Fannie Mae

Fannie Mae

Introduction to Fannie Mae

FannieMae is a government sponsored entity that was created in 1938 as a way to add stability to the housing market. The sole purpose of FannieMae is to provide banking institutions, and other mortgage companies, a way to keep mortgages available and affordable on the market. FannieMae is funded by selling debt securities.

In 2008, FannieMae went into an agreement with the United States Treasury Department to accept funds from the treasury in the event that any mortgage deficits needed to be corrected.

FannieMae is geared to keeping housing affordable. They service three distinct areas of real estate: Single family homes, affordable housing and multi family units. FannieMae does not deal in any form of commercial or business real estate. The affordable housing division does include apartment homes, only if the apartments are going to provide an affordable alternative to housing in the area it is to be constructed.

FannieMae does not issue any type of loans or funding to the public. However, if a home enters foreclosure that was backed by FannieMae financing, FannieMae assumes ownership of the foreclosed property.

Mortgage Rates

FannieMae does not directly lend money to the public. However, with the recent rise in foreclosures, FannieMae has established a program with lenders throughout the country that allows special mortgage financing on FannieMae owned homes. HomePath.com is a FannieMae website that lists homes for sale that are held by FannieMae and provides contact information of lenders in your area that specialize in Home Path financing. These mortgages have very low interest rates and low qualifications. Most homes have low down payment requirements and Home Path lenders will work with people that do not have perfect credit scores. A visit to the HomePath.com website will guide you to all the information needed about this mortgage program. Home Path also offers financing with renovation funding mortgages. This allows people to purchase homes that have been empty for a while and need a little sprucing up before they are inhabitable. This type of mortgage is available with all the same low qualifications and requirements that the original Home Path mortgage offers.

Refinance

FannieMae is not a direct lender to the public. However, they do back a majority of the mortgages in the country. Because of this, FannieMae participates in the Home Affordable program as well as the other loan modification programs on the market. They do not refinance any other way.

Home Equity

FannieMae does not issue home equity lines of credit or loans.