Trump signs order to ‘make homeownership more affordable’ 

President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order that aims to lower costs for existing homeowners. The White House described the move as part of his administration's efforts to address housing affordability concerns.

In other news out of Washington, D.C., the U.S. Department of Treasury has outlined proposed guidelines for corporate homebuyers and the Department of Commerce has reduced tariffs on some homebuilding material imports.

Trump instructs FHFA to lower mortgage costs

On Oct. 22, Trump signed an executive order directing the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to create a pilot program that would cancel mortgage premiums once borrowers "have satisfied their equity requirements based on the current market value" and to make permanent its title insurance waiver pilot program.

The order also creates a Task Force on Manufactured Housing Innovation, which FHFA Director Bill Pulte and HUD Secretary Scott Turner will co-chair, and requires the Agriculture and Veterans Affairs secretaries to lower interest rates for single-family home loans issued through their departments.

Through the order, which Trump signed less than two weeks before the 2026 midterm elections, the White House said the president "is lowering the costs of single-family homeownership & mortgages, & removing unnecessary red tape to make homeownership more affordable for all Americans."

The order was swiftly applauded by the National Association of Realtors, with EVP and Chief Advocacy Officer Shannon McGahn saying in a statement that it "helps address the costs associated with homeownership and takes steps toward making homeownership more sustainable for American families."

Treasury proposes rules for corporate homebuyers

Also on Oct. 22, the administration outlined some proposed regulations for institutional homebuyers in anticipation of new rules set to take effect early next year as part of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. The proposals released by the Treasury Department outline exceptions for qualifying corporate buyers that already own 350 or more single-family homes. These investors are expected to be blocked from buying more homes once the law takes effect.

The administration's suggestions point institutional buyers "toward activity that adds supply, restores neglected homes, or helps renters become owners, and away from competing with owner-occupant buyers for existing homes," according to Realtor.com Senior Economist Hannah Jones.

If approved, the rules would be "in line with what the housing market needs, which is more homes for buyers, more paths to ownership, and more affordable rents," Jones added.

Tariffs on some Canadian lumber reduced

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has praised the U.S. Department of Commerce's recent decision to trim duties on Canadian softwood lumber. The antidumping and countervailing tariffs have been lowered from about 35% to over 24%, according to an Oct. 16 NAHB blog post.

Though the move eases the cost of some homebuilding materials — a big concern for builders currently — the association noted that lumber import duties are still elevated due to a separate tariff ushered in previously by the administration.

The NAHB said it "continues to urge the Trump administration to suspend tariffs on all building materials, including Canadian lumber, and promptly negotiate a new softwood lumber agreement with Canada that eliminates tariffs."