By Ian McKendry

WASHINGTON (MNI) – The conservatorship of the government-sponsored
enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could cost taxpayers another $73
billion (net of dividends) through 2021 according to the Obama
administration’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2012.

The budget proposal said the additional $73 billion cost to
taxpayers is 45% less than the net cost of Fannie and Freddie to date,
noting that so far the two mortgage giants have received $131 billion
dollars in support from the U.S Treasury Department.

“The Budget proposes to gradually reduce the investment portfolios
and size and amount of loans guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
and ending the conservatorship of these companies,” the proposal said.

Consistent with the administration’s white paper on the future of
housing finance released Friday, the budget proposal said the
Administration will continue to support Fannie and Freddie while
reducing the governments role in the mortgage market “over time.”

“We will continue to ensure that the GSEs have sufficient capital
to honor any guarantees issued now or in the future and the ability to
meet any of their debt obligations during the period they are under
conservatorship,” the proposal said.

The FY’12 budget released Monday assumes Treasury’s cumulative
investment in Fannie and Freddie will be $224 billion for the years 2009
through 2012 and will receive dividends of $55 billion from that
investment.

The administration’s budget said $150.8 billion has been invested
in the GSEs as of December 31, 2010 and that Treasury has received a
$20.2 billion quarterly dividend from Fannie and Freddie — based on the
redemption value of Treasury’s senior preferred stock holdings.

“We will also seek to facilitate a market that provides stable and
widely available mortgage credit, affordable housing options for low and
middle-income homeowners and renters, and has stronger protections for
consumers and better disclosure as mandated by the financial regulatory
reform,” the administration’s proposal said.

** Market News International Washington Bureau: (202) 371-2121 **

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