Topic: Mortgage Market

The Trump administration is working to take mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac public while maintaining government oversight. These entities, which guarantee 70% of the U.S. mortgage market, have been in federal conservatorship since the 2008 financial crisis. The move aims to fully exit the government bailout phase and return the companies to private operation.

The UK property market is facing a crisis as traditional "property ladders" break down and interest rates rise. Landlords are passing increased mortgage costs to tenants or selling properties, leading to a substantial surge in rents across the country.

President Barack Obama claimed credit for a healing housing market and lower foreclosure rates in a recent address. The hosts critique his use of first-person possessives regarding government agencies and discuss the barriers created by FICA scores for middle-class families seeking the "American Dream."

Adam Curry reports on the collapse of the Dutch housing market driven by new austerity measures from Brussels. The government is ending tax deductions for interest-only mortgages, forcing homeowners to convert to principal-repayment plans. This shift has frozen the market as property values decline and homeowners struggle with increased monthly costs.

The hosts discuss whether the housing market has bottomed out, noting significant regional differences. While national trends show a continued slide, specific areas like Austin, Texas, and the San Francisco Bay Area are seeing increased construction and stabilizing prices.

The CIA has reportedly been operating in Nigeria since July 2009, following confrontations with the Boko Haram sect. The rapid coordination of city raids in Nigeria and the focus on Yemen are viewed as pre-planned operations accelerated by the Detroit bombing attempt. The "crotch bomber" narrative is identified as a primary media distraction from significant changes in federal spending and mortgage market oversight.