Real estate/mortgage markets.

• Author: Rees, Matthew
• Position: Just the Facts: TIE's Executive News Service

"As of June, 2.8 percent of homes previously occupied by an owner were vacant. Nearly one in ten rentals was without a tenant. Both numbers are near their highest levels since 1956, the earliest year for which the Census Bureau has such data."

--New York Times, October 16

"Between 2005 and 2008, Fannie purchased or guaranteed at least $270 billion in loans to risky borrowers--more than three times as much as in all its earlier years combined, according to company filings and industry data."

--New York Times, October 5

"In order to curry congressional support after their accounting scandals in 2003 and 2004, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac committed to increased financing of "affordable...