Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Conservatorship Ending Risks Housing Market Stability

The future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is at the center of renewed debate as President Donald Trump signals intentions to privatize these government-sponsored enterprises while maintaining government guarantees. These agencies, which support about 70% of the U.S. mortgage market, were placed under conservatorship after the 2008 financial crisis due to risky lending practices incentivized by implicit government backing. Critics warn that ending conservatorship without structural reforms could expose taxpayers to similar financial risks and drive up mortgage rates, impacting housing affordability. Trump’s plan has generated market optimism among investors and hedge funds holding shares in these entities, while Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, considers how to proceed. Experts emphasize the need to keep protections and guardrails in place to ensure Fannie and Freddie focus on their core mission of providing stable and affordable housing finance. Without addressing the underlying issues of implicit government guarantees and risky lending incentives, the risk of repeating past housing market crises remains significant.