Fannie Mae Freddie Mac And The Federal Role In The Secondary Mortgage Market

In September 2008, the fed. gov¿t. assumed control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (FM/FM), two federally chartered institutions that last year guaranteed three-quarters of new residential mortgages originated in the U.S. This study examines various alternatives for the fed. gov¿t¿s. future role in the secondary (resale) market for residential mortgages. Contents: Overview of FM/FM, and the Secondary Mortgage Market; Possible Rationales for a Fed. Role in the Secondary Mortgage Market; Weaknesses of the Pre-crisis Model for FM/FM; Alternative Approaches for the Future of the Secondary Mortgage Market; History of the Secondary Mortgage Market; The Fed. Home Loan Banks. Charts and tables. A print on demand report.

As it traces the evolution and collapse of government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the Congressional Budget Office analyzes the arguments justifying Federal involvement in the secondary mortgage market and identifies the structural weaknesses that led to the failure of these institutions.

Statement of Deborah Lucas, Assistant Dir. for Financial Analysis, Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Historically, support for the mortgage market has been part of a broader federal policy aimed at encouraging home ownership and, to a lesser extent, at making housing more affordable for low- and moderate-income families. The activities of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Housing Admin. (FHA) have been an important aspect of that policy. In 2010, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac owned or guaranteed roughly half of all outstanding mortgages in the U.S., and they financed 63% of the new mortgages originated that year. Including the 23% of home loans insured by federal agencies such as FHA, about 86% of new mortgages made in 2010 carried a federal guarantee. However, the largest federal subsidiesfor home ownership have generally come from favorable tax treatment for housing. This testimony focuses on the CBO's estimates of the budgetary cost of the government's takeover and continuing operation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Lucas also discusses how the budgetary treatment of those two enterprises differs from that of FHA and other federal mortgage programs and the potential problems those inconsistencies cause, and summarizes alternative options for the future role of the federal government in the secondary mortgage market. Tables. This is a print on demand report.

The federal government assumed control of the ailing Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) in 2008, two institutions that facilitate the flow of funding for home loans nationwide. The cost to taxpayers of that takeover, and the structural weaknesses that contributed to the institutions' financial problems, have prompted policymakers to consider various alternatives for the government's future role in the secondary (resale) market for residential mortgages. This book examines how Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac evolved into the institutions they are today and the rationales that are often cited for federal involvement in the secondary mortgage market and the problems that existed with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac before the recent financial crisis.

This report demonstrates that a significant proportion of prospective homeowners remains underserved by the mortgage finance industry. The report reviews and evaluates the framework of housing goals that has been established by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It finds that the housing goals represent a promising approach to focusing their resources on the mortgage credit needs of homebuyers. Such a programmatic emphasis by these enterprises represents an appropriate exchange for the benefits that they receive through their ties with the Federal government.

Explains the purpose and function of government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs). Describes how the housing GSEs segment in the secondary market works. Provides insights on alternative funding strategies and risk, and the necessity of congressional oversight. Focuses on the federal costs of Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association) and Freddie Mac (Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation). Contains 17 charts, tables and graphs.