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Trump Floats 50-Year Mortgages—But Would You Want One?
Investopedia· 2025-11-14 01:01
Core Viewpoint - President Trump's proposal for 50-year mortgages aims to make homebuying more affordable by lowering monthly payments, but critics argue it misdiagnoses the housing market's main issue, which is the shortage of homes for sale [2][5][11]. Summary by Sections Proposal Details - The 50-year mortgage could reduce monthly payments by approximately $100 on a median-priced home, but it may also slow down the rate at which homeowners build equity [5][7]. - The proposal suggests that extending the mortgage term could make the American dream of homeownership more accessible [2]. Financial Implications - A 50-year mortgage would likely come with higher interest rates compared to 30-year loans, potentially increasing overall costs for borrowers [6][12]. - For a median-priced home of $415,000, a buyer would pay about $2,098 monthly for a 30-year loan at a 6.50% rate, while a 50-year loan at an estimated 7.00% rate would lower the payment to about $1,998 [7][8]. Equity Building - The longer repayment period of a 50-year mortgage results in significantly slower equity accumulation. After 10 years, a borrower on a 30-year mortgage would have paid down about $50,000 in principal, compared to only $10,000 for a 50-year mortgage [9][10]. - After 20 years, the equity gap widens to approximately $115,000 less for the 50-year borrower [10]. Market Analysis - Economists emphasize that the primary issue affecting home affordability is the lack of available homes, with estimates indicating a shortfall of 3 to 4 million homes in the U.S. [11]. - Critics warn that the introduction of 50-year mortgages could exacerbate the housing supply problem by increasing demand without addressing the underlying supply issues, potentially driving home prices higher [13].
Pulte Cites ‘Portable Mortgages’ After 50-Year Idea Panned
Yahoo Finance· 2025-11-12 16:19
Bill Pulte, the Federal Housing Finance Agency director, said the administration is “actively evaluating portable mortgages” just days after President Donald Trump’s call for 50-year mortgages fell flat with industry and consumers. Pulte didn’t give any details on how the plan would work in his social media post on Wednesday. In theory, a portable mortgage would allow a homeowner to transfer their current mortgage rate from one home to another. Most Read from Bloomberg Portable mortgages could help loos ...
Trump’s 50-year mortgage would save you about $119 a month while doubling the interest you pay over the long run, UBS estimates
Fortune· 2025-11-12 13:14
Core Insights - The Trump administration's proposal for a 50-year mortgage aims to enhance housing affordability but may lead to significantly higher interest payments over the loan's life [1][3][5] Mortgage Analysis - A UBS analysis indicates that extending the mortgage term from 30 to 50 years could lower monthly payments on a median-priced home by approximately $119, but would double the total interest paid over the loan's duration [2][3][5] - The average borrower could incur an additional $389,000 in interest over the life of a 50-year mortgage compared to a 30-year mortgage [5] Financial Implications - For a median-priced home valued at $420,000, a 12% down payment would result in a loan amount of $369,600, with a standard 30-year mortgage at a 6.33% interest rate leading to a monthly payment of $2,295 [6] - The proposed 50-year mortgage would have a higher interest rate of 6.83%, but would reduce the monthly payment to $2,176, increasing the average consumer's buying power by nearly $23,000 [7] Structural Challenges - The viability of the 50-year mortgage is complicated by the current conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which may affect the purchase and securitization of these longer-term loans [8] - Amending the Dodd-Frank Act to classify 50-year mortgages as qualifying loans may be challenging, potentially resulting in higher interest rates compared to 30-year loans [8] Housing Market Conditions - The housing market is experiencing significant inefficiencies, with affordability at its lowest since the mid-1980s and a structural shortage of 7 million homes in the U.S. [10] - UBS suggests that direct government investment in housing infrastructure, particularly through the use of manufactured wall panels, could be a viable solution to improve housing conditions [9][11] Political Reception - President Trump has downplayed the significance of the 50-year mortgage proposal, indicating it may not be a priority amid concerns from his voter base [12]
United Homes Stock Plunges Following Q3 Earnings and Soft Demand
ZACKS· 2025-11-11 19:01
