Ingraham Probes Trump on 50-Year Mortgages
On Monday, Laura Ingraham, a host on Fox News, questioned President Donald Trump about the potential benefits of 50-year mortgage terms for American homebuyers.
Bill Pulte, who oversees the Federal Housing Finance Agency, commented shortly after Trump revealed that his agency was exploring longer loan options. Ingraham noted on her show, “The Ingraham Angle,” that Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement is upset about this proposal, while the president dismissed its significance, suggesting it could be moderately helpful.
Ingraham highlighted the controversy by stating, “Your housing director proposed something that would infuriate your MAGA friends, and that’s this 50-year mortgage idea. So this is a giveaway to the banks, and it’s simply extending the time it takes for Americans to fully own a home, which is a huge backlash from MAGA. Is that really a good idea?”
To this, Trump replied, “It’s not a big deal… All it means is that your monthly payments will be lower. You’ll be paying over a longer period of time. That’s not a huge factor. It might help a little. But the problem is… Biden did this, and he raised interest rates. And luckily, I have some terrible Fed officials who will be gone in a few months.”
Meanwhile, Pulte described the initiative as “a complete game changer” in a post. Additionally, White House officials expressed frustration with Pulte for persuading Trump to back the idea, catching some insiders off guard.
The proposal has not only unsettled MAGA supporters but also drew criticism from business leaders and Congress members.
Looking ahead, the median age of first-time homebuyers is expected to reach an unprecedented 40 years by 2025. A report from the National Association of Realtors noted that the average age of first-time buyers was already 38 in 2024. Alongside this, the median home price has soared to over $410,800, marking a more than 25% increase since 2019, while the 30-year average mortgage interest rate has doubled since late 2021.
