Could the MOVE Act let you keep your mortgage rate when you move? It is a fair question, and it is drawing real attention in Washington. As of late September 2026, the honest answer is that the MOVE Act is a proposed federal bill and not yet law. It is designed to push Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac toward supporting portable mortgages, but it sits at the very beginning of congressional review. Here is what the bill would do, where it stands, and what it could mean for homeowners here in Utah.
Important Note
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice, and nothing here is a guarantee. The MOVE Act is pending legislation, its status can change, and every homeowner's financing situation is different. Talk to a lender about your own numbers before making any decision.
What Is the MOVE Act?
Formally known as H.R. 10028, the "Making Ownership Viable for Everyone (MOVE) Act" is a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in August 2026. Its goal is straightforward on paper: make it possible for a homeowner to carry their existing mortgage rate and terms with them when they sell one home and buy another, a concept called a portable mortgage. You can read the full bill record on congress.gov and the bill summary and text on govtrack.us.
If the idea is new to you, I wrote a longer explainer on how portable mortgages would work, the industry hurdles, and what they could mean along the Wasatch Front: Portable Mortgages: What They Are and Why They Matter for Utah Homeowners. This post focuses on the bill itself and where it stands.
Who Introduced the MOVE Act, and Where Does It Stand?
Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ-07) introduced H.R. 10028 on August 3, 2026, and the bill has since been referred to the House Committee on Financial Services, the traditional first step in the legislative process. Let me be direct about where things stand: the MOVE Act has been introduced only. It has not passed the House or the Senate, it has not been signed into law, and there is no scheduled vote. It is a proposal awaiting congressional review, not an active law and not an available mortgage product.
That distinction matters, because coverage of portable mortgages can make an idea sound like a done deal when it is not. Rep. Kean's press release announcing the bill describes the intent of the legislation, but a press release is not a law.
What Would the MOVE Act Actually Do?
If it were enacted, the MOVE Act would direct Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to begin purchasing and securitizing portable mortgages within 180 days of enactment, according to the bill text summary on govtrack.us and congress.gov. That requirement is the heart of the idea. Most U.S. mortgages are funded through Fannie and Freddie, so for lenders to offer a loan whose rate and terms follow the homeowner to a new home, there first has to be a market that will buy and securitize those loans. This bill is an attempt to create that foundation.
Why Does This Matter? The Problem of Getting Stuck
The short answer is the rate lock-in problem. Millions of homeowners hold mortgages at rates far below what a new loan would cost today, and moving to a bigger home, a smaller one, a different city, or a 55+ community means paying off that loan and financing the next purchase at today's rates. For many households, that math makes staying put feel like the only reasonable option.
Rep. Kean has described the problem in plain terms, saying too many homeowners are "stuck in homes that no longer meet their needs." When people feel stuck, they do not list. When they do not list, inventory stays tight, which makes it harder for everyone, including empty nesters who want to downsize and first-time buyers who need homes to come onto the market.
What Has the Trump Administration Said About Portable Mortgages?
Portable mortgages are also on the radar at the White House, and it is worth reporting this accurately and with appropriate hedging. In November 2025, as Yahoo Finance reported on November 14, 2025, the Trump administration said it was "evaluating" the idea of portable mortgages, exploring whether a concept that is common in other countries, but not in the United States, could work here.
The MOVE Act is one legislative path that exploration could take, but be precise about the record: the administration has said it is studying the concept, while this specific bill was introduced by Rep. Kean. Nothing in the public record shows the President introduced or endorsed this particular bill, and the administration's position, as reported, is a stated review, not settled policy.
What Could the MOVE Act Mean for Utah Buyers and Sellers?
If the MOVE Act ever became law, and if portable mortgages became real products, the effects could show up across the Wasatch Front. Homeowners who have held off selling to protect a low rate might feel freer to list, which could mean more homes hitting the market in places like Daybreak, South Jordan, Draper, and the rest of our service area. More inventory would give buyers more to choose from and could take some pressure off a competitive market.
But this is potential, not promise. The bill is not law, mortgage portability does not exist as a standard U.S. product today, and even with the politics resolved, a program of this size would take time to build and reach the market. As the Yahoo Finance piece noted, porting a mortgage is standard in other countries but not in the U.S. yet. No one should plan a move around it.
What Can You Do Today, Right Now, in Utah?
This is the practical part, and it is short. Today, you cannot take your mortgage rate with you to a new home in Utah, and no lender offers a portable mortgage. The realistic levers in the current market are the ones that already exist: understand assumable loans, which let a qualified buyer take over an eligible seller's existing loan; shop rates with more than one local lender; and get advice from people who know your specific situation. If you are weighing a move, that conversation is worth having with your lender, and it is worth having with us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the MOVE Act law? No. H.R. 10028 was introduced August 3, 2026, and referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. It has been introduced only, not passed, and it is not law.
Can I keep my rate when I move today? No. Portable mortgages are not available from any U.S. lender, and mortgage portability is not a standard American product. Your mortgage stays with the property you financed, not with you.
Who would the MOVE Act help most? Primarily existing homeowners holding below-market rates who want to move, including downsizers, empty nesters, and retirees. More broadly, if it freed up those households to list, buyers would face more inventory.
When could a portable mortgage become available? Nobody knows. The bill would have to pass both chambers and be signed into law, and the timeline for any new mortgage infrastructure would be measured in years, not months. Follow current legislation and ask your lender for the ground truth on your own situation.
Sources
The following named sources informed this post. The bill's status can change, so check the current record on the primary sources directly:
- congress.gov, H.R. 10028, MOVE Act (119th Congress): official bill record, introduced August 3, 2026 by Rep. Tom Kean Jr., referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- govtrack.us, MOVE Act bill page and text: bill summary and full text, including the requirement that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac begin purchasing and securitizing portable mortgages within 180 days of enactment.
- Rep. Tom Kean Jr., press release announcing the MOVE Act: rationale for the bill, including his description of Americans "stuck in homes that no longer meet their needs."
- Yahoo Finance, "Trump administration is 'evaluating' portable mortgages" (November 14, 2025): the administration's stated review of portable mortgages and the point that porting is standard in other countries but not in the U.S.
Disclaimer: this post was published September 26, 2026, and reflects the record as of that date. The status of H.R. 10028 can change at any time. Follow current legislation and talk to a lender about your own situation before acting on anything you read here.
Related reading: if you are considering a move, our explainer on portable mortgages covers the concept in depth, and booking a call with Adam and Natalie Stark is a free way to talk through your specific situation.