a) FHA mortgage insurance

Post-World War II, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage insurance policy greatly influenced the 1950s U.S. suburbanization trend. This policy made homeownership more accessible by providing government-backed mortgage insurance, reducing the risk to lenders and lowering down payment requirements for borrowers. The FHA’s support for long-term, fixed-rate mortgages enabled millions of Americans, particularly returning war veterans, to purchase homes in the burgeoning suburbs. This policy was a key driver of the post-war housing boom and the shift towards a suburban-oriented American lifestyle.