Who is Fannie Mae and what do they do?

Fannie Mae is the nickname for the Federal National Mortgage Association—the government sponsored entity that provides funding to mortgage lenders by buying mortgages and selling the debt to investors. The primary purpose of Fannie Mae is to ensure that there are affordable housing options and programs for homebuyers, sellers, and renters. They do this by setting lending guidelines to ensure that loans are originated fairly and that home loans are not given to those who cannot afford them.