“Housing
supply
is
strong,
inventory
is
strong
and
affordability
is
pretty
good,”
Ishbia
said,
noting
that
many
industry
analysts
expect
originations
to
rise
10%
to
12%
next
year.

“I
think
to
myself,
why
not
20%?
Why
not
30%?
Why
not
40%?”
he
added,
pointing
to
opportunities
in
purchase
mortgages,
refinancing
and

home
equity
lending.

Ishbia’s
second
point
offered
a
glimpse
into
potential
new
mortgage
products,
citing
recent
proposals
from
President
Donald
Trump
and

Federal
Housing
Finance
Agency
(FHFA)
Director
Bill
Pulte
for

50-year
and

portable
mortgage
options.

Ishbia
said
the
initiatives
could
make
homeownership
more
affordable
by
reducing
monthly
payments.

“People
don’t
care
about
the
term.
They
care
about
the
payment,”
he
said.
Ishbia
said
that
if
backed
by

Fannie
Mae
and

Freddie
Mac,
a
50-year
mortgage
could
expand
access
to
homeownership
and
help
housing
values.

Lastly,
Ishbia
mentioned
that
homebuyer
affordability
improved
for
a

fifth
consecutive
month
in
October,
driven
by
lower
mortgage
rates
and
higher
household
incomes.

“People
can
afford
homes
they
couldn’t
afford
before,”
he
said.
“We
are
getting
better
across
the
board
with
affordability
…
so,
people
on
the
sidelines,
right
now
is
a
great
opportunity
to
get
off
the
sidelines.
Go
buy
that
house.”