Multifamily Housing Finance

Credit enhancements are mechanisms for transferring credit risk from one party to another, such as mortgage insurance. This process could expand the availability of capital to finance the construction of decent and affordable multifamily rental housing. This report examines: the problems that have led to the shortage of mortgage financing for such housing; the factors limiting the expansion of opportunities for financing multifamily housing; alternative forms of federal credit enhancements; and ways to estimate and limit the Federal government's exposure to risk in adopting specific credit enhancements. Charts and tables.