Who issues mortgage securities?

The majority of mortgage securities are issued and/or guaranteed by an agency of the U.S. government, the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), or by government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac). Ginnie Mae is a government-owned corporation within the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are chartered by Congress, but owned by stockholders.