Bipartisan bill aims to speed housing construction through pre-reviewed building designs
The Accelerating Home Building Act (S. 2361) has been proposed to help address the nation's housing affordability crisis through streamlined construction approval processes. The legislation would establish a pilot grant program at the Department of Housing and Urban Development to fund the creation of pattern books — collections of pre-reviewed building designs that allow developers to secure permits and break ground more quickly. The program focuses on missing middle and infill construction, with set-asides for rural communities as well as priority for high-opportunity areas. Complex land use regulations and lengthy permitting processes have contributed to an estimated shortage of 4.7 million homes nationwide. The National Association of Realtors supports the proposal as part of comprehensive efforts to increase housing supply and improve affordability. Read more here.
Source: NAR; 7/22/2025

Appraisal Modernization Act introduced in the Senate
The Appraisal Modernization Act — which institutes the creation of a public database of information that is within appraisals created for mortgage loans and standardizes processes for borrower-requested reconsiderations of value — has been introduced in the U.S. Senate. Although the stated purpose of the bill is to “require that financial institutions, appraisal management companies, appraisers, and other valuation professionals are serving the housing market in a manner that is efficient and consistent for all mortgage loan applicants, borrowers, and communities,” the National Association of Realtors has raised concerns about consumer privacy, MLS copyright infringement and market manipulation risks with the current language of the bill.
Source: NAR; 7/18/2025

Many suburbs have more renters than owners
Renters outnumber homeowners in 203 suburbs across the nation’s 20 largest metros, according to Point2Homes. In five years alone (2018-2023), 15 suburbs flipped from having a majority of owners to a majority of renters — including King of Prussia, which went from having a 41.1% renter share to a 52.0% share. Other Pennsylvania suburbs that have more renters than owners include: 

• West Chester (65.1% renters) 
• Coatesville (64.2%) 
• Chester (59.1%) 
• Darby (50.2%) 

The number of renter households also more than doubled in 15 suburbs during the same time period. Read more at the JustListed blog.
Source: PAR JustListed; 7/16/2025

PA has a new license plate
Pennsylvania license plates have been redesigned — but that does not mean all drivers need to replace theirs right away. The new design features the Liberty Bell to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States. Drivers in Pennsylvania need to replace license plates that are not legible, are blistering, are discolored or have lost reflectivity, according to PennDOT. The transportation department has also started replacing passenger registration plates beginning with D, E and F, and may order a general registration plate reissuance for plates that start with G, H, J or K and truck registration plates that start with Y. PennDOT will contact drivers to reissue plates through the mail. Find out more from PennDOT.
Source: Pottstown Mercury; 7/21/2025

SRA urges Warrington Township to comply with state law on property transfers
The Suburban Realtors Alliance (SRA) has formally requested that Warrington Township revise its process for issuing Use and Occupancy (U&O) certificates during real estate transactions. In a letter sent to township officials, the SRA expressed concern that the municipality is withholding U&O certificates due to unpermitted work, such as HVAC or water heater installations. The letter cites the Pennsylvania Municipal Code and Ordinance Compliance Act (MCOCA), which requires municipalities to issue one of three certificate types following inspection: full, temporary or temporary access. The law does not allow blanket denial of certificates solely because of past work discovered during a U&O inspection that has not received a township permit. If the township believes serious code violations exist, the SRA requested that written justification and documentation be provided to sellers to support any temporary access designations.

Bristol Township condemns three houses
Bristol Township Council recently voted to condemn three blighted properties. The latest round of legal condemnations by the council includes two houses in the Indian Creek section of Levittown — 84 Ice Pond Road and 68 Indian Red Road — and one in the Bath Addition neighborhood at 848 Harrison St. The properties will be taken by the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority and then put up for bid, according to Beau Fleming, Bristol Township’s building and planning supervisor. Bristol Township has reduced its number of blighted residences from 204 in 2015 to fewer than 20. Read more at the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority website about how the authority is helping municipalities combat blight and revitalize housing.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 7/21/2025

New Britain Borough approves Bristol Road townhomes
New Britain Borough Council approved a plan from W.B. Homes for 18 townhomes on just over three acres at 117 Bristol Road. Westview Square will feature 2,000- to 2,500-square-foot townhomes with three- or four-bedroom units that are expected to market in the low to mid $600,000s. Each townhouse will have a two-car garage as well as a driveway that will accommodate two cars. An additional 12 parking spaces along a private cul-de-sac will be available for guests. Two underground stormwater systems are being planned that will connect with those of the neighboring Unami Trail townhouse community, along with 1.5 acres of greenspace.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 7/16/2025

