It's been a very good year. I think we've proven, once again, that home buyers in America have the best, most efficient housing finance system in the world. An economist might say it's because of the strong job market and good demographics, but we have a better story to tell. It's about our strong partnership with its clearly defined roles. Our system is structured with an almost elegant simplicity.
Lenders serve consumers in the primary market.
And in the secondary market, Fannie Mae serves you by providing a reliable source of lowest-cost financing for the mortgages your originate and better, faster ways to process them. Best of all, home buyers are happier. According to Fannie Mae's 1999 National Housing Survey, consumers are more satisfied and comfortable than ever with the home-buying experience. Our industry has taken on and broken down the biggest barriers they face, from down payments to income to information, and we've even made progress in fighting discrimination. The mortgage process involves less hassle and paperwork, and lenders are providing faster underwriting decisions through systems like Desktop Originator and Desktop Underwriter.