Trump Housing Plan, CPI Outlook, and Multifamily Surge Signal Market Shifts

This week’s headlines revolve around the Trump Housing Plan, which promises to expand homeownership access for millions of Americans. As we approach the election season, housing is emerging as a central policy issue. Alongside this, Zillow’s CPI forecast hints at potential rate relief, and the MBA reports a 17% surge in multifamily lending activity. These developments showcase how political, economic, and sector-specific trends are converging to reshape housing opportunities—making now a great time for mortgage and real estate professionals to stay engaged and proactive.

Trump Vows to Expand Homeownership to Millions

Read the Full Story → Realtor.com

Donald Trump is placing homeownership front and center in his campaign messaging, pledging to help millions more families buy homes. His plan includes cutting regulations and pushing for lower interest rates to make housing more accessible.

He emphasized rolling back policies he believes have made it harder for everyday Americans to buy a home. By engaging with banks and regulators, Trump says his goal is to “unlock the American Dream” through housing.

Whether or not his promises come to fruition, this renewed focus on housing policy could spark broader discussions and potentially pave the way for meaningful reforms.


Zillow Predicts Continued Cooling in Inflation

Read the Full Story → Zillow

Zillow’s August CPI forecast shows continued signs of inflation cooling, which could nudge the Federal Reserve closer to considering interest rate cuts. Their outlook sees CPI dipping below 3% in early 2026.

If these trends hold, mortgage rates may trend lower, giving more buyers an opportunity to enter the market. That’s especially important in a landscape where affordability remains a top concern.

Zillow notes that shelter inflation is still a significant piece of the CPI puzzle. A slowdown in housing cost growth could further accelerate overall CPI declines and improve conditions for buyers.


Multifamily Lending Jumps 17% in 2024

Read the Full Story → MBA

Multifamily lending hit $289 billion in 2024, up 17% year over year, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. That growth signals strong investor confidence and consistent rental housing demand.

Lenders are leaning into multifamily projects as urban and suburban rental needs continue to rise. Developers are also actively building to meet this demand, especially as many buyers remain priced out of single-family homes.

This segment has proven to be a resilient and adaptive piece of the housing economy. For professionals not yet active in multifamily, now may be the time to get involved.


Loan Officer Perspective

The Trump Housing Plan puts homeownership on the political map again, which can drive both policy and public sentiment. Loan officers should be ready to explain how current and future rate trends affect affordability. The multifamily lending surge is also an open door—learning that space can diversify your loan offerings.

Real Estate Agent Perspective

It’s encouraging to see housing policy back in the headlines. Real estate agents can use these stories to start conversations with buyers who may feel stuck on the sidelines. Also, agents working with investors should take note of multifamily trends—it’s becoming an increasingly smart play.

Home Buyer & Seller Perspective

If you’re thinking about buying or selling, these headlines point to momentum. Policy shifts, inflation trends, and sector strength are all aligning. Want to know how this affects you? Reach out to the real estate or mortgage pro who shared this post—they’re here to help you get started.


Frank’s Thoughts

I’m glad to see the President has housing in his crosshairs. He’s saying good things, and I’m hopeful we’ll see millions more Americans become homeowners if these ideas come to life. That’s a win for everyone involved in the housing industry.

Anytime housing becomes part of the political dialogue, that’s good news for us. It gives professionals a new reason to talk to their networks and re-engage cold leads. People want to know what this means for them—so let’s tell them.

Also, I really liked the MBA multifamily story. If you’re not working in that space yet, now’s a good time to learn. Multifamily has been a consistent bright spot this year—and it’s not slowing down.



Frank Garay is a nationally recognized mortgage industry leader, co-founder of The National Real Estate Post and the Loan Officer Breakfast Club. Named to the Inman 100 list of the most influential in real estate and featured on Fox News, Frank now shares timely mortgage and real estate insights through LOBC In The News to help industry professionals stay ahead.