What is the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)?

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Helping to keep the mortgage market liquid.

© Andriy Blokhin/stock.adobe.com

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is a U.S. government agency created by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA). Its main role is to provide oversight of mortgage and housing credit government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs), specifically the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), and the Federal Home Loan Bank System.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency was established in 2008 in the wake of the 2007–08 financial crisis. Specifically, it was designed to address default-related financial strain at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac—which, as government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs), were publicly held companies, but with a tacit government backing. When the two GSEs required a bailout in order to stay afloat (which critics argued was due at least in part to lax lending standards), policymakers determined that the best way forward would be increased oversight through a new agency.

Although both GSEs are technically owned by shareholders, as of 2024, both are still under the conservatorship of the FHFA. Fannie Mae shares trade on U.S. exchanges under the ticker symbol FNMA; Freddie Mac shares are still in delisted status.

In addition to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the FHFA is also responsible for the 11 Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks) and Office of Finance. By regulating these entities, the FHFA tries to ensure that the housing finance market remains stable and can operate in various economic conditions. The FHFA is responsible for overseeing more than $8 trillion in mortgage financing across the United States.

Fannie and Freddie are tasked by the government to help maintain liquidity in the mortgage market. They do this primarily by buying mortgages on the secondary market, packaging most of them into mortgage-backed securities (MBS)—essentially pools of mortgages—and selling them to investors. Mortgage securitization frees up lenders to make more home loans because they can offload the risk to those willing to bear it.

Shortly after it was established, the FHFA placed Fannie and Freddie into conservatorship. The two GSEs were on the verge of collapse as defaults from the 2007 mortgage market meltdown started dragging on their balance sheets. The newly established FHFA arranged for nearly $200 million in bailout funds from the U.S. Treasury. 

In addition, the FHFA replaced the boards of directors for Fannie and Freddie and began implementing new policies designed to reduce operational risk. Over time, the two GSEs repaid their loans. By 2019, they began retaining their earnings and creating capital reserves. Although they can now operate with a little more independence, Fannie and Freddie are still under conservatorship as of 2024.

To maintain liquidity in the housing finance market, the FHFA is designed to make sure that government-sponsored entities are solvent. Here are some of the ways the FHFA fulfills its mission:

The Federal Housing Finance Agency doesn’t receive its budget from Congress. Instead, funding comes from regulated entities (similar to the way the FDIC is funded by member banks). Basically, Fannie, Freddie, and the FHLBanks take a portion of their budgets and use that money to fund the FHFA.

Part of the budget goes toward helping low-income families obtain affordable housing through the national Housing Trust Fund. The Capital Magnet Fund helps with community development projects. The FHFA helps manage these funds and facilitates the GSEs’ contributions to these initiatives. In 2024, Fannie and Freddie contributed $301 million earmarked for these two funds.

One way the government reduces its risk when issuing or taking over mortgages is by charging loan-level price adjustments (LLPAs). These fees, which are compiled into what’s called the LLPA Matrix, are based on the following factors:

In 2023, the FHFA proposed new fees based on DTI. Mortgage industry leaders claimed the timeline was unworkable and the fees would impose an unreasonable burden on borrowers, and the rule was rescinded by the FHFA.

Another controversy in 2023 stemmed from a rumor that new rules would lead to those with higher credit scores paying more in fees than those with lower credit scores. This was refuted by FHFA director Sandra L. Thompson.

In the end, the FHFA revamped its rules and took input into account before releasing the LLPA matrix for 2024.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency is designed to provide an extra level of oversight that was perceived to be missing leading up to the mortgage crisis of 2007–08. By regulating and evaluating the soundness of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks, the FHFA is tasked with ensuring that the mortgage market remains liquid and that the government shouldn’t need to resort to another massive bailout in the future.