That’s not what they’re actually saying. But the law of unintended consequences will win out in the end. From the Wall Street Journal:
All of the administration’s proposals envision a scaled-back role for the government. One includes a new government backstop of certain mortgages under a federal “reinsurance” model, while another would propose a more limited backstop that would scale up primarily during times of economic crisis. The third option proposes no such government backstop beyond existing federal agencies such as the Federal Housing Administration.
Owner-occupied transactions are already overwhelmingly FHA — with the result that HUD is well on its way to becoming the biggest player in the lender-owned market. Getting rid of Fannie and Freddie won’t matter at all if their role in underwriting bad mortgages for unqualified buyers is supplanted by FHA.
Brian Brady says:
“with the result that HUD is well on its way to becoming the biggest player in the lender-owned market.”
How you like us now?
Signed,
The National Association of Real-uh-tors
February 11, 2011 — 12:40 pm
Thomas A B Johnson says:
But, but, with Fannie gone, who will buy Barney Frank’s lap dances?
February 12, 2011 — 10:02 pm