Special Topics

In our Special Topics series, we look closely at data collected through our National Housing Survey^®, Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey^®, and customized research to explore specific trends, challenges, and opportunities facing consumers and mortgage lenders in today's housing market.

Lenders Cite Cost-Cutting as Top 2022 Business Priority
July 27, 2022​
Mortgage lenders' business priorities shifted significantly this past quarter compared to prior years, according to Fannie Mae's Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey® (MLSS), with cost-cutting now the most frequently cited business priority.
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Expect the Unexpected: Green Upgrades and Home Repair Costs
July 19, 2022​
Late last year, we leveraged our National Housing Survey® to ask homeowners about their interest in "green" home improvements, as well as the financial costs associated with making home repairs generally.
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Lenders See Considerable Value in Appraisal Modernization
May 11, 2022​
To better understand lenders’ views on appraisal modernization, including benefits, implementation challenges, and possible applications, Fannie Mae’s Economic & Strategic Research (ESR) Group surveyed senior mortgage executives in February 2022 using its quarterly Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey®.
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Consumers Discuss Affordability and the Impact of Remote Work on Housing Preferences
April 12, 2022​
As part of Fannie Mae’s Q3 2021 National Housing Survey®, we asked homeowners and renters for their thoughts on housing affordability and the impact that remote work has had on the way they view housing.
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Mortgage lenders discuss the intersection of blockchain and housing finance
March 21, 2022​
Fannie Mae's Economic and Strategic Research Group asked senior mortgage executives for their opinions on blockchain technology, including whether they plan to adopt it and its potential impact on the housing industry.
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Consumers Open Up About Homeownership and Rental Education
January 6, 2022​
As part of the Q2 2021 National Housing Survey, we asked both homeowners and renters about the information they're most interested in as they prepare for, and embark on, the homeownership and mortgage journey, as well as the information sources most useful to them.
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Mortgage Lenders Opine on How to Best Address the Homeownership Gap
November 17, 2021​
At Fannie Mae, we know that homeownership is one of the most effective ways to improve the financial, social, and emotional well-being of individuals, families, and communities. However, for decades, low- and moderate-income people in the United States have struggled to make gains in homeownership.
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The Pandemic's Impact on Mortgage Digitization and Homebuyer Satisfaction
July 15, 2021​
As part of Fannie Mae's Q1 2021 National Housing Survey, consumers reported a preference for a mix of digital and in-person resources, depending on the task, and once again expressed satisfaction with the mortgage process, despite the challenges presented by the pandemic.
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Mortgage Lenders Cite Business Process Streamlining and Talent Management as Top Business Priorities
July 12, 2021​
For three consecutive years, lenders have cited business process streamlining, talent management and leadership, and consumer-facing technology as their top business priorities.
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