Government unveils new mortgage help for states

By ALAN ZIBEL

posted: 37 DAYS 13 HOURS AGO

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WASHINGTON -The Obama administration on Monday unveiled a new program to support state and local housing finance agencies. The plan will help the agencies finance mortgages for first-time homebuyers and develop rental housing.

The agencies have had a hard time raising money because of the housing crisis and credit crunch. This year, the agencies have sold about $4 billion in tax-exempt bonds — one-fourth the amount in a typical year. That reduction is limiting the number of loans they can make.

The new program uses mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to help fix the financing crunch. The two companies will package mortgages made by the housing agencies and sell them as bonds to the Treasury Department.

"It's an additional layer of assistance to borrowers who are seeking a mortgage at a time when credit is scarce," said Howard Glaser, a mortgage industry consultant in Washington. "It doesn't solve all the problems of the housing market, but every little bit helps."

Officials declined to place a dollar value on the size of the bond program, saying it will be based on demand.

Fannie and Freddie also will help to provide short-term financing for the housing finance agencies, with backing from the Treasury. State and local finance housing finance agencies have pressed for federal help for months.

Treasury Department officials said any losses from loan defaults will be entirely covered by fees paid by the state agencies.

"The expected cost to the federal government is zero," said Michael Barr, an assistant treasury secretary.

The agencies play a relatively small role in the mortgage market, aiding about 100,000 to 200,000 first-time borrowers a year.

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AP Economics Writer Martin Crutsinger contributed to this report.

2009-10-19 16:13:29