When you’re buying a home, there are multiple ways that you can go about paying for it. You can secure a mortgage by finding a bank or credit union in your area that offers home loans. There are also plenty of online lenders, like Rocket Mortgage and SoFi. You also have the option of getting a loan through a government-sponsored enterprise (GSE), such as Fannie Mae. Consider working with a financial advisor as you explore ways to finance or refinance your home.
What Is Fannie Mae?
Chances are, this isn’t the first time you’ve come across the name Fannie Mae. When the recession hit in 2008, the government bailed out Fannie Mae along with its counterpart, Freddie Mac. Technically called the Federal National Mortgage Association, Fannie Mae exists to help make homeownership a reality for families across the country, including those that may be struggling to stay afloat financially.
In fact, Fannie Mae has been a major player in the housing market since its inception back in 1938, in the midst of the Great Depression. In 2021, for example, Fannie Mae provided $1.4 trillion in liquidity to fund the housing market, helping individuals and families to buy, refinance and rent approximately 5.5 million homes. Fannie Mae has backed more mortgages for single-family homes than anyone else in the secondary mortgage market.
How Fannie Mae Functions
All Fannie Mae loans actually come from outside lenders, as it’s not part of the primary mortgage market. Fannie Mae routinely buys mortgages from banks and other private lenders, puts them together and turns them into mortgage-backed securities. Then, it sells those securities to various investors worldwide.
In doing so, Fannie Mae ensures that there’s liquidity in the market, meaning that mortgages can easily be bought and sold. And it leaves private lenders with enough security to work with more borrowers.
Fannie Mae Lenders
In order to partner with Fannie Mae, lenders must go through an application process and meet certain guidelines. For instance, they must be open and honest when processing subprime loans for people with poor credit and others who fall short of income requirements.
In exchange, Fannie Mae assumes the risk attached to borrowing and protects these mortgage lenders when homeowners don’t comply with their loan terms. It does business with so many different lenders that sometimes homebuyers aren’t even aware that Fannie Mae is backing their loan.
Is Fannie Mae backing your loan? To find out, simply go to its website and use the loan lookup tool. You might come to discover that Fannie Mae is behind your mortgage. If that’s the case, you could have access to special perks.
Fannie Mae Loan Requirements
Fannie Mae only deals with conforming loans for residential properties. That means it backs mortgages up to $647,200, or $970,800 if you’re buying a single-family home in a high-cost area. If your dream home requires a jumbo loan, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
To qualify for a home loan, you’ll need to hunt for an approved lender and complete a uniform residential loan application. It’s a good idea to set aside some time to get all of your financial documents in order, including your bank statements and tax forms. Your mortgage lender will look at multiple factors to determine whether you’re eligible for a loan, how much money you’ll be able to borrow and what your loan rate will look like.
Securing a loan may be tough if you don’t meet the criteria. Although there are exceptions, your debt-to-income ratio typically can’t exceed 36% of your monthly income. Occasionally those with a good FICO credit score and financial reserves might get a pass. Prospective homebuyers looking for a fixed-rate mortgage will need a credit score of at least 620. A minimum score of 640 is necessary to qualify for an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM).
Having a higher score can give you access to lower interest rates. You could also make a down payment as low as 3% if you’re buying a house for the first time. Trying to get a Fannie Mae loan with bad credit is inherently more difficult, though. You may have to go the extra mile to prove you can handle a mortgage.
If that’s your dilemma, you could apply for a mortgage backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), since it tends to be less stringent with borrowers whose scores are in the 500 to 580 range. You could also highlight the fact that you’ve kept up with your rental payments, or agree to make a larger down payment to entice a lender to give you a mortgage.
Bottom Line
If nothing else sticks with you, remember that Fannie Mae doesn’t lend any money directly to homebuyers. Instead, it acts as a bridge between lenders and consumers who can both benefit from having Fannie Mae back mortgages. From the beginning, Fannie Mae has helped make home buying more accessible and affordable for Americans.
Tips for Finding a Mortgage
- It can be tough to attain a complete view of the current mortgage rates available on the market. If you know where you want to live, your target home price and the size of your prospective down payment, you can utilize SmartAsset’s mortgage rates page.
- A financial advisor can offer valuable insight and guidance as you consider various financing options. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
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