Trump Signs Executive Order to Lower Housing Costs Including Mortgage Insurance Premium Cuts

President Trump signed an executive order on October 22, 2026, aimed at reducing housing costs for Americans, with a central measure seeking to cut mortgage insurance premiums. The order also includes provisions that would make it easier for some homeowners to proactively cancel their mortgage insurance, allow more homeowners to refinance without title insurance, create an interagency task force on manufactured housing, and direct the Agriculture and VA departments to lower interest rates on single-family home loans.

The signing came after internal divisions within the administration over the order's scope and timing, with Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte having pushed for a swift signature while some other officials urged caution. Housing industry groups had raised concerns that certain proposed changes could inadvertently push prices higher rather than lower them.

Separately, the average one-year price target for Fannie Mae preferred stock (FNMAH) was revised down 17.25 percent to $13.39 per share on the same day, compared with a prior estimate of $16.19 set in June 2026, reflecting broader uncertainty around housing finance policy at a moment when the administration is actively reshaping federal mortgage programs.