Former top housing regulator joins DC think tank

A former top housing regulator has joined a Washington-based think tank to help steer its policies on mortgage finance reform and other challenges faced by the sector.

Edward DeMarco, who spent nearly five years as acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), has joined the Milken Institute’s Center for Financial Markets as a senior fellow-in-residence to tackle housing issues.

{mosads}“Housing policy is one of the most crucial financial issues facing the nation,” said Staci Warden, Milken executive director. “With Ed’s leadership, we look forward to driving an increasingly solutions-oriented policy discussion in the coming year.”

DeMarco has 28 years of public service experience in a number of financial markets areas; most notably he spent September 2009 until January at the FHFA.

“I look forward to speaking and writing on housing finance and housing policy issues from an influential platform,” DeMarco said.

The center’s goals are to educate stakeholders about the economic implications of housing-related policy decisions and to develop nonpartisan solutions for increasing private-sector capital in the housing market.

DeMarco joins senior fellow and University of Maryland Professor Phillip Swagel, the former Treasury assistant secretary for economic policy.

“Working with other Milken Institute scholars, Ed DeMarco will strengthen the Institute’s focus on the appropriate role of government in the economy,” said Michael Milken, the institute’s chairman.

“We are delighted to have the benefit of his experience and expertise.”