President Trump kept his focus on a potential ban on institutional homebuyers and highlighted existing plans to buy $200B in mortgage bonds to drive down rates
Opinion
Although Trump is attempting to respond to legitimate frustrations in the housing market, the proposed ban won't increase supply, Derek Carlson writes
Although $200B sounds like a lot of money, the impact and longevity of Fannie and Freddie's bond purchases on mortgage rates won't be as big as the Federal Reserve's
Trump's promise to "ban" big investors from buying more single-family homes renews the debate over whether such a move would be legal — or make much of a dent on affordability
Economist Doug Duncan weighs in on the challenges facing economic forecasters today, cutbacks in economic reports produced by Fannie and Freddie, Fed independence, and more
The next Fed chair may be more receptive to the president's calls for rate cuts, but they'll have to convince other central bank policymakers to give up their independence
Smith's expertise in financial services was cited as an asset as the Trump administration prepares to sell part of its ownership stake in Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae in a public offering
A vote to reappoint 11 of the Fed's 12 regional bank presidents puts an end to speculation that the Trump administration might try to unseat inflation hawks opposed to interest rate cuts
Since the original charges against James were thrown out in November, the DoJ has reportedly tried and failed to obtain indictments from two different federal grand juries
The White House denies wrongdoing, and loans were paid off long ago, but circumstances are similar to deals involving political opponents that Trump has called fraudulent
The Department of Justice is reportedly weighing its options after a Virginia grand jury rejected a second attempt to indict the New York Attorney General for mortgage fraud
For the first time in 15 years, Fannie Mae didn't publish the results of its National Housing Survey in November. The survey has showed homebuyer sentiment remains weak this year
After hitting a 2025 low on Oct. 28, mortgage rates continue to rise as hopes dim for a December Fed rate cut. Futures market investors see only a 34% chance of a Dec. 10 rate cut.
The resignation of Biden appointee Adriana Kugler and pending retirement of Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic renews speculation that Trump will seek to undermine Fed independence
$3.9B in competitive grant funding will favor transitional housing with employment and addiction treatment requirements, and allow faith-based groups to provide it