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Would You Take a 50-Year Mortgage? Trump Thinks It’s the Answer to the Housing Crisis

Housing affordability in the U.S. is at its worst point in decades, and former President Donald Trump says he has a fix: 50-year mortgages.

Yes, a mortgage that lasts half a century.

According to reports from Politico, ABC News, and Business Insider, Trump and Federal Housing Finance Agency director Bill Pulte are exploring longer mortgage terms to lower monthly payments and make homeownership more accessible, especially for younger and first-time buyers.

“We’re working on a 50-year mortgage to make homeownership affordable for the middle class.”
– Donald Trump, via Truth Social (as quoted by Politico)

Instead of the traditional 25-30 year term, buyers would stretch payments across 50 years, reducing monthly costs but dramatically increasing interest over time.

How a 50-Year Mortgage Works

According to an analysis by Barron’s and MarketWatch, extending a mortgage to 50 years can lower the monthly payment by a few hundred dollars, but homeowners may end up paying hundreds of thousands more in interest over the full mortgage.

Why Trump Thinks It Will Help

Supporters argue it could:

✅ Lower monthly payments
✅ Help first-time buyers qualify for a mortgage
✅ Allow buyers to afford more expensive homes in high-cost markets

Bill Pulte, the FHFA director working on the proposal, called it a “game changer” for affordability.
(ABC News)

And in fairness, several countries already use ultra-long mortgages:

  • Japan: 100-year mortgages (multi-generation mortgages)
  • U.K.: 40-year mortgages becoming mainstream

So the concept isn’t new, it’s just new to the U.S.

The Massive Catch No One Can Ignore

Housing economists say longer mortgages don’t fix affordability, they just stretch debt.

Critics warn:

❌ Buyers build equity painfully slowly
❌ You may still have a mortgage in retirement
❌ Could push home prices even higher if demand increases

One headline from Business Insider literally called it:

“A quick homeownership fix with a massive catch.”

Economists also warn that lowering monthly payments without increasing housing supply may fuel bidding wars and raise prices, making homes even less affordable.

Experts are calling it a “lifetime lease”

Analysts quoted by Politico said:

“You’d own less of your home for way longer.”

Imagine making mortgage payments from age 25 to age 75.

That’s why critics online are calling it:

🏠 “The Forever Mortgage”

💀 “A Lifetime Lease”

😬 “Debt Without an Ending”

So… would this actually help anyone?

It depends.

It helps:

✅ First-time buyers squeezed by high rates
✅ People who plan to sell after a few years
✅ Investors who care about monthly cash flow more than equity

It hurts:

❌ Buyers planning to stay long-term
❌ Anyone who wants to build wealth through equity
❌ Anyone who wants to retire mortgage-free

Final Takeaway

The 50-year mortgage is a bold idea, and yes, lower payments could get more people into homes.

But it doesn’t fix the real problem:

America doesn’t have a mortgage problem.
America has a housing supply problem.

Without more homes being built, longer loan terms may just stretch debt instead of lowering prices.

References

Kaleylangille

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