Slate Money The Correct Opinion on 50-Year Mortgages
Nov 15, 2025
This week, the hosts dive into the idea of 50-year mortgages and the mixed reactions they sparked, especially from conservatives. They explore how these long-term loans could actually inflate housing prices rather than solve the crisis. The conversation transitions to the power dynamics of proxy advisers and asset managers, revealing how billionaires like Musk oppose them for more control. Finally, there's a playful discussion about Robinhood's cash delivery service, weighing its practicality and who would really benefit from it.
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Long Mortgages Don’t Fix Housing Supply
- 50-year mortgages mainly lower monthly payments but don't solve housing supply or affordability.
- They risk inflating house prices and reduce forced savings from principal repayment.
Posterboard Persuasion At Mar-a-Lago
- Bill Pulte took a three-foot poster of FDR vs. Trump to Mar-a-Lago to pitch 50-year mortgages to President Trump.
- Trump publicly praised the idea on Truth Social before the policy met backlash.
Longer Terms Raise Demand And Prices
- Lenders and borrowers naturally choose the longest term that minimizes monthly payments.
- That demand-side effect pushes housing prices up unless supply increases.