Crypto investors may no longer have to choose between holding Bitcoin and buying a home. I'm

Kathy Fedke and this is Real Estate News for investors. This is Real Estate News with Kathy Fedke.

Better and Coinbase have announced what they say is the first Fannie Mae backed mortgage funded with

Bitcoin serving as collateral. The company say the product will be available

nationwide to qualified borrowers by the summer of 2026. The idea is simple.

Instead of selling Bitcoin to come up with a cash for a down payment, eligible

borrowers can pledge their Bitcoin as collateral while keeping

ownership of the asset. The initial program will support Bitcoin and the Stable Coin

USDC. According to Better, many borrowers qualify based on income and credit, but struggle

to accumulate enough cash for a traditional down payment. At the same time,

the median age of a first-time home buyer has climbed to a record 40 years old. That's according to

the National Association of Realtors. The company says this new mortgage option could help buyers

who have built wealth and digital assets but don't want to sell those holdings,

trigger capital gains taxes, or miss potential future appreciation.

The first loan was reportedly issued to a couple in Michigan, who used Bitcoin as collateral

to purchase their first home without liquidating their crypto.

For the housing industry, this announcement highlights

a broader trend. Lenders are beginning to explore new ways of evaluating wealth as more Americans

hold significant assets outside of traditional savings accounts and brokerage portfolios.

Of course, questions remain. Bitcoin is still a volatile asset,

and investors will be watching closely to see how these loans perform through different market cycles.

Risk management, collateral requirements, and borrower protections will likely determine

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