What did Trump say about housing and mortgage rates at Davos?

President Trump kept his focus on a potential ban on institutional homebuyers and highlighted existing plans to buy $200 billion in mortgage bonds to drive down rates. Continue reading

Trump’s proposed institutional investor ban is not a real solution

Although Trump is attempting to respond to legitimate frustrations in the housing market, the proposed ban won’t increase supply, Derek Carlson writes. Continue reading

Trump’s mortgage bond promise already bringing rates down

Although $200 billion 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. Continue reading

Pulte pledges Fannie, Freddie’s help in curbing home purchases by institutional investors

Trump’s promise to “ban” large institutional 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. Continue reading

He’s been at the MBA and Fannie Mae. Here’s who he thinks has the better 2026 mortgage forecast

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. Continue reading

Why the Federal Reserve won’t bend to ‘THE TRUMP RULE’ in 2026

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. Continue reading

Freddie Mac taps retired Deloitte consultant Kenny Smith as CEO

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. Continue reading

Fed patches a potential chink in armor protecting its independence

A vote to reappoint 11 of the Fed’s 12 regional bank presidents puts an end to speculation that Trump administration might try to unseat inflation hawks opposed to interest rate cuts. Continue reading

DoJ whiffs in third attempt to indict Trump nemesis Letitia James

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. Continue reading

Rebounding mortgage rates dampen homebuyers’ appetites

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 on Wednesday saw only a 34 percent chance of a Dec. 10 rate cut, down from 94 percent in October. Continue reading