Could Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac back 50-year mortgages?

Under current rules, Fannie and Freddie—the two government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) that support most U.S. home loans—cap standard fixed-rate mortgages at 30 years. Without their backing—or a Treasury benchmark beyond 30 years—lenders would have to keep 50-year loans on their own books or sell them privately, which would likely mean higher rates and tighter availability.