipurpose rooms with HVAC and kitchen facilities, a Waterworks Legacy Education Center, a year-round office for KAPA, a splash pad, and plaza space for visitors. Early fundraising efforts have raised $700,000 so far. To learn more, visit the Anson B. Nixon Park website.
Source: Chester County Press; 1/6/2026

New Chadds Ford middle school estimate is $19M over budget
Plans to replace CF Patton Middle School now carry an estimated price tag of $139.5 million, about $19 million more than projected after a feasibility study, district officials said during a January school board work session. Facilities director James Whitesell said the estimate is roughly $8 million lower than earlier schematic design projections, while Superintendent Tim Hoffman praised cost reductions made without sacrificing program needs. Hoffman cautioned, however, that the project remains significantly over budget and could strain instructional programs if pursued on the current timeline, prompting a proposal to delay construction from 2027 to 2031. He said the delay would allow existing debt from a high school renovation to roll off, improving the district’s financial position, even as he acknowledged future construction costs could rise.
Source: Chadds Ford Live; 1/13/2026