Permit Reform, Not 50‑Year Mortgages

Policy focus on lowering monthly payments via ultra‑long mortgages misses the structural drivers of high housing costs: permitting delays, local land‑use rules, and regulatory compliance. Meaningful affordability requires streamlining approvals, reducing construction‑specific fees, and aligning incentives for builders—rather than expanding credit terms that increase lifetime interest burdens. — Shifting national debates from mortgage tinkering to permit‑and‑supply reform would change which levers politicians use and reduce the chance of repeating past credit‑driven crises.