What began as a near-death experience for the online home-flipping platform - trading as a penny stock amid a brutal housing market downturn - transformed into one of the year's biggest rallies. Shares have skyrocketed nearly 900% in the past six months, fueled by retail investor enthusiasm, social media campaigns, and a leadership shakeup that brought fresh optimism. High short interest, exceeding 22% of the float, made it a prime target for squeezes.
In a bold move to address the escalating U.S. housing affordability crisis, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that President Trump is contemplating declaring a "national housing emergency" this fall. Speaking to the Washington Examiner , Bessent emphasized the administration's focus on tackling soaring home prices and limited inventory, a critical issue as the 2026 midterms approach. Potential actions include standardizing local building and zoning codes, reducing closing costs, and exploring tariff exemptions for construction materials to boost housing supply.