Study shows PA has fourth highest new construction premiums in US
A new report by Realtor.com reveals that Pennsylvania has some of the highest premiums on new construction in the United States. According to Affordability and Homebuilding: State-by-State Report Cards, Pennsylvania ranks fourth with an 89% premium on new construction, trailing only Kansas, Michigan and Ohio. The state's high new construction costs, combined with relatively low levels of homebuilding activity, earned Pennsylvania a C grade overall. The report also highlights that Pennsylvania’s share of 2024 housing permits is just 1.6%, while it accounts for 3.8% of the national population, indicating a significant gap in new housing development. The report advocates for a policy shift in local zoning regulations to encourage the construction of affordable housing. Read more on the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors JustListed blog.
Source: PAR JustListed; 5/5/2025

Shelters struggle to respond to shift at HUD
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has been removing protections for transgender people, and shelters receiving federal funds are struggling to respond. Discrimination against LGBTQ+ people wasn’t specifically cited in the Fair Housing Act, but the Equal Access Rule enacted in 2012 further defined sex discrimination to include sexual orientation and gender identity. Complicating the situation are seemingly contradictory requirements in new HUD contracts with nonprofits serving the homeless. One section stipulates they can’t promote “gender ideology,” while another requires compliance with anti-discrimination law. Read more at the Associated Press.
Source: Associated Press; 5/5/2025

State launches centralized consumer protection hub
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro unveiled a new system for residents to report consumer complaints and access state assistance. The governor said increased efforts at the state level were needed to fill a void left when the federal government scaled back the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Shapiro announced a centralized hotline, website and email address designed to make it easier for Pennsylvanians to address issues ranging from scams and financial exploitation to insurance claim denials and student loan servicing problems. The contact points for consumers are a toll-free hotline at 1-866-PACOMPLAINT (1-866-722-6675), a Consumer Complaints page on the state website, and an email address at consumer@pa.gov.
Source: LevittownNow; 5/3/2025

NAR reveals results of public poll on tax reform, real estate policy
As Congress ramps up work on a sweeping tax reform package, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Advocacy Scoop podcast revealed some of the key points of a recent public survey. It reveals broad public support for tax policies that support a healthy housing market. Among the survey’s top findings:

• 92% of respondents favor tax-free savings accounts for first-time home buyers.
• 91% want to preserve tax incentives like the mortgage interest deduction.
• 86% support keeping lower-income tax rates for individuals and married couples.
• 83% back the 20% deduction for independent contractors and small businesses earning under $400,000.
• 67% support raising the capital gains exemption on the sale of a primary residence.
• The survey also explored the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction issue, a key NAR advocacy priority. The survey found 61% of voters support increasing deduction limits or removing limits altogether.

The national survey of 1,000 registered voters was commissioned by NAR and conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and Hart Research from April 3 to 6. Read more at NAR.
Source: NAR; 5/2/2025 

Yardley to consider regulating short-term rentals
Yardley Borough Council is considering a draft ordinance regulating short-term lodging. The proposed ordinance sets definitions for bedroom, dwelling, dwelling unit, local contact person, rental and short-term lodging; sets forth regulations for the rental of short-term lodging, restricting it to the C-1 (Pedestrian-Oriented Commercial) and C-2 (Vehicular Oriented Commercial) zoning districts; categorizes rentals as specific bedroom or entire residential dwelling accommodations; and regulates the minimum and maximum duration of short-term lodging. It also sets terms for applications, insurance, inspection, and regulations and restrictions for obtaining an annual, mandatory short-term lodging license, including how many may be obtained. A copy of the proposed ordinance may be reviewed at Borough Hall during normal business hours. A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 20, at 7:30 p.m. at Borough Hall, 56 S. Main St.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 5/2025

Redevelopment of Penn’s Purchase in Buckingham may finally happen
Almost four years after being approved by Buckingham Township, the old store buildings in the Penn’s Purchase outlet center are set to be demolished. The dilapidated vacant retail center sits across from Peddler’s Village off Route 202. The final redevelopment plan from developer John McGrath for the outlet center includes 18 single-family detached homes, 18 condominiums, two mixed-use buildings with 16,420 square feet of retail/commercial space, and the restoration of an old Victorian home into four apartments. Construction is expected to begin in late spring or early summer.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 5/5/2025

