Federal National Mortgage Association
Proper noun: A federally chartered, shareholder-owned corporation in the United States, commonly known by its nickname and stock ticker symbol Fannie Mae. Its primary function is to purchase and guarantee mortgages from lenders, thereby providing liquidity, stability, and affordability to the U.S. mortgage market.
The term "Federal National Mortgage Association" is the formal, legal name. In common usage, including financial, media, and governmental contexts, it is almost universally referred to by its nickname, Fannie Mae. * The Federal National Mortgage Association was created by the U.S. government in 1938. * Fannie Mae plays a critical role in the secondary mortgage market. * Lenders often sell their conforming loans to the Federal National Mortgage Association.
- Government-Sponsored Enterprise (GSE): While federally chartered and possessing a public mission, it is a private corporation. Its unique status and perceived government backing are central to its role and have been the subject of significant policy debate, especially following its conservatorship in 2008.
- Secondary Mortgage Market: The term describes its operational sphere. It does not originate loans directly with homebuyers. Instead, it purchases mortgages from primary lenders (like banks), which provides those lenders with capital to issue new loans.
- Fannie Mae (n): The universal shorthand and brand name for the Federal National Mortgage Association.
- Conforming loan (n): A mortgage that meets the specific size and credit risk standards set by Fannie Mae (and its counterpart Freddie Mac) for purchase.
- Mortgage-backed security (MBS) (n): A type of investment security that Fannie Mae issues, which is backed by a pool of mortgages it has purchased.
- Fannie Mae (This is the direct synonym, not a different entity).
- Mortgage aggregator (descriptive term for its function).
- Secondary market institution (descriptive term for its role).
- Under Fannie Mae guidelines: Refers to the specific rules and criteria a mortgage must meet to be eligible for purchase by the corporation.
- The loan was approved because it met all Fannie Mae guidelines.
- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: A common paired phrase referring to the two major government-sponsored enterprises in the U.S. housing finance system. (Freddie Mac is the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation).
- a federally chartered corporation that purchases mortgages