Jan. 9 at 7:12 PM
Real estate stocks rallied after President Donald Trump outlined a plan for the government to buy
$200 billion in mortgage-backed securities, aiming to push mortgage rates lower and revive housing activity. The proposal, which would involve Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, drove optimism that borrowing costs could fall further after 30-year mortgage rates dropped to 5.99%, the lowest level since 2023.
Analysts say rates could eventually settle near 5.5%, a level that would likely trigger a meaningful pickup in refinancing and home purchases. On the news, real estate tech platforms and lenders jumped, with Opendoor and Rocket posting sharp gains, while home builders such as D.R. Horton and Lennar also advanced. Lower rates could ease affordability pressures, reduce the need for builder incentives, and support margins, improving the outlook for the housing sector in 2026.
$OPEN $RKT $DHI $LEN