PROVIDENCE, R.I., Jan. 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via IBN – Beeline Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLNE), a digital mortgage lender offering conventional mortgage products and alternative mortgage solutions for borrowers who do not meet traditional underwriting standards, alongside home equity products leveraging blockchain-enabled technology, commends President Trump's announcement that Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae will purchase $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities in an effort to lower mortgage rates. Mana ...

Moody's Chief Economist Mark Zandi warns that President Donald Trump‘s directive for Fannie Mae (OTC:FNMA) and Freddie Mac (OTC:FMCC) to purchase $200 billion in mortgage bonds will likely backfire, driving home prices higher rather than solving the nation’s “severe housing affordability problem.”Prices Vs. AffordabilityWhile President Trump claims his executive order will restore “affordability” and bring the “American Dream” back by lowering monthly payments, Zandi argues the plan ignores basic economics. ...

Core Viewpoint - Rocket Companies, Inc. shares experienced a significant rally of over 10% following President Trump's announcement of a plan to buy mortgage bonds, which could enhance homeownership affordability. The stock is currently being monitored for potential continuation of this rally [1]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Rocket Companies' stock broke out on Friday, indicating a movement past a resistance level of approximately $21.65, which had previously caused a decline in September [2]. - A breakout signifies that the selling pressure at the resistance level has diminished, allowing for a bullish trend as buyers may need to pay higher prices to acquire shares [4]. Group 2: Resistance and Support Dynamics - After a breakout, a small reversal may occur, where the previous resistance level could turn into a support level, setting the stage for further price increases [5]. - Traders are observing whether the stock will find support around the $21.65 level if profit-taking occurs, which could indicate a potential for upward movement [6].

Core Viewpoint - The Trump administration plans to purchase mortgage-backed securities to stabilize the mortgage market and counteract the Federal Reserve's reduction of bond holdings [1] Group 1: Government Actions - The Federal Housing Finance Agency will be responsible for purchasing bonds from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac [1] - This initiative is aimed at easing housing affordability pressures in the market [1]

Group 1 - In 2025, investors could have achieved 42% returns by investing in the top 10 performers of 2024, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 16% gain [2] - Hindsight investing can lead to significant losses, as seen with Signature Bank and Ford Motor Co. in 2022, where they experienced declines of 63% and 42% respectively [3] - Current trends that drove growth in 2024 and 2025 are becoming less reliable, prompting a need for investors to adapt to new trends in the next 60 to 90 days [5] Group 2 - The anticipated trend of rate cuts in 2026 may be underestimated, with betting markets suggesting at least three cuts, which could benefit Rocket Cos. Inc. (RKT) [8][9] - Rocket Cos. is positioned to capitalize on potential refinancing activity if mortgage rates fall below 6%, following a recent upgrade to an "A" grade in the Stock Grader system [12][13] - Gene editing technologies are emerging as a significant trend, with Crispr Therapeutics AG (CRSP) being a leading company in this space, expected to see substantial revenue growth from its sickle-cell therapy [14][20] Group 3 - Evolv Technologies Holdings Inc. (EVLV) is positioned to benefit from increased demand for security solutions, particularly in public spaces, as it offers advanced weapon detection technology [22][24] - Evolv has shifted to a subscription model and improved its operations following a scandal, which may lead to better-than-expected growth in 2026 [25][26] - The overall market is showing signs of potential downturns, with historical parallels to previous market collapses, indicating that current optimism may be misplaced [27][28]

Core Viewpoint - Recent developments in the housing market, particularly announcements from President Trump, may lead to a resurgence in popularity for Opendoor Technologies and other housing stocks [2][4]. Group 1: Market Reaction - Following Trump's announcement to repurchase $200 billion worth of mortgage securities, Opendoor's shares surged approximately 5% on the day of the announcement [5]. - The stock has maintained an upward trend since the announcement, indicating positive market sentiment [5]. Group 2: Future Prospects - The Trump administration is expected to introduce additional measures to stimulate the sluggish housing market, with estimates of "between 30 and 50" ideas to increase housing demand [7]. - Positive macroeconomic news regarding inflation and interest rates could further drive a rally in housing stocks, including Opendoor [8]. Group 3: Investment Considerations - Current shareholders of Opendoor may consider holding their positions longer due to potential short-term gains, while new investors should approach with caution [9]. - Despite the potential for a housing market rebound, analysts project that Opendoor will continue to report net losses through 2027, suggesting a disconnect between stock performance and valuation [10].

