Rep. Gill Introduces Bill to Protect American Homebuyers

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Brandon Gill (TX-26) today introduced the Homeownership Eligibility Reform Act to restrict eligibility for Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured mortgages and Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) securitized mortgages to only U.S. citizens.

The legislation builds on HUD’s action that limited FHA eligibility to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents by establishing a citizenship requirement in statute. Specifically, the bill would prohibit noncitizens from receiving FHA-backed financing and prohibits the FHFA (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) from purchasing or securitizing conventional mortgages on family homes when the borrower is not a U.S. citizen.

“The American housing market is failing American buyers—we’re seeing this in my district in North Texas and across the country. The home price-to-income ratio has nearly doubled in the last 50 years, with the average first-time homebuyer now at a record-high 40 years old,” said Rep. Gill. “Taxpayer-backed mortgage programs exist to help Americans, not subsidize aliens competing in an already unaffordable market. My bill works in lockstep with President Trump’s policies to reduce demand, lower costs, and put American homebuyers first.”

It is becoming increasingly difficult for Americans to purchase homes, something many consider to be a core component of the American dream and families’ primary financial asset. Housing market pressures are exacerbated in part by foreigners taking advantage of FHA loans to buy houses with little money down, increasing the demand for housing and making home ownership inaccessible for many Americans, particularly young first-time homebuyers. Gill’s Homeownership Eligibility Reform Act inverts this situation, decreasing demand, reducing costs for American homebuyers.

“Mass migration has priced American homeowners out of their own communities by spiking home prices, raising property taxes, and worsening the housing shortage. The Homeownership Eligibility Reform Act is a decisive step to reform our laws and ensure that taxpayer-backed mortgages are reserved only for American citizens. FAIR commends Congressman Gill for introducing this critical bill to put Americans first and urges its swift passage in the House of Representatives,” said Joe Chatham, Director of Government Relations at Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).

"Congressman Gill’s legislation to restrict FHA and FHFA mortgages to American citizens is a long-overdue correction to a broken system actively working against our own people. For years, we’ve watched Washington allow non-citizens to exploit taxpayer-backed loans, driving up home prices and slamming the door on American families. This is unacceptable. These programs were created to help Americans buy homes, not to subsidize the entire world. This bill codifies a strict citizenship requirement, so no future leftist administration can reopen the floodgates without Congress’s approval. The American Dream belongs to Americans,” said Dr. Kevin Roberts, Heritage Action.

Federal Housing Administration loans were designed to help American citizens purchase homes for themselves and their families. But for decades, they've been used and abused by individuals they weren't made for, from DACA recipients to other aliens. While the Trump administration has done great work restricting these practices, a future president could undo it. That's why Congress must pass Representative Gill's Homeownership Eligibility Reform Act, which permanently ensures that only American citizens can have access to these crucial loans," said Aiden Buzzetti, President, Bull Moose Project

Cosponsors (10): Reps. Bilirakis, Perry, Barry Moore, Mace, Cloud, Riley Moore, Fuller, Ronny Jackson, Gosar, Fine.

Supporting Groups: Immigration Accountability Project, NumbersUSA, Federation for American Immigration Reform, Heritage Action, The Bull Moose Project.

Background

• Congress created the Federal Housing Administration in 1934 to promote homeownership through government-backed mortgage insurance. FHA loans allow qualified borrowers to purchase homes with reduced downpayments, helping millions of Americans achieve homeownership. The FHFA was established after the 2008 housing crisis to regulate government-sponsored enterprises related to housing. About 70 percent of the U.S. mortgage market is financed by FHFA regulated Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
• Prior to the HUD issuing Title 1 Letter 490, non-permanent resident noncitizens were eligible to receive FHA-insured mortgages. According to data, approximately six percent of all FHA-insured mortgages were held by non-permanent resident borrowers. The average age of a first-time home buyer has risen to a record high of 40 years. In 2026, the average home price relative to median household income has risen to 7.12 up from 3.76 in 1976.

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