President Trump recently signed two executive orders aimed at tackling one of the biggest issues facing younger Americans: the skyrocketing cost of buying a home. The first order targets the maze of government regulations that make it slow and expensive to build new houses. It pushes federal agencies to speed up permitting, cut environmental rules, and reward state and local governments that make it easier for builders to get projects approved quickly, like setting a 60-day deadline for building permits.

The second order focuses on mortgages, the loans people take out to buy homes. It directs the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to loosen rules so that smaller community banks can offer more home loans. The idea is that more competition among lenders means lower borrowing costs for buyers. The White House believes shoppers could start feeling the effects of these mortgage changes within just a few months.

Still, there are real contradictions in the administration’s approach. The median home price is now nearly five times the average household income which is way above the historic norm- almost three times. Yet Trump has also said he doesn’t want prices to drop too much, because that would hurt people who already own homes. That contradiction and wanting housing to be affordable for buyers while keeping prices high for current owners means these executive orders may not be enough to make homeownership a realistic goal for the millions of young Americans who are currently renting and waiting for their shot at buying a first home.

Until Next time,

Lila