How Does Fannie Mae Work?

In 1938, Fannie Mae was established by the USWhen Fannie Mae issues the MBS, she is guaranteeing
Government to promote the growth of homethe investors a return on their investment, and at the
ownership by providing a secondary mortgagesame time, providing a source of funding for issuing
market. What is a secondary mortgage market? Well,further mortgages. This provides the nation's lenders
the secondary mortgage market exists in the buyingwith a steady stream of cash to continue to make
and selling of a mortgage from one lender to another.mortgages available to the consumer.
The bank, or Mortgage Company that provided youHow does all this relate to the home of your
with your loan, can turn around and seek to sell yourdreams? Well, stop just a moment to connect all the
mortgage to a company such as Fannie Mae. Thisdots. Fannie Mae buys mortgages from your local
frees up their cash to make another mortgage loan.lender. The lender receives the proceeds from that
And the cycle of growth is expanded and sustainedpurchase, and can then offer a new mortgage to
in this manner. The idea and concept worked, andyou.
today, Fannie Mae has helped millions of AmericansIt's a steady and continual circle of growth. Why?
achieve the dream of home ownership.Well, Fannie Mae isn't the only lender in the secondary
Until recently, Fannie Mae was a part of the USmarket. Insurance companies, pension funds,
Government, and was overseen by the Housing andsecurities dealers, and other financial institutions buy
Urban Development branch of that government.mortgages on the secondary market. Who invests in
Now, however, Fannie Mae is a privately held, stockthese insurance companies, pension funds and
ownership company that promotes the growth ofsecurities dealers? Where do they get their money?
the housing industry by making it possible for manyFrom taxpayers just like you, mortgage holders just
low-to-middle income Americans to own homes.like you. Now can you see how Fannie Mae and other
Investors just like you and I can purchase stock inmortgage lenders in the secondary market, work to
the Fannie Mae Corporation, and not only increasefoster home ownership and community growth, all in
our won wealth, but also help to fund the homeone process?
ownership possibilities for a new generation ofThe primary focus for Fannie Mae, operating under a
Americans.government directive, is to provide the maximum
In 1968, just thirty years after her governmentamount of help to lenders in making mortgage loans
commissioned birth, Fannie Mae became a privateto the low, to middle, to moderate income families
company operating with private capital. She hadacross America. Fannie Mae is also involved in a
outgrown her need for federal funding andnationwide effort to join with lenders and community
supervision. That does not mean, however, that thepartners to create even more home ownership
government does not still closely work with thepossibilities.
Fannie Mae Corporation.Through this partnering, and the existence of FHA
It does. The housing industry has continued to grow,backed mortgage loans, the Fannie Mae Corporation
and currently the entire mortgage market isand your local lender can offer a greater variety of
experiencing phenomenal success. Fannie Mae's focus,loan products, and reach a much broader client base.
however, is still on the low to middle-incomeThis increases once again, the homeownership
American.possibility for many, more Americans.
Fannie Mae deals only in the secondary mortgageThanks to the expanding mortgage product line, the
market, this way Fannie Mae Corporation can ensureincrease in real estate values, and the efforts of
that money for mortgages is available throughout theFannie Mae, more Americans own their own home
50 states and that as many homeowners as possiblethan ever before. Where will the future take Fannie
can take advantage of home ownership.Mae, and corporations like her? I think the Fannie Mae
How does Fannie Mae continue to fund theCorporation will continue to foster growth and the
mortgages that she buys? Through the issuance ofrealization of the American Dream for many
mortgage backed securities. These securities knownsuccessful years to come.
as MBS are issued to investors.