Former President Donald Trump addressed housing affordability in a recent post on Truth Social, highlighting challenges facing many Americans in achieving homeownership.
In the post, Trump stated: “For a very long time, buying and owning a home was considered the pinnacle of the American Dream. It was the reward for working hard, and doing the right thing, but now, because of the Record High Inflation caused by Joe Biden and the Democrats in Congress, that American Dream is increasingly out of reach for far too many people, especially younger Americans.”
He continued: “It is for that reason, and much more, that I am immediately taking steps to ban large institutional investors from buying more single-family homes, and I will be calling on Congress to codify it. People live in homes, not corporations.”
Trump added that he plans to discuss this topic, along with further housing and affordability proposals, in a speech at Davos in two weeks.
Current U.S. Housing Market Context
The U.S. housing market continues to face significant affordability challenges as of early 2026. High home prices, elevated mortgage rates, and limited inventory have made homeownership difficult for many buyers, particularly first-time and younger purchasers.
- Median existing-home prices reached around $409,200 in late 2025 → with only modest growth into 2026.
- Mortgage rates have declined to approximately 6.15% in January 2026 → down from higher levels in prior years but still contributing to elevated monthly payments.
- Overall housing affordability remained tight throughout 2025 → with experts anticipating only gradual improvements.
Investor activity has played a notable role in the market. Real estate investors, including both individual and institutional buyers, purchased about one-third of single-family homes sold in the second quarter of 2025—the highest share in five years. While small investors dominate this segment, large institutional investors have drawn attention for their purchases of single-family homes, often converting them to rentals. This trend has prompted ongoing debates about its effects on home availability and prices for individual buyers.
