Author:
Valerie L. Smith, Forrest Pafenberg, Chris Broderick
This Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) research paper reviews developments in the housing sector and the primary mortgage market, the secondary market activity of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and the financial performance of the Enterprises in 2004. An appendix provides tables with historical data on the activities and performance of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, federally-established loan limits, mortgage interest rates, housing activity, and regional and national home prices, which provide a context for the survey of recent activity provided in the paper. The paper is part of OFHEO’s ongoing effort to enhance public understanding of the nation’s housing finance system.