Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are heavily regulated on the local, regional, and federal level. As such, materials from government agencies can enhance your research on these topics.
The Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), known as Fannie Mae, is a U.S. government-sponsored enterprise and a publicly traded company. This site offers industry news, pricing on mortgage backed securities and debt instruments as well as a market for Fannie Mae owned homes.
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC) - Freddie Mac External
The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC) - Freddie Mac, is a public government-sponsored enterprise that is Congressionally chartered and charged with increasing the availability of funds to mortgage lenders through mortgage purchases, guarantees and securitization. FHLMC offers consumer guidance on home investment and facilitates loan originations. The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) has evolved since its inception in April 1971 into the foremost reliable, representative source of regional and national mortgage rate trends and is relied upon by the mortgage industry and the public in gauging market conditions and evaluating mortgage loan options. Freddie Mac surveys lenders each week on the rates, fees and points for the most popular mortgage products. Results are released Thursday at 10am EDT.
The Federal Reserve Board conducts research and produces working papers, statistics, and reports, on economic and financial data, including research on residential and commercial real estate finance, mortgages, mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS). It publishes information on mortgage debt outstanding and household debt service and financial obligations. The Fed reports on housing wealth. The FRASER web site has Federal Home Loan Bank Board or Federal Home Loan Bank Administration annual reports digitized. The Housing Renovation and Modernization Act of 1934, which developed mortgages and established the Federal Housing Administration, is available at this site.
Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) - Ginnie Mae
The Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), or Ginnie Mae, was founded in 1968 to promote home ownership. As a wholly owned government corporation within the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Ginnie Mae’s mission is to expand affordable housing finance in the U.S. Ginnnie Mae guarantees mortgages in secondary markets. It provides resources for prospective homeowners and issues securities.
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Real estate investment trusts (“REITS”) allow individuals to invest in large-scale, income-producing real estate. These trusts are regulated by the SEC. A REIT is a company that owns and typically operates income-producing real estate or related assets. The SEC site provides quick facts on REITS, as well as investor alerts and bulletins.
