Housing is broken—and young couples are running out of time and patience.
For couples trying to build a life together, the dream of homeownership has started to feel more like a cruel joke. Rent is sky-high, starter homes are either nonexistent or wildly overpriced, and wages haven’t kept up with any of it. Many are stuck delaying major life milestones—marriage, kids, financial planning—because there’s nowhere affordable to plant roots. It’s not just inconvenient. It’s demoralizing. And yet, the political response often amounts to band-aid policies or empty promises that never make it past a press conference.
But bold action is still possible. The President could use executive power, political capital, and national visibility to push aggressive reforms that don’t just nudge the housing crisis—they actually shift it. These aren’t pipe dreams. They’re real, implementable policies that would ease the burden on young couples trying to make a future. Some would require bold federal leadership. Others, the courage to shake up outdated systems. Either way, here are ten moves that could start fixing this mess now.
1. Cap corporate ownership of single-family homes and limit bulk purchases.
One of the biggest threats to affordable housing is institutional investors gobbling up properties that used to be entry-level homes. Hedge funds and real estate giants buy thousands of single-family homes at a time, then convert them into high-rent properties that lock out first-time buyers.
Capping the percentage of homes that corporations can own in a zip code—or limiting how many they can buy in bulk—would cool speculative buying and help level the playing field for young couples, according to William Galston at Brookings. Homeownership shouldn’t be a game only Wall Street gets to win. The President could push this hard and fast with executive pressure and legislative urgency.
2. Launch a national down payment matching program for first-time buyers.
For most couples, the hardest part of buying a home isn’t the mortgage—it’s saving the down payment. A federal program that matches dollar-for-dollar savings up to a certain cap (say, $10,000) could accelerate homeownership timelines by years, as reported by the authors at Housing Matters. This kind of direct support would immediately benefit those working hard to save but falling behind due to rising prices.
It wouldn’t just offer hope—it would build stability. Tying the match to household income and geographic housing costs ensures it helps the people who actually need it, not those already well off. It’s a high-visibility, high-impact move that could reshape how people talk about the American dream.
3. Use federal land to build affordable housing near cities.
The federal government owns massive swaths of land, much of it sitting unused or underutilized near metro areas where housing is most out of reach. Prioritizing these plots for public-private partnerships to build affordable, starter-level homes could inject thousands of units into overheated markets without waiting for local politics to catch up, as stated by Daniella Genovese at Fox Business.
Think small, energy-efficient homes with walkable infrastructure—designed specifically for first-time buyers, not investors. The government could fast-track permitting, fund infrastructure, and create incentives for builders to prioritize affordability over luxury. It’s land that’s already ours—why not use it to help people build a life?
4. Mandate zoning reform by tying federal funding to local policy change.
Local zoning laws keep density low and housing prices high. They limit duplexes, triplexes, and multi-family housing in areas that desperately need more affordable units. The President could condition federal housing and infrastructure funds on cities adopting pro-density zoning reforms that allow for more building near transit and jobs.
This would put real pressure on cities that talk about affordability but block new housing at every turn. YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) policies need teeth to become reality. Federal funding is leverage—and the administration should use it unapologetically to get young families the housing options they deserve.
5. Rein in short-term rentals by supporting local caps and conversions.
Airbnb and other short-term rental platforms have turned residential neighborhoods into quasi-hotels, taking entire buildings off the market and pushing up prices. While the platforms themselves aren’t the enemy, the lack of regulation has serious consequences for couples trying to rent or buy in affected areas.
The President could support state and local governments with legal resources, grant funding, and technical help to regulate these platforms—imposing caps, taxes, or conversion programs that encourage owners to return units to the long-term market. Housing is for living, not just vacationing. It’s time policy caught up.
6. Cancel student loan debt that blocks first-time home purchases.
Tons of young couples are financially ready to buy a home—except for one thing: student loan debt. It’s wrecking credit scores, crushing debt-to-income ratios, and turning would-be homeowners into long-term renters. Cancelling a significant chunk of federal student debt (especially for borrowers under a certain income threshold) would unlock the housing market for millions.
This isn’t just about debt relief. It’s a direct investment in homeownership and long-term financial stability. Debt cancellation could be structured to favor those ready to buy, or paired with first-time buyer incentives. Either way, this move puts buying a home back within reach.
7. Incentivize employers to offer housing support as a benefit.
Employers offer health insurance and retirement plans—why not housing help? The President could champion tax incentives for companies that assist employees with down payments, rent stipends, or access to housing counseling. This isn’t charity—it’s workforce support in a high-cost era.
In high-demand cities where housing shortages drive labor shortages, this could be a game-changer. Employers who help solve their workers’ housing challenges will retain talent and improve morale. With federal backing, these programs could scale fast and ease pressure on both the rental and ownership markets.
8. Create federal rent caps during housing emergencies.
In cities where rent is rising faster than wages and vacancy rates are critically low, federal emergency rent caps could provide short-term protection for struggling couples. Modeled after disaster response, these caps would activate when rents spike beyond a certain threshold relative to income and vacancy rates.
This isn’t about permanent rent control. It’s about giving renters breathing room during extreme inflation. Federal backing would help avoid patchwork policies and legal fights. When the market goes into crisis mode, the government should have tools to step in—and keep people housed.
9. Fund starter-home construction instead of just subsidizing rent.
Most housing programs focus on helping people pay rent, but that just keeps them stuck in the same cycle. What if the government shifted resources toward actually building starter homes—affordable, modest-sized properties for first-time buyers?
Federal grants could be directed toward builders who meet strict affordability, size, and sustainability criteria. These aren’t McMansions—they’re 1,000–1,400 square-foot homes that couples can realistically afford and grow into. More ownership options = more movement in the market. It’s time to build for the people who’ve been priced out.
10. Establish a federal housing advocate to enforce fairness and transparency.
Trying to rent or buy as a young couple often means dealing with shady application fees, hidden landlord rules, or confusing lending practices. A federal housing advocate or ombudsman could give renters and buyers a clear, enforceable path for challenging bad actors.
This office would field complaints, investigate patterns, and publish transparent data about landlords, lenders, and market practices. It would also push for national standards on leases, applications, and disclosures. Think of it as the CFPB of housing—a watchdog that actually works for regular people, not just developers and banks.