Marketplace Morning Report Will Trump's proposals improve housing affordability?
Jan 27, 2026
Catherine Ann Edwards, labor economist and Bloomberg Opinion columnist, explains Fed signals and labor-market clues. Jenny Schutz, housing policy lead at Arnold Ventures, breaks down proposed mortgage bond buys, private equity’s role in single-family rentals, and why building more homes matters. They debate Trump's affordability proposals and what policies might actually move the needle.
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Read Fed Minutes For Subtle Policy Signals
- Watch for subtle wording changes in Fed minutes; small edits can signal shifts in beliefs and future policy.
- Catherine Edwards advises tracking those edits to read the Fed's evolving view on the economy.
GSE Purchases Won't Fix Affordability
- Ordering Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy $200 billion in mortgage bonds will nudge rates but won't fundamentally lower most homeowners' mortgage costs.
- Jenny Schutz says such GSE intervention helps at the margins but won't change the core affordability problem driven by prices and incomes.
Affordability Is Income Versus Total Housing Cost
- Housing affordability hinges on incomes versus the total cost of housing, including prices, interest rates, insurance, and property taxes.
- Jenny Schutz emphasizes that high home prices, high interest rates, and rising ancillary costs together drive current unaffordability.