Homeownership is the foundation of the American Dream, but for too many Americans, that dream is slipping further out of reach.

According to the National Association of Realtors, the average first-time homebuyer is now 40 years old. Think about that. Young couples who want to start a family, put down roots, and build a future are wondering if they will ever own a home or if they are being sentenced to a lifetime of renting.

Telegram readers know I have long fought to cut through the bureaucratic, burdensome regulatory process and reduce the red tape that drives up housing costs. Wisconsin clearly needs reform. Right now, it takes an average of 14 months in Wisconsin just to begin construction on a new home. We need to get government out of the way and let builders build again.

But red tape is only part of the problem.

This week, I also cosponsored the American Family Housing Act, introduced by Representative Mary Miller (IL-15), to stop large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes. Wisconsinites should not have to compete with Wall Street when trying to buy their first home.

I am also a cosponsor of the Protecting Our Farms and Homes from China Act. Most foreign homebuyers come from communist China, purchasing roughly one out of every six foreign-bought homes. In 2025 alone, they spent $13.7 billion on American homes.

This is not just an affordability issue. It is a national security issue. Communist Chinese interests should not be buying up American farmland near sensitive sites or purchasing homes in communities across our country while American families are priced out.

The Protecting Our Farms and Homes from China Act would stop that by prohibiting Chinese corporations and individuals affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party from acquiring or leasing U.S. agricultural land. It would also prevent them from purchasing residential real estate in the U.S. You can read more about this bill here.

The path to homeownership should not be blocked by government red tape, Wall Street greed, or foreign adversaries. We can restore the American Dream by putting families first again.

Thanks again for starting off your weekend with us. We hope you enjoy this week’s edition of the Tiffany Telegram.