THE PROBLEM

 

 

BOB AND MARY BUY A HOUSE AND BORROW MONEY:

 

$400,000 HOUSE VALUE

 

$400,000 MORTGAGE LOAN

 

NOTE: BOB AND MARY HAVE ZERO EQUITY IN THE HOUSE

 

 

 

HOUSING BUBBLE SCENARIO:

 

$400,000 LOAN

 

$450,000 HOUSE VALUE (HOUSING VALUES APPRECIATE)

 

BOB AND/OR MARY LOSE JOB (S)g

 

BOB AND MARY ARE ABLE TO SELL THEIR HOUSE FOR A PRICE SUFFICIENT TO PAY OFF THEIR DEBT (MORTGAGE)

 

 

HOUSING BUBBLE BURSTS SCENARIO:

 

$400,000 LOAN

 

$360,000 HOUSE VALUE

 

BOB AND/OR MARY LOSE JOB (S)

 

BOB AND MARY ARE UNABLE TO SELL THEIR HOUSE FOR A PRICE SUFFICIENT TO PAY OFF THEIR DEBT (MORTGAGE)

 

THE BANK MUST FORECLOSE

 

THE BANK SELLS THE HOUSE FOR ITS CURRENT VALUE: $360,000

 

THE BANK’S NET WORTH FALLS BY $40,000

 

 

 

SCENARIO TWO:

 

BOB AND MARY BUY A HOUSE AND BORROW MONEY:

 

$400,000 HOUSE VALUE

 

$400,000 MORTGAGE LOAN

 

NOTE: BOB AND MARY HAVE ZERO EQUITY IN THE HOUSE

 

 

SECONDARY MARKET SCENARIO:

 

THE ORIGINATING BANK SELLS THE MORTGAGE TO FREDDIE MAC (SECONDARY MARKET)

 

FREDDIE MAC PACKAGES BOB AND MARY’S LOAN PACKAGE TOGETHER WITH OTHER LOANS TO CREAT A MORTGAGE-BACK SECURITY

 

FREDDIE MAC SELLS THESE MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES TO LONG-TERM INVESTORS: PENSION FUNDS, INSURANCE COMPANIES, ETC.

 

 

HOUSING BUBBLE BURSTS:

 

$400,000 LOAN

 

$360,000 HOUSE VALUE

 

BOB AND/OR MARY LOSE JOB (S)

 

BOB AND MARY ARE UNABLE TO SELL THEIR HOUSE FOR A PRICE SUFFICIENT TO PAY OFF THEIR DEBT (MORTGAGE)

 

THE MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES DECLINE IN VALUE

 

THE LONG-TERM INVESTOR’S NET WORTH DECLINES AS A RESULT

 

 

 

COMPLICATIONS:

 

CONGRESS ENACTS THE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT IN 1977

 

REGULATORS APPLY PRESSURE ON BANKS TO MAKE HIGH-RISK LOANS

 

COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS APPLY PRESSURE ON BANKS TO MAKE HIGH-RISK LOANS TO THE POOR

 

FREDDIE MAC AND GINNIE MAE REDUCE UNDERWRITING STANDARDS IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE LOW-INCOME BORROWERS