In a post on Truth Social, accompanied by an image comparing himself to former President Franklin D. Roosevelt, President Donald Trump hinted at the idea of half-century home loans to make housing more affordable. The image, titled “Great American Presidents,” referenced Roosevelt’s 30-year mortgage program, which helped the U.S. recover from the Great Depression of 1929–1939.
Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte confirmed on November 8 that the agency is exploring the proposal, calling it a potential game-changer in addressing America’s housing crisis.
“A 50-year mortgage program could be revolutionary,” Pulte wrote. “We’re listening to the people and focusing on ensuring young Americans can achieve the American Dream. That dream starts with homeownership—and long-term financing could be one key solution.”
The idea aims to lower monthly payments by extending the loan term. For example, on a $300,000 home with a 5% interest rate and 5% down payment, the monthly payment would be about $2,254 on a 15-year mortgage, $1,530 on a 30-year mortgage, and roughly $1,294 on a 50-year loan. However, the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010 currently prohibits government-backed loans longer than 30 years, meaning this plan would require special legal approval.
A White House official told ABC News that “President Trump is always looking for innovative ways to improve housing affordability for Americans.” However, the proposal has sparked debate even within the Republican Party. Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky criticized it as “a way to make people accept owning nothing,” while Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene warned it could trap citizens in lifelong debt.
“I don’t like the idea of 50-year loans,” Greene wrote on X. “It only benefits banks, lenders, and developers, while ordinary Americans end up paying more interest and might die before the loan is paid off.”
Real estate experts are also divided. Opendoor CEO Kaz Nejatian called the plan “perhaps the most homebuyer-friendly policy in two decades,” while financial analyst Kate Wood of NerdWallet cautioned that while monthly payments may be lower, the total interest paid over 50 years could be staggering.
According to the National Association of Realtors, the average age of first-time homebuyers in the U.S. has risen from 28 in 1991 to 38 in 2024. Data from Redfin shows that the average American household now spends 39% of its income on mortgage payments—well above the recommended 30% threshold for financial stability. The median U.S. home price currently stands at $410,800, up 25% since early 2020, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
“Extending loan terms alone won’t fix the housing crisis,” said Joel Berner, a senior economist at Realtor.com. “Without building more homes, prices will keep rising, and any benefit from longer loans will quickly disappear.”