Brief Improving U.S. Housing Finance through Reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
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Assessing the Options
Ingrid Gould Ellen, John Napier Tye, Mark A. Willis
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For several decades, the Government-Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, were the largest players in an American housing finance system that provided effective mortgage financing for many millions of Americans. Since early 2008, the firms' near-insolvency has called their future into question. This paper lays out criteria for evaluating the different proposals for reform of the two firms. We make no recommendations among the proposals, but we do attempt to assess the major advantages and disadvantages of their respective approaches.
Research and Evidence Housing and Communities Upward Mobility
Expertise Upward Mobility and Inequality Thriving Cities and Neighborhoods Housing
Tags Fiscal policy Federal housing programs and policies Federal urban policies