Fannie Mae will expand liquidity, stability and affordability by increasing its participation in key segments of the multifamily market, the company said today. The firm invested $20 billion in multifamily housing in the first half of 2008. According to a new report by Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies, households should grow rapidly over the next several years, from an increase of 12.6 million households from the years 1995 to 2005, to an increase of 14.4 million from 2010 to 2020. Growth is primarily due to the number and age distribution of the adult population. In an effort to meet the rapidly-increasing demand for rental housing, Fannie Mae is increasing its commitment to purchase Small Multifamily Loans of up to $3 million, or $5 million in certain markets. The company invested approximately $5 billion in Small Loans in the first half of 2008, a significant increase over 2007 mid-year production of $3 billion. In addition, Fannie Mae plans to build on its market leadership in the Seniors Housing permanent debt market despite declining sales of seniors housing properties from the record pace of 2006 and 2007. Credit conditions have made investing in seniors housing in 2008 more challenging. The company provided over $1 billion in financing for Seniors Housing in the first half of 2008, and has increased its staff to help serve more borrowers and meet a multi-billion production goal for the year.







