Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick recently met with executives from major homebuilding companies, according to people familiar with the matter, part of President Donald Trump’s push to bolster his standing with voters on the economy.

The administration has held meetings in recent weeks aimed at sounding out the builders on ways to improve housing affordability, according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing internal matters. Part of those talks centered on what kind of incentives the administration could offer to spur a commitment to construct more homes, one of them said.

Lutnick’s talks come as the Trump administration ramps up efforts to demonstrate to voters that the president is taking action to address affordability concerns that have emerged as a central issue in the November midterm elections. This week, Trump moved to ban institutional investors from buying single-family homes and directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy $200 billion in mortgage bonds.

The latter is “part of an overall plan that the president’s going to announce at Davos,” Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, told CNBC Friday. Hassett said the administration sees a “hole in the housing market” with sales slumping in certain groups, such as those between age 30 and 40.

Shares in homebuilders soared. Toll Brothers Inc. rose 7.5%, while Lennar Corp. was up 7.4%.

Asked about the meetings, Commerce Spokesman Benjamin Kass said that “Secretary Lutnick is focused on driving housing costs down after the Biden administration allowed housing prices to more than double.”

The White House didn’t reply to a request for comment. Trump has previously indicated he intended to lean on big homebuilders in his effort to ease housing costs.

“They’re my friends, and they’re very important to the SUCCESS of our Country, but now, they can get Financing, and they have to start building Homes,” Trump posted on social media in October.

On Thursday, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte offered a possible hint of the kinds of policies the administration is considering. In a social-media post, he wrote, “Builders who do business with Fannie and Freddie (which is most builders) need to start building out their lot supply, including optioned land which is ‘ready to go’. More to come on our actions we will take.”

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