Last night, President Trump gave his nearly two-hour State of the Union address for 2026.
And from those two hours, we’re focusing on the two quotes that related to housing.
One of the clearest nonverbal signals from the president’s second housing-related statement (the more substantial of the two) was the standing ovation from both sides of the political aisle.
That could mean the Housing for the 21st Century Act, which recently passed the House, could encounter minimal resistance in the Senate. It could even reach the president’s desk this year.
We’re not into blind optimism here, but neither are we fatalists. On its face, that show of bipartisan support could mean good things are coming for sidelined homebuyers.
Byron Lazine unpacked the president’s second statement on today’s Hot Sheet. Read on for a quick overview, and then tune in for Byron’s takeaways.
Two Statements and a Standing Ovation…on Both Sides
The president’s first housing-related statement focused on the drop in mortgage rates, and the resulting drop in monthly mortgage payments, since he took office.
“Mortgage rates are the lowest in four years and falling fast. And the annual cost of a typical new mortgage is down almost $5,000, just since I took office (one year). And low interest rates will solve the Biden-created housing problem, while at the same time protecting the values of those people who already own a house that really feel rich for the first time in their lives. We want to protect those values. We want to keep those values up. We’re going to do both. And we are going to keep it that way.”
In his second housing-related statement, the president named a guest in the audience who placed bids on 20 homes and lost them all to institutional investors.
“… She placed bids on 20 homes and lost all of those bids to gigantic investment firms that bypassed inspection, paid all cash, and turned those houses into rentals, stealing away her American dream. She was devastated.
“Stories like this are why last month I signed executive order to ban large Wall Street investment firms from buying up in the thousands single-family homes.
It was at this point in the president’s statement when Congress members applauded, with many from both sides rising to their feet.
“And now I’m asking Congress to make that ban permanent because homes for people. Really, that’s what we want. We want homes for people, not for corporations. Corporations are doing just fine.”
As Byron stated,
“Obviously, this idea has existed on both sides of the aisle. Both sides of the aisle are passionate about this.
“Now, on the flip side…yeah, it’s a popular idea…(but) it doesn’t do a whole lot in terms of market dynamics. I don’t believe the story of the person he pointed to and said 20 homes (were lost ou ton)…all because corporations bought all 20….I think there is some exaggeration in that story…but it’s very popular.”
Tune in for the full breakdown from today’s Hot Sheet.