Core Viewpoint - United Homes Group, Inc. (UHG) reported a significant decline in earnings for the third quarter of 2025, with a net loss widening to $31.3 million, reflecting challenges in home closings and increased non-cash losses from derivative liabilities [2][12] Financial Performance - Revenue for Q3 2025 fell 23.5% year-over-year to $90.8 million from $118.6 million, primarily due to a 28.9% decline in home closings [2][4] - The net loss for the quarter was $31.3 million, or $0.53 per diluted share, compared to a loss of $7.3 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, in Q3 2024 [2] - Gross margin contracted to 17.7% from 18.9%, while adjusted gross margin slipped to 19.6% from 20.6% [3][5] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter decreased 57.5% to $3.8 million from $8.9 million, with the adjusted EBITDA margin contracting to 4.2% from 7.6% [6] Operational Metrics - For the first nine months of 2025, revenue declined 13.9% to $283.3 million, and home closings dropped 19.7% to 817 [4] - Net new orders eased 4.9% to 324 from 341 a year earlier, although the average sales price of production-built homes rose about 8.1% to $346,000 [3][5] - The company reported a backlog of 264 homes valued at approximately $94.3 million, indicating a 20% increase in backlog value year-over-year [7] Market Conditions - Closings dropped broadly across key markets, with a 45.6% decline in the Midlands region and a 22.2% decline in the Raleigh region [8][11] - Management attributed the quarter's performance to affordability challenges and a choppy housing market, but noted sequential improvement in September [9][13] Strategic Developments - United Homes concluded a review of strategic alternatives, deciding to continue as an independent public company, which led to several director resignations [14] - The company is focusing on operational efficiencies, cost savings, and maintaining a disciplined approach to pricing and incentives [10][13]
Housing affordability is so strained that Trump is considering a 50-year mortgage. Here are 11 things to know
Fastcompany· 2025-11-11 18:15
Core Insights - The announcement by FHFA Director Bill Pulte indicates that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will remain in conservatorship, alleviating concerns about rising mortgage rates due to potential exits from conservatorship [3] - A new 50-year mortgage option is being considered to help improve housing affordability, with the government planning to sell up to 5% of shares back to the public [3] Mortgage Rate Implications - A 50-year mortgage is expected to carry a higher interest rate, estimated to be 42 to 57 basis points above the standard 30-year fixed mortgage rate [7][8] - The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was reported at 6.22%, suggesting a potential 50-year mortgage rate between 6.64% and 6.79% [8] Monthly Payment Analysis - The primary advantage of a 50-year mortgage is lower monthly payments, with a $400,000 mortgage at 6.22% resulting in a monthly payment of approximately $2,455 for a 30-year term, compared to about $2,297 for a 50-year term, yielding a savings of roughly $158 per month [9][10] Long-term Financial Considerations - Borrowers using a 50-year mortgage would pay significantly more in total interest, with an estimated total interest payment of around $980,000 compared to $483,000 for a 30-year mortgage [14] - The slower pace of principal repayment in a 50-year mortgage means homeowners build equity much more slowly, with only about 9% of the balance paid off after 10 years compared to 20% for a 30-year mortgage [16] Market Demand and Public Sentiment - The introduction of a 50-year mortgage could create some additional housing demand, but it is unlikely to be substantial due to the current housing market conditions [19] - Early polling indicates that public sentiment towards the 50-year mortgage is largely unfavorable, which may hinder its implementation [20]
How Much a 50-Year Mortgage Saves You Now, Costs You Later
Barrons· 2025-11-10 16:36
Core Viewpoint - The introduction of a 50-year mortgage could provide short-term savings for home buyers but may lead to higher long-term costs and risks in the housing market [2][3][4]. Group 1: Mortgage Structure and Implications - A 50-year mortgage could save borrowers approximately $280 monthly on a $400,000 loan at a 6.3% interest rate compared to a 30-year loan [4][5]. - If held to maturity, borrowers would pay over $425,000 more in interest with a 50-year mortgage than with a 30-year mortgage, exceeding the initial loan amount [5][6]. - The typical first-time home buyer's age reached 40 years as of June 2025, indicating a trend towards older buyers in the current housing market [4][7]. Group 2: Market Dynamics and Challenges - The suggestion of a 50-year mortgage highlights the ongoing challenge of addressing high home purchase costs in an unaffordable housing market, where both mortgage rates and home prices have risen significantly [3][6]. - A longer loan term could potentially lead to increased home prices, as it may subsidize demand without addressing supply issues, negating any savings from lower monthly payments [6][7]. - Homeowners' equity growth would be slower with a 50-year mortgage, with less than 4% of the principal paid off after ten years compared to nearly 16% for a 30-year mortgage [6].
