Portable Mortgages: The Trump Administration's Latest Move to Boost Housing Affordability

As of November 13th, 2025, the Trump administration is taking steps to address the ongoing housing affordability crisis in the United States. One of the key proposals being evaluated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is the introduction of "portable mortgages."

The idea behind portable mortgages is to allow homeowners to transfer their existing mortgage and mortgage rate to a new property when they move, rather than having to take out a brand-new loan at the current, often higher, interest rates. This could encourage more homeowners to sell their properties, as they would not have to worry about losing their low mortgage rates.

In addition to portable mortgages, the FHFA is also considering making mortgages more "assumable," meaning that a new buyer could take over the seller's existing mortgage. The agency is also exploring the possibility of introducing a new 50-year mortgage option, which could further reduce monthly payments and make homeownership more accessible.

These proposals come as the housing market continues to struggle with a lack of supply. According to the article, just over half of homeowners with a mortgage have a rate below 4%, while average mortgage rates have remained stubbornly between 6% and 7% for the past few years. Homeowners who locked in ultra-low rates have been less willing to move, as they would have to pay hundreds more in interest each month on a new mortgage.

By allowing homeowners to keep their lower mortgage rates, the administration hopes to encourage more home sales and free up supply, giving buyers who have been locked out of the market a better chance at finding an affordable home.