Marie Schutt is the managing editor of Chicago Agent

For an economy to thrive, people must be able to buy homes. It is a simple truth, but there is a complex interplay of many factors that make this possible: access to financing, home prices, employment, national and local laws, and many others. They all combine to create the opportunities available to potential homebuyers.

In this issue’s cover story, we’re diving deep into the question that is on everyone’s mind: How do you solve a problem like Fannie and Freddie? Whether the GSEs will be re-privatized or stay under government control, there will be consequences for the housing market. To better understand what roles Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have played in the housing market in the past, what roles they play now and how they will fit into housing’s future, we also have a comprehensive timeline charting their development over the decades. We also have the results of our mortgage survey – find out how agents like you say they’d change the mortgage industry for the better.

Comments? Questions? Please email me at marie@agentpublishing.com.