by Calculated Risk on 7/03/2012 11:54:00 AM

From the FHFA: FHFA Announces Next Steps in REO Pilot Program

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced that the winning bidders in a real estate owned (REO) pilot initiative have been chosen and transactions are expected to close early in the third quarter. Market response has been robust with strong qualified bidder interest.

“FHFA undertook this initiative to help stabilize communities and home values in areas hard-hit by the foreclosure crisis,” said Edward J. DeMarco, Acting Director of FHFA. “As conservator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, we believe this pilot program will assist us in achieving our objectives and help to maximize the benefit to taxpayers. We are pleased with the response from the market and look forward to closing transactions in the near future.”

FHFA launched the pilot program in late February, and in the second quarter bids were solicited from qualified investors to purchase approximately 2,500 single-family Fannie Mae foreclosed properties. Fannie Mae offered for sale pools of properties in geographically concentrated locations across the United States.

This transaction will close soon, but will this program be expanded? I'm trying to find out ...