...Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are two major mortgage lending companies in the United States. Both these large scale companies have lent out about $5.3 trillion dollars in mortgages. The companies lend other banks and financial institutions money so that the other banks can make new loans to businesses, potential homeowners, and other people looking to borrow money. By lending out all of this new money to other financial institutions the companies are potentially helping increase the economy. Freddie Mac lent out a plethora of money to major financial institutions that were risky institutions to trust to pay back. If a company knows that they are lending money out, and they know that they may never see the money again, it is considered to be very risky. This set’s mortgage lending companies up for disaster. Being an accounting student I have learned that as an auditor you must possess the trait of professional skepticism. Professional Skepticism is an attitude that an auditor must maintain, which includes having a questioning and critical mind when going through accounting records. The accounting methods that were used by both companies were not in any violation of the accounting rules, but from the view of an accountant with professional skepticism, they may have been considered unethical. Freddie Mac took the losses that they have incurred from lending money to financial institutions that were unable to pay back the money that they owed, and “pushed losses...
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...AIG and other insurance companies were bailed out during the financial crisis. Describe why the bailout was necessary. Describe the details of the bailout. Why was it necessary? Present arguments for and against the bailout. Describe what has happened to AIG since 2009. The bailout of AIG turned into a gain for the government, TARP investments in the biggest banks have been repaid at a profit, and the Treasury Department is selling off stakes in smaller institutions at an admirable pace. Taxpayers are being compensated for stabilizing the economy at a critical time. Four years after the worst phase of the financial crisis, however, it is time to end the most costly bailout of all: the government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Keeping the two housing-finance firms alive has been expensive. Treasury has invested $187 billion in the companies and has received $46 billionin dividends, for a net cost of $141 billion so far. This support has allowed the two companies to continue to service the $4.5 trillion in guarantees against mortgage default and $900 billion in debt that they had racked up before the crisis, and to underwrite trillions of dollars in new mortgage credit. As a result, Americans have been able to get mortgages to buy homes and (especially) to refinance at lower interest rates. he crisis lasted for several years, and some speculate that it is still not entirely over. The financial traumas that AIG experienced were exploited all across newspapers and...
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...subprime mortgages and the housing market bubble. The paper will also analyze Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and how they are linked to the subprime mortgage crisis, including potential solutions to the crisis. References have been added to each section to show which references are being used in which section. References will be added as needed. 1) Abstract a. 120 word overview of paper 2) Introduction a. Introduction to the topic of subprime mortgages and the housing market bubble. b. Timeline of the crisis and housing market bubble burst 3) Discussion Content a. Definitions and background information on the following topics: i. Mortgages ii. Housing Market iii. Subprime Mortgages 1. Demyanyk, Y., & Van Hemert, O. (2011). Understanding the Subprime Mortgage Crisis. Review of Financial Studies, 24(6), 1848-1880. 2. Karikari, J., Voicu, I., & Fang, I. (2011). FHA vs. Subprime Mortgage Originations: Is FHA the Answer to Subprime Lending?. Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, 43(4), 441-458. doi.10.1007/s11146-009-9218-7. iv. Housing Market Bubble Burst b. Overview and causes of the subprime mortgage crisis i. Fixed mortgage versus floating 1. Demyanyk, Y., & Van Hemert, O. (2011). Understanding the Subprime Mortgage Crisis. Review of Financial Studies, 24(6), 1848-1880. ii. High risk mortgage loans and lending/borrowing practices 1. Peterson, C.L. (2009). Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Home Mortgage Foreclosure Crisis. Loyola Journal of Public Interest...
