Freddie Mac CEO Has This Observation About Rent Control

David Brickman

WASHINGTON, DC—Rent control measures have been put into place in Oregon and New York City and are gaining momentum in several other jurisdictions. The case for it is well-known: housing affordability has become a serious issue for the working class and even, in many cases, the middle class as well. Rent control measures, the theory goes, provides some relief to consumers already stretched for housing.

So what does Freddie Mac CEO David Brickman have to say about this trend? Housing affordability, after all, is among the top mandates for the GSE. “As a 20-year veteran at Freddie Mac I embrace our mission of affordability,” he tells GlobeSt.com, “and these days affordability is one of our biggest challenges and opportunities. We are always asking ourselves ‘how can we do more with helping affordability and the issue of supply.’” Simply put, he adds, the US is not building enough affordable housing.