Trump Wants to Fix the Broken US Housing Market. Can He Succeed?

January 29, 2026 - 05:35

The American housing market remains a central point of economic anxiety, characterized by soaring prices and a critical shortage of available homes. As the election cycle intensifies, former President Donald Trump has signaled that addressing this crisis would be a key priority, promising a focus on deregulation and incentives to spur a major construction boom.

The core challenge is a simple equation of supply and demand. For years, the nation has failed to build enough housing to meet population growth, a deficit that has driven costs to prohibitive levels for many first-time buyers and renters. Proponents of a deregulatory approach argue that streamlining zoning and permitting could unlock new development. However, skeptics point to complex, localized barriers and high material costs that federal policy alone may not quickly overcome.

Elsewhere, global real estate faces distinct pressures. In Hong Kong, a major mall developer grapples with a severe financial setback, while in London, a significant cyber attack on property transaction systems has created widespread delays, halting home sales and underscoring the market's vulnerability to digital threats. These incidents highlight how interconnected and fragile modern housing systems have become, requiring solutions that address both traditional economic factors and new-age risks. The path to a more stable and accessible market, both in the U.S. and abroad, appears to demand multifaceted and resilient strategies.