The resignation of Fannie Mae CEO Michael Williams brings to the surface a fundamental problem: The federal government’s housing policy is in chaos. The confusion over how to fix the housing market and what to do with the mortgage giant, is so deep, some industry observers wonder who would even possibly want to step [...]

By an overwhelming margin, American voters strongly value homeownership and would oppose efforts to weaken or eliminate the mortgage interest deduction or diminish a federal role to help qualified home buyers obtain affordable 30-year mortgages, according to a new nationwide survey gauging likely voters’ attitudes towards homeownership and housing policy issues. “The American electorate is [...]

  For over five years now, people have been saying that home builders’ fortunes were about to turn a corner.  And for over five years, that has been wrong. But it is beginning to look as if this will be the year when some housing bulls are actually right – with the caveat that, as [...]

The Federal Reserve tried Wednesday to stir interest among policy makers in the problems afflicting the housing market, sending a white paper to Congress outlining suggestions for easing those problems. The paper makes two basic points: 1. There are no silver bullets.2. It certainly would be helpful if Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which are [...]

Rep. Barney Frank, an architect of last year’s landmark financial-regulation overhaul, said Monday he wouldn’t seek a 17th term, adding to a list of Democratic retirements that could hurt the party’s already slim chances of retaking the House next year.  The decision to leave Congress by Mr. Frank, the most high-profile Democrat to do so [...]