Ginnie Mae is government-owned corporation operating within the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). More formally known as the Government National Mortgage Association, Ginnie Mae doesn't buy or sell loans or issue mortgage-backed securities. Rather, it manages the mortgage-backed securities program, providing liquidity, allowing lenders to obtain better prices for their loans on the secondary market, and lowering costs for homebuyers and renters throughout the nation, particularly low- to moderate-income Americans. Since its creation in 1968, Ginnie Mae has guaranteed more than $2.5 trillion in mortgage-backed securities and helped more than 34 million Americans secure affordable housing.