The president wants to address housing affordability but also wants home prices to remain high because it has made a lot of people wealthy.

In mid-December, MBA was projecting interest rates would hold at 6.4% throughout 2026. However, MBA now anticipates the average rate will be 6.1% in the first quarter and hold at that level through the year.

The trade group representing credit reporting agencies said MBA’s proposal to move to a single-bureau report is more about lowering costs for lenders than saving money for consumers.

President Trump’s directive to lower interest rates helped spur a tightening in mortgage spreads, but economists are skeptical of the long-term impact of the move involving GSE purchases of MBS.

President Trump’s announcement that the GSEs will buy $200 billion of agency MBS prompted mortgage spreads to tighten by about 20 basis points and some lenders to offer mortgages below 6.00%.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed industry speculation that President Trump directed the GSEs to purchase $200 billion in MBS to offset Federal Reserve policy.

FHFA Director Bill Pulte delivered on some of his touted plans during 2025, with many other efforts in limbo.

Housing experts expect the market to undergo a course correction after years of rapid home price increases.

Mortgage applications are on the upswing as interest rates and spreads fall. FHFA says Trump is responsible, but critics disagree.

Mortgages tied to Ginnie Mae accounted for 18.3% of total servicing outstanding at the end of September. Some servicing share shifted away from the GSEs, though Fannie and Freddie still dominate. (Includes two data tables.)