Reason Foundation

Recent Research and Commentary

Housing Bubble Over? Hardly

February 9, 2012, 2:20pm

Anthony Randazzo

I would expect we'll see prices fade past the "fair value" level that we are nearly back to on a national level, before hitting bottom. I also don't think it is possible to reach a natural bottom with all of the government subsidy money for housing finance still in the system. Even if we bottom out by the end of 2012, since housing finance reform won't be completed by then, it will be a false bottom and the renewal of another bubble.

House Passes Legislation Putting the GSEs on Budget

February 8, 2012, 3:41pm

Anthony Randazzo

The House of Representatives voted yesterday to put Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on budget. This should be bigger news than anyone is getting it. As the bill (H.R. 3581) would profoundly change the way the government counts its debt, it should at minimum be a topic in the presidential debate.

New at Reason: The Revamped HAMP and Some Corrections for the Record

February 3, 2012, 4:35pm

Anthony Randazzo

Over at Reason.com, I have a piece today commenting on the revamped HAMP (coming on the heals of "new" new changes to HARP) program announced by the White House last week.

President’s “New” New Refi Plan Turns Out to Be Secret Stimulus

February 2, 2012, 2:38pm

Anthony Randazzo

Last week on the blog we noted that the President sounded like he was proposing a secret stimulus in his State of the Union by talking about helping out the housing market and suggesting a new refinance program (or “new” new refi program since HARP 2.0 was just a few months ago). It looks like our fears were mostly justified.

Freddie Didn't Bet Against Homeowners, It Gambled With Taxpayer Money

January 31, 2012, 9:12am

Anthony Randazzo

This is one of the last places you will find me defending Freddie Mac, but as much as I would like to pile on to the recent story that Freddie "bet against homeowners" the reality is that the nature of the story completely misses the point: Freddie gambled with taxpayer money.

Still Considering Strategic Defaults

January 30, 2012, 8:07am

Anthony Randazzo

I received an email this weekend from a reader asking about the effectiveness of strategic defaults. Even though this has been long debated, the continued weakness in housing has kept the discussion alive.

More »