Rep. Waters Files Bill to Compel GSE Loan Principal Reductions
February 10, 2012
The second most senior Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee has filed a bill that would require Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to reduce the principal on loans they own or guarantee.The Principal Reduction Act of 2012, H.R. 3841, sponsored by Rep. Maxine Waters, D-CA, would prevent foreclosure of, and provide for the reduction of principal on, mortgages held by the GSEs.Specifically the bill would require Fannie and Freddie to reduce principal to a 90 percent loan-to-value ratio. It would protect taxpayers by requiring shared appreciation of one-third of the profits if the home is sold and it would allow the GSEs to recapture any reduced funds if the loan subsequently defaults and enters foreclosure.