Marketplace All-in-One Will Trump's proposals improve housing affordability?
Jan 27, 2026
Jenny Schutz, who leads infrastructure for housing at Arnold Ventures and advises on housing policy and affordability, breaks down proposed federal moves on mortgages and private equity. She discusses why interest-rate cuts alone will not fix high housing costs. She highlights limits of government bond buys and the case for building more homes as a lasting solution.
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Spot Clues In Fed Minutes
- Read small wording changes in Fed minutes to spot shifts in policy outlook.
- Track updated language like replacing 'concerned' with 'following' for big cues on Fed thinking.
GSE Purchases Won't Move The Market Much
- Forcing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy $200 billion in mortgage bonds helps marginally but won't reset market-wide mortgage costs.
- Such GSE intervention can help at the edges but won't fundamentally change most mortgage prices.
Housing Affordability Is Multifaceted
- Housing affordability depends on both incomes and the full cost of housing, not just interest rates.
- High prices, high interest rates, insurance, and property taxes together squeeze buyers and renters.