Bucks County population sees an overall increase, but youth numbers are down
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Bucks County’s population has seen a 0.6% increase over the past four years, rising to 650,131, with the largest increases occurring in Central and Upper Bucks. The Census Bureau’s annual estimates of resident population for April 1, 2020, through July 1, 2024, has the statewide population increasing by 1.6% but also show that Pennsylvania has more seniors than kids. Bucks County has had fewer children than seniors since 2022, with the lowest child-to-senior ratio in the Philadelphia area. Experts and officials say an aging population creates challenges for the local economy and social infrastructure. "A declining youth population impacts everything from school district enrollment and workforce development to health care infrastructure, housing demand and transportation planning," said Kaitlyn Goode, a data visualization specialist at the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 7/7/2025 & The Reporter; 7/21/2025

Portions of two roads to close in Newtown for three months
Sections of State Street and Center Avenue in Newtown Borough and Newtown Township will close for more than three months while PECO performs utility construction. According to a PennDOT news release, the closure will take place weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. starting on Monday, July 21, and continuing through Oct. 31, impacting a stretch of South State Street between Center Avenue and Fountain Farm Lane, and a portion of West Center Avenue between South State and South Sycamore streets. A detour will be placed and local access will be maintained during the closure.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 7/21/2025

Caln Township looks to create park at Spackman-Davis Farm
The 129.5-acre Spackman-Davis farm property in Caln Township will soon be open to passive recreation with a walking trail planned for the perimeter of the property. The township bought the land in 2002 with the goal to open it to the public, but the recession got in the way and a 2007 park master plan went unrealized. A new task force will meet to review the 2007 plan, pursue state and county funding, and bring the park to life. The task force might take up to six months and will have a mission to preserve, protect and restore a destination park for residents from all of the county.
Source: Daily Local; 7/21/2025

Honey Brook Township passes ordinances regulating on-lot sewage and short-term rentals
Honey Brook Township supervisors passed a pair of ordinances impacting properties. The on-lot sewage management ordinance requires mandatory inspections and pump‑outs every three years. Guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Act 537 implementation requires local governments to adopt ongoing operation and maintenance programs for on‑lot septic systems as part of their Act 537 sewer facility plans. The second ordinance makes changes to the zoning chapter of the code to add definitions and regulations relating to short-term rentals.
Source: Honey Brook Township; 7/9/2025

New Garden residents hear pitch for expansive White Clay Point development
At a recent New Garden Township Board of Supervisors meeting, a developer presented a new vision for the area known as White Clay Point along Route 41 in Landenberg. Representatives of Stonewall Capital LLC of Maryland gave a nearly two-hour presentation before a packed audience, laying out a 220-acre “transformative mixed-use development project.” The proposal includes 263 single-family detached homes, 90 20-foot-wide townhomes, 200 24-foot-wide townhomes, and 112 stacked townhomes — with units ranging from $300,000 to $900,000. The proposal also calls for 75,000 square feet of commercial space that is projected to have a grocery store, four retail units and a Wawa convenience store. New Garden Township Manager Christopher Himes noted that the White Clay Point site remains a “high priority” for the township, given its potential to serve as a catalyst for township enhancements. Read more at Chester County Press.
Source: Chester County Press; 7/23/2025

Easttown to adopt responsible contractor ordinance for public projects
Easttown Township’s Board of Supervisors adopted an ordinance creating a new chapter in the township code, “Easttown Responsible Contractor Code,” that outlines detailed procedures and requirements for public construction and service contracts within the township. The ordinance applies only to “major public works projects,” a term defined in the ordinance. A construction manager, general contractor, other lead or prime contractor and subcontractors must have a contractor responsibility certification before doing any public projects.
Source: Daily Local; 7/13/2025 

Fake Chester County detectives, deputies behind new scam
Scammers in Chester County are pretending to be sheriff's deputies and Chester County detectives, authorities warn. The latest scam has hit multiple victims over the past week. Scammers leave voicemails for victims telling them they need to call back "in reference to a court process." In other cases, they've demanded money in the form of a gift card or Visa card. Authorities remind residents they do not communicate with the public in such a manner. If you are suspicious of a phone call or voicemail you have received, contact the Chester County District Attorney's Office at 610-344-6866.
Source: West Chester Patch; 7/21/2025