In this Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012, photo, a home for sale is shown in Miami Lakes, Fla. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, that the rate on the 30-year loan increased to 3.39 percent from 3.36 percent. The previous week's rate was the lowest since long-term mortgages began in the 1950s. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
In this June 25, 2008, photo, buildings and palm trees are reflected on the entrance of the Countrywide Financial Corp. office in Beverly Hills, Calif. The top federal prosecutor in Manhattan sued Bank of America, which acquired Countrywide in 2008, for more than $1 billion on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012, for mortgage fraud against Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac during the years around the financial crisis. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Countrywide Financial Corp. is accused of loosening its standards for making loans while telling Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which were buying loans from Countrywide, that the standards were getting tighter. (Associated Press)
Countrywide Financial Corp. is accused of loosening its standards for making loans while telling Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which were buying loans from Countrywide, that the standards were getting tighter. (Associated Press)
Freddie Mac, the mortgage giant, posted a gain for the second quarter and isn’t requesting any additional federal aid for the period. This is the fifth quarter in which Freddie hasn’t requested new federal aid since it was taken over in September 2008. (Associated Press)
Freddie Mac, the mortgage giant, posted a gain for the second quarter and isn’t requesting any additional federal aid for the period. This is the fifth quarter in which Freddie hasn’t requested new federal aid since it was taken over in September 2008. (Associated Press)
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a GOP presidential hopeful, holds a discussion on housing and foreclosure in Tampa, Fla., on Monday. Mr. Romney slammed former House Speaker Newt Gingrich for his work with Freddie Mac and called on him to release records from an ethics investigation. (Associated Press)
Illustration: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by John Camejo for The Washington Times
Edward DeMarco, acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, says reshaping Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac requires spreading lending risks. (Associated Press)