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...ABSTRACT Six years after the housing market crashed in 2008 the primary cause of the crash continues to be debated. Speeches have been made and books have been written on the subject. Observers and analysts have attributed the reason for the housing crisis and its collapse in the U.S. to everyone from home buyers, Wall Street, mortgage brokers, mortgage underwriters, investment banks, rating agencies, investors, low mortgage interest rates, low short-term interest rates, and relaxed standards for mortgage loans. Predatory lending was just one of many factors along this transaction chain. Predatory lending consists of loaning money to consumers in the hope and expectation that they will default and the lender will be able to take the collateral (homes.) We will discuss if the government failed to protect its citizens thru public policy and what role (if any) investments in mortgage backed securities played in the market crash of 2008 as well. While economist continue to debate who or what is at fault. The market crash clearly devastated the U.S. economy. We will also discuss how such devastation is considered to be one of the worst market failures in history. The events leading up to the crash are easier to identify after a crash, the signs were in the forefront and ignored by most people, firms, banks, and the government. Together we will embark on a journey to discover what role predatory lending, mortgage backed securities, and relaxed regulations played in the housing...
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...What is the information on Fannie and Freddie, and why is the change important to the housing market First of all, to fully understand the importance of the two companies and their aid, you must thank them how to help the millions of people to become the owner. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac do not lend money directly to individuals. Rather, they are meant to establish a regular flow of funds banks actual payment of housing loans. Buy lenders from mortgage lenders - commercial banks, savings institutions and credit unions - which in turn allows these institutions to make additional home loans. Fannie mae was established in 1938 during the administration of President franklin d. Roosevelt when millions of families can't afford to buy a home. Freddie MAC in 32 years later. In 2007, the two companies announced the total loss of less than $5.2 billion, according to a report to congress. Before that, they didn't released since 1982, the total losses. In order to prevent crushing blow the real estate market, the federal government rescued company. Fannie mae and Freddie MAC, the financial problem does not pose a risk, if you do not intend to sell your home quickly or you don't want to refinance. That's because you don't have to worry about mortgage rates. And does not affect your current mortgage, so you should continue to pay agreement. My concern is that we really do not know what the market will Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac did not do. We know that there...
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...development as well as more planned, direct support programs that would assist in providing low-priced apartments and even rental vouchers to the deprived families, managed through quasi-public, local public and the private intermediaries (McCarty & Et. Al., “Overview of Federal Housing Assistance Programs and Policy”). The main objective of the paper is to analyze the housing policies adopted by the federal government related to the mortgage and funding system. With this concern, the discussion of the paper will intend to identify the strategies implemented by the federal government persuade lenders and low-income borrowers in dealing with highly risky loans and mortgages. Furthermore, the paper will analyze the role of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the recent sub-prime crisis of 2008. The condition of extreme and mispriced mortgage liability is the main reason behind the current boom in the housing markets. It is not possible to understand the unusual character of this particular cycle without recognizing the parts that...
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...Paper Fannie Mae, also known as Federal National Mortgage Association was established in 1938 by amendments to the National Housing Act to provide local banks with federal money to finance home mortgages. This was an attempt to raise levels of home ownership and make affordable housing more available by creating a secondary market. Fannie Mae was authorized to buy Federal Housing Administration insured mortgages, replenishing the supply of lendable funds. In 1944 Fannie Mae was authorized to purchase loans guaranteed by the Veterans Administration, and in 1954 they become a mixed ownership corporation owned partly by private stockholders. In 1970 Fannie Mae transitioned from mixed ownership to private organization and was authorized to purchase conventional mortgages. Through the 80’s and 90’s Fannie Mae remained profitable through the use of adjustable rate mortgages and mortgage backed securities. In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s institutions in the primary mortgage market pressured Fannie Mae to ease credit requirements on the mortgages it was willing to purchase, enabling them to make loans to subprime borrowers. As housing prices dropped nationwide and foreclosures increased, Fannie Mae suffered large losses on various investments in their portfolio, such as sub-prime mortgages (loans made to borrowers with poorer-than average credit) and “private label” MBS’s (securities issued and insured by private companies without government backing). Fannie Mae also faced...
