Trump Calls for Lower Rates, Ban on Investor Home Buys to Boost Affordability - DJT

President Donald Trump urged lower interest rates on mortgages and credit cards and proposed banning large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 21, 2026. He said these measures would increase homeownership and reduce financial barriers for buyers. Trump announced plans to direct the federal government to buy $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, aiming to reduce borrowing costs. He also called on Congress to cap credit card interest rates at 10% for one year, citing current averages near 21%. Additionally, he signed an executive order reviewing rules around institutional home purchases, exempting builders but restricting agencies from facilitating such sales. Despite these efforts, economists including Redfin’s Daryl Fairweather doubt the policies will significantly impact affordability, noting limited effects from bond buying and that most rental homes are owned by small landlords. Average 30-year mortgage rates stood at 6.06%, per Freddie Mac.