Freddie Mac, FNMA and GNMA are all mortgage agencies established by the federal government. The Federal National Mortgage Association -- FNMA -- is commonly referred to as Fannie Mae, and the Government National Mortgage Association -- GNMA -- is known as Ginnie Mae. All three promote the availability of low-cost home mortgages.
Tips
Although Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae both operate as liquidity providers in the mortgage market by purchasing new home loans, Ginnie Mae is more focused on backing loans which stem from government mortgage programs.
The Basics of Government-Sponsored Entities
Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are a type of company referred to as a government-sponsored entity, known as a GSE. The companies were established by federal law and work under a government charter, but they are private companies. The government established Fannie Mae in 1938 to provide government-backed home loans.
The federal government sold off Fannie Mae to investors in 1968. Freddie Mac was established in 1970 to provide competition for Fannie Mae. Both companies are publicly traded with investors owning shares of each mortgage GSE.
Evaluating the GSE Function
Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae provide liquidity in the mortgage market by purchasing new home loans that meet the GSE standards from lenders. The two big mortgage companies then repackage the mortgages into mortgage-backed securities or hold the loans for their own portfolios. Mortgages that meet the standards of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are called conforming loans.
The two GSE mortgage companies have the same standards and function in the same manner. Historically, Fannie Mae purchased mortgage loans from bank lenders, and Freddie Mac provided mortgage funding for savings-and-loan lenders.
Assessing the Fundamentals of GNMA
Ginnie Mae is a federal government agency that provides a government guarantee of certain types of mortgages. Ginnie Mae does not provide funding for mortgages; instead, the agency backs the home loans originated using government mortgage programs from the Federal Housing Administration and Department of Veteran Affairs. Ginnie Mae does not buy or hold mortgages. The agency provides a guarantee of payment and principal when the loans are packaged into mortgage-backed securities and sold to investors.
GSEs vs. Government Agencies
GSEs have no actual U.S. government backing. However, during the financial crisis of 2007 through 2008, the federal government did step in and provide bailout money to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Mortgage securities guaranteed by Ginnie Mae are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.
References
- Columbian College of Arts & Sciences: What Are the Origins of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae?
- Erate: Government-Sponsored Enterprises -- The Relatives
- FHFA. "FHFA Extends Foreclosure and Eviction Moratorium." Accessed Jun 22, 2020.
- Fannie Mae. "History." Accessed April 27, 2020.
- Fannie Mae. "Fannie Mae Charter." Accessed April 27, 2020.
- Fannie Mae. "Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act." Accessed April 27, 2020.
- FHFA.gov. "Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act." Accessed April 27, 2020.
- Fannie Mae. "Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act, Title III of National Housing Act." Accessed April 27, 2020.
- Freddie Mac. "Investor FAQ." Accessed April 27, 2020.
- Federal Reserve Bank of New York Economic Policy Review. "GSE Guarantees, Financial Stability, and Home Equity Accumulation," Page 1. Accessed April 27, 2020.
- Congressional Budget Office. "Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Role in the Secondary Mortgage Market," Page X. Accessed April 27, 2020.
- Congressional Budget Office. "Government-Sponsored Enterprises and Their Implicit Federal Subsidy: The Case of Sallie Mae." Accessed April 27, 2020.
- Federal Reserve. "Finance and Economic Discussion Series, Divisions of Research & Statistics and Monetary Affairs." Accessed April 27, 2020.
- Department of Housing and Urban Development. "Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: Past, Present, and Future," Page 238. Accessed April 27, 2020.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "Guide to Coronavirus Mortgage Relief Options." Accessed April 27, 2020.
- Fannie Mae. "Get Relief from the Financial Impacts of Coronavirus." Accessed April 27, 2020.
- Freddie Mac. "Our COVID-19 Response." Accessed April 27, 2020.
Writer Bio
Tim Plaehn has been writing financial, investment and trading articles and blogs since 2007. His work has appeared online at Seeking Alpha, Marketwatch.com and various other websites. Plaehn has a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the U.S. Air Force Academy.