Americans trying to find an affordable place to live are facing a tougher climb than ever, and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner says a major part of the problem comes down to basic math at the border.
During an interview on “The Record with Greta Van Susteren,” Turner argued that the arrival of millions of undocumented immigrants is putting an unprecedented strain on the nation’s housing market.
According to Turner, over 12 million people have entered the country illegally, creating an immediate spike in demand for apartments and houses that simply aren’t being built fast enough.
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This surge in population has real-world consequences for the average renter’s wallet. Turner pointed out that in major hubs like Los Angeles and New York City, the entire increase in rental demand can be traced back to illegal immigration.
When more people are competing for the same limited number of keys, prices naturally shoot up. This leaves many working-class families feeling priced out of their own neighborhoods. To combat this, Turner noted that HUD is shifting its focus to ensure federal housing money is reserved strictly for American citizens.
The struggle to afford a home isn’t just about who is moving in, but also who is buying up the property. Turner highlighted recent “bold action” from the president to stop big investment firms from buying up single-family homes.
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For years, these giant corporations have been outbidding regular families, turning what used to be starter homes into permanent rentals. By blocking these institutional investors, the administration hopes to give young couples and first-time buyers a fighting chance to actually own a piece of property.
Beyond policy changes, the government is trying to pull some financial levers to make buying a home cheaper. Turner mentioned a partnership with William Pulte at the Federal Housing Finance Agency to buy $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities.
It sounds like a lot of technical jargon, but the goal is simple: to lower interest rates so that borrowing money for a house doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Even though the central bank recently kept interest rates steady between 3.5% and 3.75%, the cost of a home remains high.
In late 2025, the median price for a house hit over $415,000, a massive jump from just five years ago.
While economists agree that a general shortage of homes is the biggest hurdle, the administration is betting that a mix of tighter border logic and new rules for investors will finally bring some relief to the American doorstep.
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