The Trump administration has assured industry groups that a stable housing finance system and low mortgage rates are a 'North Star' in their plans, but Dems complain they've been shut out
Mortgage giants should continue to operate as separate companies and be regulated like utilities with a cap on excessive fees and prohibitions on backing risky loans, industry group maintains
Impact on rates depends on the structure of rumored IPO. Whatever the plan, the Trump administration has stacked the boards at the mortgage giants with its supporters
Shares in mortgage giants tumble as investors weigh whether the Trump administration is more interested in mining Fannie and Freddie's profits than privatizing them
Promise that the government will maintain 'implicit guarantees' of the companies' obligations suggests that what Trump has in mind is monetization, not privatization
President says he's giving 'very serious consideration' to bringing companies public, and investors are hoping that whatever plan emerges will generate a windfall for them
Less than 4 days after being confirmed as head of the mortgage giants' federal regulator, housing scion Bill Pulte fired 14 board members and made himself the chair of both companies
Some experts are intrigued by the idea floated by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, saying it could help put the mortgage giants on sound footing without boosting mortgage rates