Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's Financial Problems: Frequently Asked Questions

Weiss, N. Eric

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.

关键词: Housing;    Finance;    Affordable housing;    Housing finance;    Financial crises;   

RP-ID  :  RS22916
RP-ID  :  RS22916_2008Jul15

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

Recent turmoil in the housing and financial markets have caused concern over the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which are chartered by Congress as government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) and are widely believed to have an implicit guarantee from the federal government. The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) -- the GSEs safety and soundness regulator -- has repeated assurances that Fannie and Freddie have adequate capital, but as highly leveraged financial intermediaries, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have limited resources against losses. This report analyzes various aspects of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in relation to the financial turmoil that began in September 2008.