following are copies of links to two articles summarizing seemingly contradictory and conflicting perspectives on the state of the mortgage market in the us.  the first is an article appearing in the february 9, 2010 on-line edition of the wall street journal by nick timiraos and james r. hagerty titled "no exit in sight for u. s. as fannie, freddie flail".  the second is an article appearing in the february 5, 2010 on-line edition of the seattle times by david cho, diana elboghdady, and neil irwin titled "mortgage markets brace for future without federal aid".  it would seem that while the federal government plans to shut off the "front door" spigot for direct federal government  purchases of real estate loans and mortgage-backed securities they have at the same time eliminated the previous $200 billion dollar cap on taxpayer subsidized "back door" purchases of real estate loans and mortgage-backed securities through the now federal government owned and controlled federal home loan mortgage corporation (fhlmc) (freddie mac) and government national mortgage association (gnma) (ginnie mae).  so, the "back" door spigot appears to now be wide open.