Quakertown landmarks eyed for restoration by nonprofit
Rail Yard Society members are leading efforts to revitalize two of Quakertown’s historic buildings — the old freight house and The Eagle Hotel. Leanna Knight, Rail Yard Society executive director and Quakertown native, and Christopher Labonge have come up with a vision to transform the freight house into an event space, and to turn the Eagle into a boutique hotel and café. The freight house building is located along Front Street and the tracks next to the old Quakertown Train Station. A grant has been secured to shore up the building, with another $1.2 million needed to transform it into an event space. The Eagle Hotel was built in 1831 and has gone through many transformations across its two centuries of existence. Once the freight house project is complete, members of the Rail Yard Society plan to focus their fundraising efforts on The Eagle, with hopes of turning it into a nine-room boutique hotel with a small café on the first floor.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 5/2/2025

Bucks County Head Start program given reprieve until the end of June
Bucks County Head Start is a free preschool program for children who have disabilities or who come from lower-income families. The program currently serves about 360 children in Bucks County and employs 85 people. The Bucks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU), the education agency that runs Head Start, has not received updates on the five-year renewal application for the federal program it submitted in January. On May 1, BCIU announced that the program would end in late May because “without a formal grant award” it cannot legally continue the program. The BCIU later announced that funding for the program was given a one-month extension, allowing the programs to operate until June 30. Read more here.
Source: The Reporter & Bucks County Courier Times; 5/2/2025, & TapInto Doylestown; 5/5/2025

Bucks County Designer House Tour runs through end of May
The 49th annual Bucks County Designer House & Gardens Tour will continue through the end of May. The House & Gardens Tour raises money for the Village Improvement Association of Doylestown (VIA), which helps community organizations that serve the needy. The tour takes place at Hidden Trail Farm, a 14-acre property in Ivyland. The 5,000-square-foot farmhouse was built in 1721 and has six bedrooms, three fireplaces, and several spaces for gathering and entertaining. Designers and landscapers created spaces throughout the property. Find out more on the event website.
Source: TapInto Doylestown; 4/30/2025 

East Marlborough officials discuss possible earned-income tax
East Marlborough residents packed the township meeting room on April 23 for a preliminary discussion about a possible earned-income tax (EIT). Jayson Lawson, a representative from Keystone Collections, said that 70 of the 73 municipalities in Chester County already collect an EIT, which can be up to 1% of a resident’s or employee’s income. East Marlborough is unusual because it is split between two school districts. Residents in the Kennett Consolidated School District (KCSD) already pay a 1% EIT to Kennett, and if East Marlborough enacted an EIT, it would receive some of the tax revenue currently going to KCSD. A larger portion of the township lives within Unionville-Chadds Ford School District, which does not have an EIT. Under an earned-income tax, anybody who lives or works within municipal borders could pay up to 1% of their income. Read more at the Chester County Press.
Source: Chester County Press; 4/30/2025

Kennett Square chief urges council to explore regionalization
Kennett Square Borough’s chief of police, William Holdsworth, discussed the possible future regionalization of the borough’s police department. He said, “overall, regionalization can be highly beneficial in terms of efficiency and capabilities, but it also raises concerns.” He cited loss of control, potential for increased costs, longer response times in some areas, community relations challenges, job displacement and morale issues, and bureaucratic complexities. As for the potential wins of consolidation, Holdsworth said benefits include cost efficiency, improved services, better training and standardization, increased personnel and coverage, better technology and equipment, and stronger coordination. “Crime doesn’t stop at any of our municipal boundaries,” the chief said. “I would encourage our leaders to engage with other local municipal leaders to discuss the concepts and probability of regionalization.”
Source: Daily Local; 5/5/2025

Tredyffrin Township to consider zoning ordinance amendments
The Board of Supervisors of Tredyffrin Township has announced a public hearing for a proposed zoning ordinance amendment for Chapter 195 of the township code. The key change would allow for the construction of age-qualified, single-family, detached and semidetached (twin) dwellings within the C-1 Commercial District, subject to specific conditions. The hearing will take place on Wednesday, May 21, at 7 p.m. during the regular supervisors meeting at the township building, 1100 Duportail Road, Berwyn.
Source: Daily Times; 5/4/2025

Proposed Unionville-Chadds Ford school budget hikes taxes
Unless there’s a major change in numbers, taxes in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District will increase again. During a presentation of the proposed final budget, finance director Joe Deady said the proposed budget increases anticipated revenue and expenditures, and raises the property tax rate. Expenditures are anticipated at almost $108.42 million, an increase of almost $2.6 million or 2.44%, over the current budget. For Chester County property owners, the budget would mean a 33.91 millage rate, up 3.99%, adding $344 to the average tax bill. In Chadds Ford, the lone Delaware County municipality in the district, the new rate would be 19.25 mills, a 3.66% increase, for a $305 average increase. The board will vote on the proposed final budget during the May 12 work session, and then vote on the final budget during the June 16 regular board meeting.
Source: Chadds Ford Live; 5/6/2025