September 17, 2025 1 min read

Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac: What Are They & Why Do They Matter?

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The US government created Fannie Mae in 1938 and Freddie Mac in 1970 to help support affordable mortgages by increasing liquidity in the mortgage market and to help more American families become homeowners. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) and are regulated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Find out how Fannie & Freddie promote homeownership, how secondary mortgage markets work, why some people want to see Fannie & Freddie released from conservatorship, and what is Fannie & Freddie's Duty to Serve.

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