WASHINGTON — President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, to stop large investment firms from using federal programs to buy single-family houses. The action aims to prevent families from being outbid by big companies and to help more individuals buy their own homes.

According to the White House, the order stops federal agencies from approving or funding these corporate home purchases through government programs. The administration also plans to ask Congress to turn these rules into law to make the changes permanent.

Priority for Families

The administration is starting "first-look" policies to let families bid on foreclosed homes before big investment firms can. A foreclosure occurs when a bank takes back a house because the owner could not pay the mortgage.

New rules will also require companies to share more information about how they operate, making the home-buying process simpler for everyone. To track the market better, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will require landlords who receive federal help to report if a large investment firm owns their rental business.

Additionally, the President directed the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate whether big investors are using unfair tactics to drive up prices or limit choices for renters. The Treasury Secretary will also review the financial rules for these large investment firms.

Efforts to Lower Housing Costs

In a separate move to lower interest rates, President Trump ordered Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac—two government-backed organizations—to buy $200 billion in home-loan investments, known as "mortgage-backed securities." By purchasing these bundles, the government expects to lower borrowing costs for families.

Economic Actions

These housing efforts build on other actions the President took upon entering office, including stopping rules from the previous administration that had not been finalized. The White House expects stopping those rules to save the average family $2,100.

The President also signed the Working Families Tax Cuts into law. The administration expects these tax cuts to increase the average family's yearly take-home pay by more than $10,000.

Federal agencies expect to release more details soon on how the new housing rules will work.