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Research

  • Briefs, Notes & White Papers

    Mortgage Market Note 08-1: Potential Implications of Increasing the Conforming Loan Limit in High-Cost Areas

    Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are prohibited by charter from purchasing singlefamily conventional mortgages with unpaid principal balances above the conforming loan limit. For mortgages that finance one-unit properties, that limit is $417,000 in 2008, as it was in 2006 and 2007. Higher limits apply to...

  • Briefs, Notes & White Papers

    Mortgage Market Note 07-2: Historical Trends in the Conforming Loan Limit

    The Emergency Home Finance Act of 1970 chartered Freddie Mac to provide a secondary mortgage market for thrifts and other originators of conventional mortgages. The Act also allowed Fannie Mae to purchase conventional loans and established a conforming loan limit for both Enterprises of $33,000. The...

  • Briefs, Notes & White Papers

    Mortgage Market Note 07-1: Portfolio Caps and Conforming Loan Limits

    There has been confusing commentary on Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s role in the secondary mortgage market and how they might contribute to easing the current disruptions. As the regulator of these companies, one role of the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) is to enhance...

  • Briefs, Notes & White Papers

    A Note on the Differences between the OFHEO and S&P/Case-Shiller House Price Indexes

    Author: ​Andrew Leventis, Principal Economist ​This OFHEO Research Paper explains the differences between the OFHEO and S&P/Case-Shiller House Price Indexes.

  • Briefs, Notes & White Papers

    Mortgage Markets and the Enterprises in 2006

    Author: Valerie L. Smith, Senior Policy Analyst Forrest Pafenberg, Senior Policy Analyst Laura Goren, Research Assistant ​This Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) research paper reviews developments in the housing sector, activity in the primary and secondary mortgage markets, and...

  • Briefs, Notes & White Papers

    Mortgage Markets and the Enterprises in 2005

    Author: Valerie L. Smith, Senior Policy Analyst Forrest Pafenberg, Senior Policy Analyst Laura Goren, Research Assistant ​This Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) research paper reviews developments in the housing sector, activity in the primary and secondary mortgage markets, and...

  • Briefs, Notes & White Papers

    Mortgage Markets and the Enterprises in 2004

    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...

  • Briefs, Notes & White Papers

    Single-Family Mortgages Originated and Outstanding: 1990 – 2004

    Author: ​Forrest Pafenberg, Senior Policy Analyst This OFHEO Research Paper presents statistics for single-family mortgages originated and outstanding by loan type for calendar years 1990 through 2004. Statistics are provided for conventional and government-insured or -guaranteed loans and, within...

  • Briefs, Notes & White Papers

    Updated Assumptions Used to Estimate Single-Family Mortgages Originated and Outstanding, 1990 – 2008 Q3

    Author: Forrest Pafenberg, Senior Policy Analyst ​Except where noted, all assumptions used to generate estimates of single-family mortgages originated and outstanding are as described in the paper, Single-Family Mortgages Originated and Outstanding: 1990 – 2004.

  • Briefs, Notes & White Papers

    Mortgage Markets and the Enterprises in 2003

    Author: Valerie L. Smith, Senior Policy Analyst ​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...