The White House is considering limiting homebuilders’ stock buybacks to address the affordability crisis. Median home prices have risen to $405,400, up 0.4% from last year. Homebuilders like D.R. Horton and Lennar spent billions on stock buybacks in fiscal 2025. Despite surging stock prices, housing starts fell 4.6% in October.

Builders are facing rising material and labor costs, impacting construction. Despite supply shortages, existing-home sales surged 5.1% in December. Refinance demand increased by 40% after a drop in mortgage rates due to President Trump’s plan to buy $200 billion in mortgage bonds.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Washington Scrutinizes Builder Buybacks as Home Starts Hit Five-Year Low