Learn more about the home ownership issues that may affect you.

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  The Jobs-Home Ownership Connection

  Housing—and the jobs it creates—helps drive the U.S. economy. Learn more about how sustainable home ownership is an integral part of our financial ecosystem.

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  Revving Up for Home Ownership

  The Home Ownership Matters bus is on the road to celebrate the benefits of home ownership with you.

Questions you may be asking

• Why does home ownership matter to you, your wallet, your community, and the economy?

  Housing is a significant driver of the national economy— it accounts for more than 15% of the gross domestic product. In addition, six of the last eight recessions have ended as a result of robust housing markets; war spending ended the other two recessions. 

   

  It Pays to Support Responsible Home Ownership
  Understand the role that home ownership plays in our economy and the programs that help make it attainable and sustainable for responsible home owners.

   

  Your Mortgage Deduction: Turn Tax Savings into Home Value
  There’s savings to be had when you own a home and take the mortgage interest deduction each year. Here are some smart—and fun—ways to use your accumulated tax savings.

  
  Benefits of Home Ownership
  Being a home owner is more than just having a roof over your head. It offers important social benefits, like higher academic achievement, more cohesive communities, better connected families, improved health and safety, and a stronger economy.

   

• What does home ownership mean to you?

  Tell us on Facebook or join in other conversations.

   

   

   

   

   

• How does home ownership help produce jobs?

  Home ownership is strongly tied to jobs in this country. For every two homes sold, one job is created in this country. In addition, each home purchase generates as much as $60,000 in economic activity over time.

   

  “Jobs and Home Ownership. You Can’t Have One Without the Other” Ad

   

• How is my ability to own a home being threatened?

  Legislators and regulators are debating overhauls to various programs that could sink a home ownership tax benefit, require higher downpayments, and raise mortgage interest rates. That would make home ownership unaffordable for millions of qualified buyers and owners — perhaps even you. Read more about these issues.

   

  Home Ownership Under Assault: 4 Issues Threaten Housing Market Recovery
  Learn about the four-pronged assault on housing.
  
  
  

  FHA-Backed Loans Make Sense; It’s Congress’ Whims that are Nonsensical
  Thanks to mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), qualified home buyers can find financing with a 3.5% downpayment and a credit score as low as 620. But some lawmakers want buyers to put more skin in the game and raise the minimum downpayment for FHA loans. That would make home ownership less affordable for qualified buyers, reducing the pool of buyers for your home.
  
  
  

  ‘Extreme’ Changes to Fannie and Freddie Could Wallop Your Wallet
  If you’ve taken out a home mortgage or refinanced, federally chartered organizations Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were behind the scenes helping to keep your interest rate payments lower than they might otherwise have been. But some on Capitol Hill want to eliminate Fannie and Freddie, and make it harder for you to buy a home.
  
  
  

  Shotgun Plan for Lending Industry Woes Disincentive to Home Ownership
  Six government regulatory agencies want to require that borrowers who can’t put 20% down pay higher interest rates. 
  
  
  

  Attention Lawmakers: Taxpayers Oppose Ditching Mortgage Interest Deduction
  Several budget plans and proposals to reduce the federal budget deficit include eliminating or dramatically curbing the mortgage interest deduction. But the MID saves the typical itemizing American household about $3,000 per year.

   

• Why is some federal support for home ownership a good thing?

  Without government-supported mortgage programs from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, and VA, interest rates on home mortgages would rise.

   

  Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: A Look at Mortgage Lending Without Them
  Some legislators say we don’t need mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. What would happen if lawmakers got their way?

   

  How Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Save You Money
  Home owners who use Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgages save thousands of dollars in interest payments each year.

   

  Show Your Support for FHA
  FHA allows responsible borrowers with good credit to buy a home with as little as 3.5% down and to refinance easily.

   

  Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Incentives for Home Buyers
  Buying a home or your next home? Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac offer incentives to help you buy foreclosed properties. Both initiatives aim to stabilize communities and foster affordable home ownership. 

  Fannie Mae’s Homepath.com  

  Freddie Mac’s Homesteps.com

  
  

   

• What’s so great about the mortgage interest deduction?

  The mortgage interest deduction—representing hundreds and even thousands of dollars a year in tax saving to individual home owners—is helping to keep Americans in their homes at a time when many of them are struggling financially.

   

  7 Mortgage Interest Deduction Myths
  Think losing the mortgage interest deduction would be no big deal? We bust seven myths to show why the cost is bigger than you think.

   

  Your Mortgage Deduction: Turn Tax Savings into Home Value
  Sock away your mortgage deduction tax savings, and you’ll have a nice cushion for life’s necessities—and a few luxuries. Here’s how a typical household might spend their tax savings at various life stages.

   

  Mortgage Interest Deduction Vital to Housing Market
  The mortgage deduction saves the average home owner thousands of dollars at tax time, supports home values at the community level, and helps home buyers get into their first house.

   

  Deduct Mortgage Interest and Home Equity Loans
  Deducting mortgage interest, as well as interest on home equity loans and HELOCs, can save you money on taxes.

   

• What’s the Home Ownership Matters bus tour?

  Home Ownership Matters Bus Tour Hits the Road
  The bus made stops in three cities to raise awareness about the benefits of home ownership and of how shifting priorities and public policies in Washington could affect home ownership.

   

• Where has the bus been?

  Chicago

   

  Denver

   

  Portland, Ore.

   

  Atlanta

   

  Tuscaloosa, Ala.

   

  Memphis

   

  Joplin, Mo.

   

  Des Moines, Iowa