Explaining America’s housing affordability crisis
MSNBC· 2025-11-09 19:19
New York City's mayoral election was fought and won largely on the issue of affordable housing. It's easy to understand why. According to realtor.com, the median asking rent in New York City accounted for 55% of a typical household income, which is well above the commonly accepted 30% affordability threshold. End quotes. Households that spend more than 30% of their income on rent are considered costburdened by the government.New York City is America's most expensive city, but home affordability is not just ...
Black Coffee: Fish Head Soup
Len Penzo Dot Com· 2025-11-08 09:00
Group 1 - Jack in the Box divested Del Taco for $115 million, significantly less than the $575 million it paid for the chain less than four years ago [3] - Yum Brands is considering divesting the struggling Pizza Hut chain, which has seen its market share decline from nearly 23% in 2019 to 18.7% last year, with sales continuing to decline into 2025 [3] - The US National Debt has surpassed $38 trillion, equating to $330,000 for every American taxpayer, with projections indicating another trillion dollars will be added before the end of 2026 [9][12] Group 2 - Nvidia has become the first company to reach a market value of $5 trillion, surpassing the market capitalization of six of the eleven sectors in the S&P 500 Index [15] - American households now hold 80% of their wealth in equities, an all-time high, which is even greater than during the Dot-com Bubble peak [18] - The Nasdaq index experienced a 3.1% decline, marking its deepest weekly loss since April, while the S&P 500 and Dow also finished the week lower [22]
Rates Remain Near 2025 Lows
Globenewswire· 2025-11-06 17:00
MCLEAN, Va., Nov. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.22%. “This week the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.22%. On a median-priced home, this could allow a homebuyer to save thousands annually compared to earlier this year, showing that affordability is slowly improving,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. News Facts The 30-year FRM average ...
Mortgage rates fall for fourth consecutive week, lowest level in over a year
Fox Business· 2025-10-30 20:59
Mortgage Rates - Mortgage rates have decreased for the fourth consecutive week, with the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage falling to 6.17% from 6.19% last week, compared to 6.72% a year ago [1][4] - The average rate on a 15-year fixed mortgage also declined to 5.41% from 5.44% last week, down from 5.99% a year ago [4] Market Dynamics - Nearly 1 in 5 American homes have reduced prices as buyers gain leverage in the shifting market, attributed to lower mortgage rates encouraging more homebuyers to enter the market [2] - The recent decline in mortgage rates, which have fallen 87 basis points from their mid-January peak, has provided relief for potential buyers and homeowners considering refinancing, although the housing market remains challenging due to economic uncertainties and rising house prices [9] Federal Reserve Actions - The Federal Reserve announced a second interest rate cut of the year, lowering the benchmark federal funds rate by 25 basis points to a range of 3.75% to 4%, following a similar cut in September [4] - Fed Chairman Jerome Powell indicated that the ongoing government shutdown may impact the central bank's decision-making process, emphasizing a cautious approach until clearer economic data is available [5][6] Treasury Yields - The benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury note yield experienced its largest daily rise since June 6, increasing by about 2.3 basis points to 4.095%, which closely influences mortgage rates [8]