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...1. What are the similarities and differences of the problems encountered by the S&L industry and the more recent problems of the mortgage / housing industry? The Savings & Loan crisis also known as the thrifts was existing since 1800s. They served as the community based institutions for the mortgages and savings initially. The principal role of the S&Ls was to take in retail deposits (providing a riskless, liquid, short-term savings vehicle for large numbers of small savers) and originate long-term fixed-rate mortgage financing for residential homeowners. S&Ls were originally voluntary associations. People pooled their money to make it possible for members of the association to get mortgages on their homes without having to resort to loan sharks or to other forms of usury. The first documented mortgage transaction occurred in 1831, when Isaac Shallcross, as secretary of the first S&L made a $381 mortgage loan to lamp-lighter Comly Rich. Rich bought a house that still stands in the Frankford suburb of Philadelphia. The problems faced by the S & L industry can be listed as the following: * S & L were community based and local in nature. This was majorly due to tradition and to prohibitions against the out of state lending. I was also due to mortgage origination being a local business. * The second problem was the capital structure...
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...established the HOLC, which was designed to slow down the quickly rising foreclosure rate. Under this act, long-term self-amortizing fixed rate mortgages became the new norm. The second act in the New Deal was the National Housing Act. The FHA was created in this act. This protective measurement was used to help the lenders maintain foreclosed homes by adding automatic insurance payments to active loans. The FHA also expanded the use of a fixed rate long-term home loan. In 1938, the American government formed Fanny Mae to provide a secondary market for home mortgages. This secondary market gave lenders the opportunity to sell mortgage notes to fanny when the bank needed funds for new mortgages. Up to 1938, all mortgages were privately owned. With the addition of the secondary market, both private and government agencies bought bundled bank mortgage packages. This secondary market also provided lenders with cash to fund additional home loans. There were no new changes in Fannie Mae In...
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...Angelica Olivarez 430 ethics Fannie Mae Accounting Scandal 2001 Ethics is based on how people should act through well-based standards. Ethics on the other hand, does not describe the way people actually act. Ethics is a prescriptive term in which people should always aim to make the right decision. Those who act on ethics do not rationalize their actions founded own perceived self-interest. The accounting profession has its own understanding and framework of ethics. Accounting applications of ethical reasoning can become a common dilemma faced by auditors, internal auditors and all others who work in the business field. For example, The American Institute of Public Accountants (AICPA) Code requires CPAs to place the interest of the public first. To place the interest of the public first means that CPAs should not place themselves, their client or their employer’s interest above the public. Many business dilemmas involve managers, CPAs, and/or top management who have placed their interest above the public’s interest. An example of an accounting and business dilemma where the public interest was not placed first is Fannie Mae accounting scandal in 2001. Fannie Mae is the Federal National Mortgage Association, a government supported entity that assist lower and middle income Americans to buy homes. The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) also assists lower and Middle Americans to buy homes. Both supported entities gain special treatment and “aimed to increase...
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...Programs such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, and the VA Loan program are all integral parts of our nation’s main home lending programs. Each provides their own benefits to those who choose to take advantage of them. This paper will go into depth about how these programs affect the real estate market financially, ethically, legally, dynamically, and according to the valuation process. Understand that each program provides integral assistance to the normal avenues of attaining loan assistance, and it is integral that each program maintains their ability to function based off of their intended uses. First, it is important to understand what each government program is and what it provides. Homebuyers who do not qualify for prime mortgages typically obtain mortgages that require them to obtain insurance either through FHA loans guaranteed by the government or (higher-priced) subprime loans secured by private mortgage insurance” (Karikari Voicu Fang, 2011). This tells us that these programs are highly desirable for those who might not be able to afford a general home loan. Fannie Mae was originally created as the Federal National Mortgage Association in 1938. It was used to “provide a secondary market for FHA-insured mortgages, and later, VA guaranteed loans” (Archer Ling, 2013). Freddie Mac was originally created to “create an active secondary market for mortgages by savings loan associations” (Archer Ling, 2013). The difference between Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac was originally...
