Freddie sees eased reporting rules.

WASHINGTON - Freddie Mac spoke softly but made many of the same points as Fannie Mae in its response to HUD's new targets for low-income housing loans.

Tone of Letter

In a letter sent last Wednesday to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Freddie Mac stressed that factors outside its control affect the supply of low-income housing and its capacity to meet HUD's goals.

Like Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac asked HUD to relax some of the rigorous data collection and reporting requirements outlined in last month's rules. HUD will use the data to monitor Fannie and Freddie's compliance.

Though the issues raised were similar, the tone of Freddie's letter was somewhat "tamer" than Fannie's, said Chris Lewis, director of banking and housing policy at the Consumer Federation of America.

Congress directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac last year to ensure that 30% of the housing units financed by loans they purchase be for low-income and moderate-income people, and that 30% be in central cities.

Goals Vary Slightly

HUD told Fannie Mae, formally the Federal National Mortgage Association, and Freddie Mac - the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. - that they must meet those goals in 1994. For 1993, the low-income and moderate-income goal for Freddie was 28%, and the central city-goal was 26%.

Those goals were two percentage points higher for Fannie.

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