President Donald Trump, on Friday, signed two executive orders aimed at improving home affordability and speeding up construction. The orders direct multiple government agencies to simplify processes and cut regulations surrounding home building.
Shannon McGahn, executive vice president and chief advocacy officer of the National Association of REALTORS®, issued the following statements.
Mortgage Lending
“The National Association of REALTORS® welcomes efforts to expand access to mortgage credit and ensure that qualified homebuyers are not unnecessarily shut out of the market. Today’s executive action by President Trump highlights the importance of reviewing regulatory barriers that can increase costs for borrowers and limit the ability of lenders to serve their local markets. We look forward to reviewing the executive order in more detail.
“REALTORS® know that access to affordable and responsible mortgage financing is essential to expanding homeownership and strengthening communities. As policymakers consider changes to the regulatory framework governing mortgage lending, it is critical that reforms both protect consumers and ensure that creditworthy buyers—particularly first-time buyers—have a clear path to homeownership.
“NAR looks forward to reviewing the proposals and to working with the Administration, Congress, and regulators to ensure that efforts to expand access to credit prove beneficial to consumers and are paired with policies that address the nation’s housing supply challenges. Together, such efforts will help more Americans achieve the dream of homeownership.”
Regulatory Barriers
“America’s housing affordability crisis is fundamentally a supply problem, and solving it requires removing the barriers that make it harder and more expensive to build homes. REALTORS® strongly support efforts to streamline regulations, modernize permitting processes, and reduce unnecessary mandates that slow construction and drive up costs for homebuyers.
“Today’s executive action by President Trump to remove regulatory barriers to affordable home construction is an important step toward making it easier for communities to build the homes Americans need. By directing federal agencies to review and reform rules that delay development—from environmental permitting to housing finance and energy standards—the administration is helping address the regulatory bottlenecks that have contributed to the nation’s housing shortage. NAR looks forward to reviewing the details of the executive order as they emerge and working with policymakers to ensure any changes support responsible development, protect consumers, and expand access to safe, affordable homeownership opportunities.
“With members in every zip code, REALTORS® see firsthand how the lack of housing supply affects families, workers, and local economies. We look forward to working with policymakers at every level of government to ensure these reforms translate into more housing opportunities, stronger communities, and a more attainable path to homeownership for the next generation of Americans.”