Freddie Mac White Paper Examines Multifamily Housing in High Opportunity Areas

Rhea-AI Summary

Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) has released a white paper addressing the affordable housing crisis in High Opportunity Areas, focusing on local land-use rules and their impact on access to affordable rentals. The research highlights that only 11% of rental stock in these areas is affordable for low-income renters. The study suggests that preserving both multifamily and single-family rental housing is crucial for improving access and economic mobility. The findings aim to inform policy changes that could enhance the availability of rental housing.

Positive

• Research highlights the need for policy changes to increase affordable housing access.
• Focus on both multifamily and single-family housing could help enhance economic mobility.

Negative

• Only 11% of rental housing in High Opportunity Areas is affordable for low-income renters.

MCLEAN, Va., Dec. 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today released a white paper examining the availability of affordable housing for renters in High Opportunity Areas, which provide residents with access to quality education, employment, health care and transportation. The research examines local land-use rules and access to high opportunity areas as defined by state Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) programs using three different markets as case studies: Chicago, IL Columbus, OH and Fairfax County, VA. The research, which is part of Freddie Mac’s Duty to Serve plan, is intended to aid the consideration of methods to increase access to high opportunity areas for low-income renters.

“Only about 11% of the very limited rental housing stock in high opportunity areas is affordable to low-income renters,” said Corey Aber, senior director of Multifamily Mission, Policy and Strategy at Freddie Mac. “While we see some signs of more multifamily housing being built, much of the land is zoned for single-family housing. Affordable housing strategies that include the preservation of both multifamily and single-family rental housing can be important to increasing access to high opportunity areas and the economic mobility that might result.”

Freddie Mac’s research looks at the relationship between zoning and access to rental housing in high opportunity areas. The paper suggests that as states and localities undertake policy changes and provide economic incentives to create new supply, it is also important to consider how to best leverage the existing rental housing stock—both single-family rental and multifamily. Public and private innovations that seek to preserve or increase the affordability of existing rental housing of both types could help increase access to high opportunity areas for low-income renters in the near term.

Freddie Mac Multifamily is the nation's multifamily housing finance leader. Historically, more than 90% of the eligible rental units we fund are affordable to families with low-to-moderate incomes earning up to 120% of area median income.  

Freddie Mac makes home possible for millions of families and individuals by providing mortgage capital to lenders. Since our creation by Congress in 1970, we've made housing more accessible and affordable for homebuyers and renters in communities nationwide. We are building a better housing finance system for homebuyers, renters, lenders and taxpayers. Learn more at FreddieMac.com, Twitter @FreddieMac and Freddie Mac's blog FreddieMac.com/blog.

MEDIA CONTACT: Mike Morosi
(703) 918-5851
Michael_Morosi@FreddieMac.com
Erin Mancini
(703) 903-1530
Erin_Mancini@FreddieMac.com

FAQ

What is the main finding of Freddie Mac's research on affordable housing in High Opportunity Areas?

Freddie Mac's research found that only 11% of rental housing in High Opportunity Areas is affordable for low-income renters.

What does the white paper by Freddie Mac recommend for improving access to affordable housing?

The white paper recommends preserving both multifamily and single-family rental housing to enhance access to affordable housing.

Which regions were studied in Freddie Mac's affordable housing research?

The research examined affordable housing availability in Chicago, IL; Columbus, OH; and Fairfax County, VA.

How does Freddie Mac plan to address the affordable housing crisis?

Freddie Mac aims to inform policy changes and leverage existing rental housing stock to improve access for low-income renters.

What is Freddie Mac's role in the housing finance market?

Freddie Mac is a leader in multifamily housing finance, focusing on making housing more accessible and affordable.