DownPayments

The administration's proposed revamp of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is actually an offering of multiple policy options, essentially passing the political hot potato to the Republicans. Problem is, any fix is sure to make mortgages costlier, with potential harm to the housing market.

Anyone who has ever bought a car and had the purchase financed by a dealership knows what a sweaty-palm experience it can be. Even the savviest of consumers are likely to blanch after the credit manager runs all the numbers and comes up with a payment that seems way higher than anticipated. And...

We've all heard that it's getting harder and harder to qualify for a new loan, but no one's been certain exactly what Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have set as rules in this new financial environment. In a story in today's Wall Street Journal, we find that a borrower needs a credit score of at least...