Ginnie Mae Announces New Disclosure for Rural Borrowers

Washington, D.C.- Today, Ginnie Mae introduced a new monthly disclosure that provides detailed information on loans in active Ginnie Mae mortgage-backed securities (MBS) with rural borrowers. Effective immediately, the disclosure will be available on the sixth business day of every month.

In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and USDA geographers, we developed the data parameters for this initiative, focusing on accurately defining rural borrowers. Using the USDA's Rural-Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) Codes, we determined that borrowers residing in RUCA codes 4 through 10 would be classified as rural. Ginnie Mae will disclose the number of loans at the MBS level with rural borrowers and the percentage of unpaid principal balance represented by these loans. ​

"Ginnie Mae is charged specifically with supporting access to mortgage credit in rural communities," said Ginnie Mae Acting President Sam Valverde. "Given that many Veterans Affairs and Federal Housing Administration borrowers live in rural areas, this expanded rural definition helps demonstrate our commitment to these communities. This new disclosure will also give investors a clearer view of the social mission of our securities program."

"This disclosure adds more granularity regarding our MBS collateral makeup," said Richard Perrelli, Product Manager, Office of Capital Markets. "This enables investors to shift from an over-emphasis upon the insuring agency program by including additional borrower attributes. These factors will help create superlative MBS valuation models."

About Ginnie Mae

Ginnie Mae is a wholly owned government corporation that attracts global capital into the housing finance system to support homeownership for veterans and millions of homeowners throughout the country. Ginnie Mae MBS programs directly support housing finance programs administered by the Federal Housing Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Public and Indian Housing, and the Department of Agriculture Rural Housing Service. Ginnie Mae is the only MBS to carry the explicit full faith and credit of the U. S. Government.