HUD RELEASES WORKING PAPERS ON GSEs' FUNDING OF AFFORDABLE LOANS

WASHINGTON - The Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced the release of two research working papers that analyze the performance of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two housing government sponsored enterprises or GSEs, in funding loans that serve affordable housing. The papers, which were prepared by HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research, are based on loan level mortgage data that the GSEs are required to provide to HUD annually.

Both papers document some recent improvements made by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under HUD's Affordable Housing Goals in purchasing home loans for lower-income families and their neighborhoods.

Working paper number HF-017,"Goal Performance and Characteristics of Mortgages Purchased by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, 2001-2005," examines the loan and borrower characteristics of the mortgages purchased by the GSEs, including major property type, borrower income and race, and type of neighborhood.

Working Paper number HF-018, "The GSEs' Funding of Affordable Loans: A 2004-05 Update," compares the borrower and neighborhood characteristics of single-family mortgages purchased by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac between 1999 and 2005 with characteristics of loans originated by the primary market during the same period. The study updates HUD's earlier analyses to include the GSEs' performance during the 2004 - 2005 time period.

HUD is the mission regulator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. HUD is responsible for ensuring that the GSEs engage in activities that are consistent with their charter authorities. HUD also sets, monitors, and enforces affordable housing goals that each GSE is required to achieve annually and carries out other statutorily mandated oversight.

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HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities, and people living with HIV/AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development as well as enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet and espanol.hud.gov.