In an October 12 Wall Street Journal op-ed, American Enterprise Institute senior fellow Peter Wallison claimed protesters' “anger should be directed at those who developed the federal government's housing policies” and blamed “Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac” and the Community Reinvestment Act for being “responsible for the financial crisis.” From the Wall Street Journal:
Beginning in 1992, the government required Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to direct a substantial portion of their mortgage financing to borrowers who were at or below the median income in their communities. The original legislative quota was 30%. But the Department of Housing and Urban Development was given authority to adjust it, and through the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush administrations HUD raised the quota to 50% by 2000 and 55% by 2007.
It is certainly possible to find prime borrowers among people with incomes below the median. But when more than half of the mortgages Fannie and Freddie were required to buy were required to have that characteristic, these two government-sponsored enterprises had to significantly reduce their underwriting standards.
Fannie and Freddie were not the only government-backed or government-controlled organizations that were enlisted in this process. The Federal Housing Administration was competing with Fannie and Freddie for the same mortgages. And thanks to rules adopted in 1995 under the Community Reinvestment Act, regulated banks as well as savings and loan associations had to make a certain number of loans to borrowers who were at or below 80% of the median income in the areas they served.
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The huge government investment in subprime mortgages achieved its purpose. Home ownership in the U.S. increased to 69% from 65% (where it had been for 30 years). But it also led to the biggest housing bubble in American history.
Previously:
Quick Fact: Dana Perino falsely claims Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac caused the economic crisis
NY Times Piece Echoes Right-Wing Falsehood On Financial Crisis
Hannity baselessly blamed Democrats, CRA for financial crisis
Still Wrong: Crowley Revives Myth That Community Reinvestment Act Caused Financial Crisis