PUP Research Report on Homebuyer Affordability

Plymouth Union Public (PUP) Research has shed light on the steps taken by the Trump administration to enhance affordability for homebuyers.

“Affordability is arguably the biggest challenge Americans face today. This isn’t unexpected, especially considering that under President Biden, inflation surged to its highest level in 40 years. From January 2021, when Biden took office, to January 2025, prices in the U.S., as indicated by the Consumer Price Index, climbed by 21.4 percent,” the PUP report states, as reported by Breitbart News.

Homeownership rises to prominence as a pressing issue, particularly for first-time buyers. A national survey showed that 23% of Americans under 40 don’t aspire to own a home, according to PUP Research.

A PUP Research report also highlighted a significant increase in fees for accessing credit scores, as Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) multiplied these costs tenfold starting in 2022. The report pointed out that FICO has held a “virtual monopoly” on credit scores for quite some time.

For first-time homebuyers, these FICO fees become especially challenging, as they often find themselves needing to pay for multiple credit checks across different loan applications.

The report reveals that the Trump administration is actively seeking to lower costs for homebuyers in several ways:

• The White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) has indicated that high fees serve as a significant obstacle to homeownership.
• Bill Pulte, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Administrator, has frequently criticized FICO for its influence on homeowners and buyers.
• In November 2025, the FHFA removed the minimum credit score requirements for loans processed through its system. Subsequently, in April 2026, it began accepting alternative credit scoring models, including VantageScore 4.0 and FICO Score 10T.
• March 2026 saw President Trump sign Executive Order 14393 with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), mandating the agency to lessen regulations that elevate mortgage costs and to dismantle barriers to housing development.
• The president also directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to invest $200 billion in mortgage bonds, aiming to lower borrowing costs.

“Throughout President Trump’s second term, construction efforts picked up pace due to stable regulations. In March 2026, the president signed an EO that instructed a variety of federal agencies—including the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Commerce, and others—to eliminate excessively burdensome regulations that hinder housing development,” the report notes.