Homebuilder stocks are in focus after the Federal Housing Finance Agency Director criticized share buybacks. The sector faces mixed signals: existing home sales rose in December, but full-year 2025 sales hit their lowest level since 1995. A new policy proposal aims to ban institutional investors from buying single-family homes, which could impact market dynamics. Overall, the news reflects regulatory scrutiny and a challenging annual sales environment, though a recent monthly sales increase provides a slight counterpoint.