Government National Mortgage Association - Government-sponsored Enterprises and Government-owned Enterprises

Government-sponsored Enterprises and Government-owned Enterprises

Ginnie Mae is a wholly owned government corporation. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, on the other hand, are "government-sponsored enterprises" (GSEs), which are federally chartered corporations, but still privately owned by shareholders. In September 2008, the GSEs were placed under government conservatorship, effectively wiping out shareholders.

Ginnie Mae neither originates nor purchases mortgage loans nor buys, sells or issues securities in the U.S. capital markets. The credit risk on the mortgage collateral underlying its MBS securities primarily resides with other insuring government agencies. Rather, Ginnie Mae is the guarantor of MBS issued by government-approved securities issuers who participate in Ginnie Mae’s program.