Corporate Developments - Meta Platforms Inc. has agreed to a series of electricity deals to power its data centers, positioning itself as the largest buyer of nuclear power among its hyperscaler peers [8] - US-listed shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. have increased following the company's strong sales report for December [8] - Qualcomm Inc. shares have declined after Mizuho Securities downgraded the chipmaker from outperform to neutral [8] Market Reactions - Mortgage stocks surged after the president announced a directive for the purchase of $200 billion in mortgage bonds, benefiting companies like LoanDepot Inc., Rocket Cos Inc., and Opendoor Technologies Inc. [7] - Tariff-exposed stocks experienced declines after the Supreme Court did not issue a decision on the legality of President Trump's tariffs, with Deere & Co. dropping 2.54% and Mattel Inc. sliding 3.07% [5][6]

Core Insights - Mortgage rates have fallen below 6% again, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 5.91% and the 15-year fixed rate at 5.36% [1] - President Trump proposed measures to lower mortgage rates, including a ban on institutional buyers of single-family homes and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac purchasing billions in mortgage bonds, which positively impacted rates [1] Current Mortgage Rates - The current national average mortgage rates are as follows: 30-year fixed at 5.91%, 20-year fixed at 5.83%, 15-year fixed at 5.36%, 5/1 ARM at 6.17%, and 7/1 ARM at 6.36% [5] - Refinance rates are generally higher than purchase rates, with the latest averages showing a 30-year fixed at 5.99% and a 15-year fixed at 5.43% [6][3] Market Trends - Mortgage rates have been gradually decreasing since the end of May, with the 30-year fixed rate peaking over 7% in January and starting to decline from 6.89% on May 29 [20] - The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) forecasts the 30-year mortgage rate to remain near 6.4% through 2026, while Fannie Mae predicts rates above 6% for the next year, potentially dropping to 5.9% in Q4 2026 [19] Buying Considerations - The current housing market is considered relatively favorable for buyers compared to the previous years, as home prices are not spiking like during the COVID-19 pandemic [16] - The best time to buy a house is when it aligns with personal circumstances rather than trying to time the market [17]

Core Viewpoint - The Federal Housing Finance Agency is actively involved in a significant mortgage bond purchase initiative aimed at reducing housing costs, with a total of $200 billion planned for investment [1]. Group 1: Mortgage Bond Purchase - A $3 billion mortgage bond buy has already been executed following President Trump's directive for a $200 billion investment in mortgage bonds [1]. - The objective of this initiative is to lower housing costs for consumers [1]. Group 2: Privatization of Housing Agencies - The Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Bill Pulte, indicated that the privatization of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae remains a viable option [1]. - Specific timelines for the completion of the $200 billion mortgage bond purchase were not disclosed by Pulte [1].

Core Insights - President Trump has ordered Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase $200 billion in mortgage bonds to lower mortgage rates and make homeownership more affordable [1][8] - The Federal Housing Finance Agency confirmed that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will proceed with the bond purchases, leading to a drop in the 30-year mortgage rate to near 6%, the lowest since early 2023 [2][6] Group 1: Impact on Mortgage Rates - Lower mortgage rates are expected to enhance affordability for homebuyers and influence housing prices, consumer spending, and overall economic growth [3] - The mortgage-backed securities market is valued at approximately $11 trillion, making the $200 billion purchase significant but unlikely to cause a major shift in the market on its own [5][8] - Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have already increased their mortgage-backed securities holdings by over 25% since June, reaching nearly $234 billion by October [5] Group 2: Market Reactions and Skepticism - Analysts express skepticism regarding the long-term impact of Trump's directive, with some suggesting that any relief from lower rates may be short-lived due to potential increases in home prices as more buyers enter the market [7] - The administration is also considering ending government control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which could lead to higher mortgage rates due to the loss of government backing [9] Group 3: Additional Housing Initiatives - Trump's directive is part of a broader strategy to improve housing affordability, which includes a recent announcement to ban large investors from purchasing single-family homes [10]