David Min counters the conservative claim that many governments worldwide don’t provide guarantees for mortgage finance.
New legislation would help more homeowners refinance through the Home Affordable Refinance Program, writes John Griffith.
Congress can step up and help the more than 3 million homeowners that cannot refinance their mortgages to today’s low rates, writes John Griffith.
Issue Brief
David Min details the several ways the U.S. government guarantee on residential mortgages works and then compares those processes with the very different but equally important government role in guaranteeing home mortgages across Europe.
John Griffith testifies before the the U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Issue Brief
Bracken Hendricks and Adam James argue that the Federal Housing Finance Agency should capitalize on the rehab-to-rent process to promote more energy-efficient housing for renters and boost the long-term value of these properties for U.S. taxpayers.
Jennifer Rokosa argues that principal reduction for homeowners facing foreclosure through no fault of their own deserve assistance from the federal government.
Alon Cohen explains why California representatives in Congress are wrong to prematurely condemn what is designed to be a pilot program.
New data from the firms’ regulator confirms that principal reductions can be good business practice, write John Griffith and Daniel Molitor.
Report
John Griffith and Jordan Eizenga explain why Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency should embrace a targeted principal-reduction program for certain deeply underwater loans it owns or guarantees.
David Min and John Griffith argue that the House Republican budget would remove government support to the mortgage market at a critical time.
Alon Cohen questions talk of a short-term rise in foreclosures due to a settlement with mortgage servicers and says this settlement could in reality prevent more foreclosures from happening.
The program is off to a promising start, but Alon Cohen and John Griffith are keeping an eye on affordable housing and responsible oversight.
Issue Brief
David Min examines the allegations of the Securities and Exchange Commission's lawsuit against Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Issue Brief
Jordan Eizenga introduces House American Bonds as an example of how to resolve funding issues for the housing finance agencies that support affordable housing.