On Friday, March 13th, President Trump signed two sweeping executive orders that could reshape how Americans buy homes and get mortgages. The first order attacks the regulatory barriers that make building new homes slow and expensive. The second takes aim at the red tape that has driven community banks out of mortgage lending and made home loans harder to get.
If you’re a homebuyer waiting on the sidelines, a seller wondering what this means for your property value, or a real estate agent navigating an already complicated market — these orders matter. Here’s what’s actually in them, what’s likely to change, and what’s just political theater.
The first order, titled “Removing Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Home Construction,” targets the web of federal, state, and local regulations that have made it increasingly expensive to build new housing in America.
According to analysis cited in the order, regulations at all levels of government added more than $90,000 to the final price of a new single-family home in 2021. Some states embed prescriptive green energy mandates in their building codes that can add over $30,000 to construction costs alone.
Complex environmental review requirements delay housing projects for years. Slow permitting processes discourage developers. The result: not enough homes get built, and the ones that do cost far more than they should.
Here’s what’s directed:
HUD has 60 days to develop a series of best practices covering permitting, energy requirements, and manufactured housing standards.
More homes getting built means more inventory — eventually. These regulatory changes won’t produce new houses overnight, but they signal a clear federal push toward increasing supply. For buyers in tight markets, this is the kind of structural change that could ease competition over the next 2-3 years.
For sellers, more supply doesn’t necessarily mean falling prices. It means a healthier market where transactions actually happen instead of everyone sitting frozen.
These policy changes will affect every local market differently. Connect with an experienced agent who understands what's happening in your area.
The second order, “Promoting Access to Mortgage Credit,” tackles the lending side of the equation. Since the 2008 financial crisis, regulations under the Dodd-Frank Act have dramatically increased the cost and complexity of getting a mortgage — and community banks have been hit hardest.
Community banks — generally institutions with fewer than $30 billion in assets — used to be a major source of mortgage lending, especially in rural areas and for first-time buyers. But compliance costs drove many of them out of the mortgage business entirely.
That matters because less competition among lenders means higher rates for borrowers. When fewer banks are competing for your loan, you have less negotiating power and fewer options.
This is where it gets detailed — and potentially impactful:
If these directives are implemented as written, you could see:
The key phrase there is “if implemented as written.” Executive orders direct agencies to act, but the actual rule changes take months or years to finalize.
A knowledgeable local agent can help you understand which lenders in your area are already offering competitive terms — and which new options may open up.
These two orders don’t exist in a vacuum. They’re part of a broader housing agenda that includes:
Combined with mortgage rates currently sitting at 6.41%, the administration is clearly trying to address housing affordability from multiple angles: supply, demand, and the cost of financing.
Not everyone is celebrating. Environmental groups warn that rolling back wetlands protections and NEPA reviews could have lasting ecological consequences. Consumer advocates worry that loosening mortgage regulations — even modestly — echoes the deregulatory push that preceded the 2008 crisis.
The Politico analysis of these orders noted that Trump is “going his own way on housing,” bypassing Congress with executive action rather than pushing for comprehensive legislation. That means these changes could be reversed by a future administration.
There’s also the implementation question. Directing agencies to “review and revise” regulations is different from actually changing them. Many of these directives will require formal rulemaking processes that include public comment periods and could face legal challenges.
Here’s the practical takeaway:
Don’t wait for policy to save you. These executive orders signal positive direction, but the actual impact on your home search won’t materialize for months at the earliest. The mortgage market today is the one you’re buying in.
Do watch for new lending options. If you’ve been turned down by big banks, community banks and credit unions in your area may become more active in mortgage lending over the coming year. Ask your agent about local lenders who are already competitive.
Do get pre-approved now. If rates dip even slightly as markets digest these orders, you want to be ready to move. Having a pre-approval letter from a lender puts you in a stronger negotiating position.
Do work with an agent who follows policy. These orders will play out differently in every local market. An agent who understands both the national landscape and your specific neighborhood is worth their weight in gold right now.
For real estate professionals, these orders create talking points and opportunities:
The agents who stay ahead of these policy changes — and can explain them clearly to clients — will win more business in 2026 and beyond.
Policy changes, rate shifts, inventory swings — the best agents turn complexity into opportunity for their clients.
Two executive orders won’t fix America’s housing crisis overnight. But they represent the most aggressive federal push on housing affordability in years, attacking both the supply shortage and the lending bottleneck simultaneously.
For buyers: cautious optimism. More homes may get built, mortgages may get easier to obtain, and digital tools should make the whole process faster. But none of that replaces having the right agent in your corner who can navigate today’s market while these changes take shape.
For sellers: a healthier market with more buyers who can actually qualify for mortgages is good for everyone. More supply doesn’t mean your home loses value — it means there are more transactions happening, more agents competing for listings, and more confidence in the market overall.
The housing market in 2026 is complicated. These executive orders add another layer. But with the right guidance, they could work in your favor.
Richard Kastl has been a real estate investor since 2018 and is an entrepreneur with expertise as a web developer, digital marketer, copywriter, conversion optimizer, AI enthusiast, and overall talent stacker. He combines his technical skills with real estate knowledge to provide valuable insights and help people make informed decisions in their property journey.
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