I’m going to jump in here

the FHFA and other housing specific agencies can’t do much to address affordable housing, baring them instituting some form of subsidized program that permanently buys down mortgage interest rates. And there isn’t much of an appetite for that

Where the fed is screwing up, and what needs to be done

Right now inflation is being tackled by trying to dramatically curb demand by raising rates, which simultaneously increases housing costs and affordability.

The problem is, there is a massive housing shortage, so this process only really pushes out the individuals who are already on the fringes. In other words, it’s making it worse

What needs to be done, are federal and state level policies that stimulate supply

These should include tax incentives (both positive and negative incentives) for individuals and companies to sell Non Owner Occupied homes

Tax incentives to home owners to sell to Owner Occupants vs Investors

Tax incentives to stimulate new construction

Streamline permitting for new construction

Source : 30 years in the mortgage industry

To be perfectly honest, I have no idea what role FHLBs or FHFA play in supplying housing. Like zero.

Can you give a brief summary of the pipeline of financing and responsibilities for these agencies are? Are they actual government entities, or are they similar to the Federal Reserve which is both public and private?

Save for individuals familiar with their roles already, I feel like most people don't even know these entities exist. I didn't, and I work in a field where I help design and build affordable housing projects...

I just want to buy a house.

Why do I have to compete with corporations?

I only know about FHLBanks from the monthly bond offerings I see from my broker. Is this part of the issue? It seems like a lot of big names in financial services industry are dealers for FHLB debt securities.

I would assume many of them would oppose any changes that make the debt offerings less attractive to people looking to buy fixed income products.

Isn’t the mass buying of homes the real disruptive force to the market? We aren’t talking about widgets here

Is it hard having all that responsibility despite being 14 years old? What do you want to be when you grow up?

[removed]

In other words -- the increase in housing prices is driven by speculation and housing as an investment vehicle rather than by immediate demand by people who actually want to live in houses.

This is EXACTLY the kind of solution we need, I hope you can spend some of your retirement as an activist :)

Only members of FHLBs can borrow from FHLBs. In this sense, it's a very exclusive "club". Borrowing rates from the FHLBs are subsidized by you and me as taxpayers.

The question is, "What benefit do we as taxpayers get in return for our subsidization of the FHLBs?" Currently the answer to that question is, "Nothing".

Standard term in AmeriCorps is 10 months. I loved my time and think everyone should get to do it, but I had to work a second job to pay rent and had zero savings.

This idea could work if we also subsidized housing for the folks doing the service.

He doesn't say the disruption would be a bad thing, just that it isn't likely to happen

How does getting a home loan from the FHLB differ from getting one from a bank?

Going by the nickname "Connie" led to some comments about the song, "A Boy Named Sue". Commotion ensued...

My first home was purchased with -0- down payment courtesy the VA and the GI Bill.

How about a similar benefit for a year of national service?

Were you ever bullied for being named Cornelius?

I also go by "Connie". "Corney" drives me nutz...

As a non real estate investor, I have to think that whoever figures out the transition from retail and office space to whatever comes next will be the winner. Great question but several notches above my pay-grade.

How do your friends call you? Are you "Corney" to them?

Already in the works. A bill was introduced this week in Congress.

What do you think our the biggest opportunities for real estate investors right now and in the next year with a higher interest rate environment?

[removed]

FHLBs are SEC registrants but their shares do not trade.

Very interesting, this has been insightful. Thank you!

Totally get it! It was tough enough before the spike in mortgage rates. Increasing the FHLBs affordable housing quota to 50% would help but it would still be a drop in the bucket. Here's a suggestion for 45 million people who are struggling with the overhang of student debt...allow them to discharge that debt in bankruptcy. student debt is the only debt that is not dischargeable this way. This is before Congress now. Tell Sen. Durbin and Schumer to get off their a...s.