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Fannie Mae Posts Stunning Losses

Lender bled $29B last quarter, dwarfing total bubble gains

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 10, 2008 5:00 PM CST

(Newser) – Fannie Mae lost more in the third quarter of this year than it gained from soaring house prices between all of 2002 and 2006, the New York Times reports. The massive $29 billion loss, mainly from asset writedowns, means the company may need more than the $100 billion pledged from the government to stay afloat. Experts believe the results could also signal a prolonged fall in house prices.

Just how low can prices go? Fannie Mae estimates that the market has already dropped almost 10% since its peak in 2006, and will fall a total of 19% before hitting bottom. Analysts fear the effect this will have on the mortgage lender. “If they are talking about taking money now, it means they are eventually going to take more than we probably expected over the long run," noted one observer.

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Homeowners carry furniture outside the Fannie Mae building in northwest Washington last month after a symbolic eviction to protest home loan foreclosures. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Homeowners carry furniture outside the Fannie Mae building in northwest Washington last month in a symbolic eviction to protest home loan foreclosures. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Fannie Mae lost $29 billion in the third quarter, more than it earned between 2002 and 2006, and analysts aren't sure when the red ink will stop flowing. (Shutter Stock)

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The message from these results is that we're going to continue seeing housing problems for at least a year. - Moshe Orenbuch, an analyst who follows Fannie and Freddie for Credit Suisse

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Fannie Mae Posts Stunning Losses