I am and always have been fascinated by cities. By the people who live in them, the businesses that operate in and support them, and the housing and housing markets that comprise their basic infrastructure. And the ability to provide adequate, affordable housing for all is one of the most basic functions of government—at all levels. This does not mean it is the role of the government to build and operate all or any housing, but to provide the support where needed and develop the market structures, incentives, and frameworks necessary for the many and varied institutions and stakeholders to productively participate. I am thrilled to be joining the Urban Institute and look forward to working with the exceptional team in the Housing Finance Policy Center to address some of the many pressing issues that exist in housing and housing finance today and that will unfortunately likely grow in the future.
David M. Brickman is a nonresident fellow in the Housing Finance Policy Center at the Urban Institute, chief executive officer of NewPoint Real Estate Capital, executive chairman of Meridian Capital Group, and a senior adviser at Stone Point Capital.
Previously, Brickman was president and later chief executive officer of Freddie Mac, one of the largest providers of mortgage financing in the US. He also served as a member of the company’s board of directors. During his tenure, he led the $2 trillion company through a period of significant growth, change, and disruption as the company successfully navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 crisis.
Brickman spent most of his career at Freddie Mac working in and leading the multifamily business, where he presided over a period of remarkable growth. He established the company's flagship K-Deal securitization program as one of the leading securitized products in the structured finance markets. Brickman also drove significant innovation and an expansion in Freddie Mac's products and offerings, particularly those serving the growing need for affordable and workforce housing.
He has held positions as a professorial lecturer at the George Washington University and an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University, and he is the holder of a US patent for a unique mortgage-backed security structure.
Brickman completed all coursework for the PhD program in economics and real estate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University.