Number of the Week: Government's Overwhelming Role in Mortgages

92%-- The share of new mortgage loans backed by the U.S. government

One of the most crucial issues in safeguarding the U.S. against another financial disaster is figuring out what to do with Fannie Maeand Freddie Mac, the giant mortgage firms the government bailed out in the midst of the financial crisis. Given how deeply the government has waded into the mortgage market, it won’t be an easy task.