The Commercial Real Estate Alpha Site

Mortgage finance company Freddie Mac said it will allow some borrowers to rent out their homes after losing them to foreclosure.

The goal of the new policy, announced Friday, is to prevent properties from becoming vacant so they won’t fall into disrepair.

Freddie Mac also said it will allow renters to remain in their homes even if their landlord enters foreclosure. The McLean, Va.-based company currently has about 8,500 properties in the foreclosure process, but many of those are vacant.

“Keeping foreclosed properties occupied and in better repair will support local property values and promote a faster recovery in the housing market,” said Freddie Mac Chief Executive David Moffett.

Fannie Mae, which announced similar plans earlier this month, said it has stopped about 20,000 foreclosure sales and halted 6,300 evictions of owners or renters this winter. Under Freddie Mac’s new policy, tenants and former property owners need to demonstrate that they have enough income to pay the rental bill.

Freddie Mac also said it would consider reinstating a mortgage for those borrowers who can qualify for a modified loan. Washington-based Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were taken over by the government in September after mounting mortgage losses put them in distress that was a prelude to the broader financial crisis that hit Wall Street last year.

Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac also said Friday they would extend a previously announced suspension of evictions through the end of February. Fannie and Freddie combined own or guarantee about half of the $10.6 trillion in outstanding U.S. home loan debt.

I LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER!!!

Personally, I find this story to be kind of pointless. I am sure the folks it has affected directly who stay in their homes and rent them feel differently, but alas, why not conclude that if they are income suffiecient to stay on and rent for a certain amount, why not work to find terms to achieve the same thing on a loan for purchase, whether through modification or refinancing. I can see the small benefit to communities and Fannie and Freddie, but I also see a lot of needless angst, stress and paperwork. Maybe I am in a bad mood when I write this, because a little part of me, feels like I am just playing Devils Advocate here and I also want to believe that this is a great idea!