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...A dilemma is a situation where there is no clear choice or answer. Ethical dilemma is necessary aspect of operating a business. Most ethical dilemmas faced by businesses derive from choices between doing what is right and doing what is good for business. Facebook dilemma is, the company need either gain revenues in increasingly intrusive and ethically dubious ways or go bust in the not very distance future. The company knows so much about so many people that the changes can definitely increase revenue but at the same time it can hurt the company in the long run. The company fears it may lose its customers if they allow their customers or members information to go public. Most of the Facebook users believe the site is for just friends, no ads. Facebook uses its resource of users’ information to make profit. Facebook knows privacy has been part of the society for a very longtime. The aspect of consumer protection and free market privacy has now become a norm for most of society. Facebook is a free service that people go to share their likes, dislikes, photos, and dating status. Facebook has several features that have a significant impact on privacy and security of personal information. These features have raise issues of collecting, distributing controlling and retaining information that many Facebook users have been unaware of. But Facebook need money to run the company, so they create ways that can trick users to sign up for certain type of updates which will direct allow the...
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...The sub-prime crisis of has led to a financial crisis in 2008-2009 that impacted many countries around the world. Discuss the cause of the sub-prime crisis and the major parties responsible. A number of parties were responsible for the sub-prime crisis during the period of 2008 to 2009. This essay will be discussing the parties responsible for the sub-prime crisis and how the individual party’s action causes the others to step deeper into the problem. As define by investopedia, sub-prime is “a classification of borrowers with a tarnished or limited credit history. Lenders will use a credit scoring system to determine which loans a borrower may qualify for. Subprime loans carry more credit risk, and as such, will carry higher interest rates as well.” The US subprime mortgage crisis was the catalysis of the finical crisis and subsequently cause the recession that began in 2008. The cause of sub-prime crisis arise from sub-prime loans or also know as sub-prime mortgage, the growth of this loan started expanding during the 1990s and such load is popularly seen in auto (car) loans, home equity (housing loans) and mortgage lending. Sub-prime loans are higher-risk loans labeled “B”, “C” and D credits, where “D” being the “worst”, resulting in a higher interest rate, which also mean a higher risk to the lenders. But it seem not to be a hindering problem, from the point of view of the finical institute who lend out the money, which will be explained later in this essay. In...
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...‘The US government’s response to the global financial crisis was to prop up some of the key financial institutions stating that they were “too big to fail” because such failures would have extremely serious consequences for the economy and society at large. Research newspaper articles and present a summary of what measures the US government took to protect these financial institutions. Provide examples. Explain and critically analyse both the shareholder and stakeholder models of corporate social responsibility. Can the US government’s actions be justified from either (or both) of these models? Consider both short and long-term consequences of this government intervention. Conclude whether the action taken by the US government is best for society?’ The Global Financial Crisis of the last few years has caused widespread problems for the US government, who were forced to spend billions of (taxpayer) dollars bailing out many of the world’s largest top banks. While a controversial decision, the US government acted on the belief that these institutions were ‘too big to fail’ and their collapse would have far reaching consequences that could have lead to a much dire situation. Throughout this essay, the causes and effects that lead to the GFC and the need for a bank bailout, along with what exactly it entailed will be presented. Then, the US governments’ response in bailing out the banks will be analysed using both a Stakeholder and Shareholder model of Corporate Social...
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...reported cost of the Obama Administration’s cash payments made to Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac was $130 billion (Cover). This number has been a well-publicized figure signaling the corruption of these two mortgage giants. In fact, enormous sums of money often become the public symbol for corruption when corporate fraud is committed. By the same token, Fannie Mae’s $9 billion of overstated earnings from 2001-2003 also became a strong representation for the executive deception that was committed during this time period (Harvard Law School Case). However, the reasons for the fraud itself are often overlooked. While we can’t be certain that executive compensation practices contributed to this fraud, it undoubtedly did not strengthen the idea of producing firm value for the benefit of shareholders. Fannie Mae was created in the midst of the Great Depression (1938) to buy mortgages from lenders so that money would be freed up for other borrowers (Pickert). Although Fannie started off with just $1 billion to purchase mortgages, the organization was extremely effective and shaped American home ownership for a new class of people that once were not considered creditworthy. Essentially, low to middle income buyers were able to receive credit and become homeowners due to the success of Fannie Mae. It is important to note that Fannie Mae was established with an amazing social mission in mind: to help American homeowners realize their dreams...
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