3D printed homes may be moving one step closer to the mainstream housing market.

One of the nation's largest mortgage lenders is now backing the technology,

and that could have major implications for housing affordability and the future of home construction.

I'm Kathy Fedke, and this is real estate news for investors.

This is Real Estate News with Kathy Fedke.

Wells Fargo is partnering with ICON to offer mortgages on homes built using Icon's 3D printing technology.

The bank will also provide a 50 basis point lender credit to buyers financing an icon-built home through Wells Fargo.

That is significant because financing has been one of the biggest hurdles for 3D-printed housing.

Until now, many traditional lenders were hesitant to back these homes.

There were concerns about long-term durability, resale value, insurance

coverage, and whether the homes would appreciate like traditional properties. But confidence in the

technology appears to be growing. Last year, home builder Lanar partnered with Icon to build

a 3D-printed housing community in Texas. According to CNBC, the home sold quickly, and a second larger development is already in the

works.

Wells Fargo says it believes the technology could help lower construction costs and speed up

home building at a time when affordability remains a major challenge across the country.

Icon's newest generation of printers can now build multi-story structures, which could open

the door for more large-scale residential projects in the future.

The company also plans to sell its tightened printers directly to builders and developers.

For investors, the bigger story here is the potential

impact on housing supply. If 3D printing can lower construction costs and shorten construction

timelines, it could eventually help builders deliver homes more efficiently and potentially

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