Fannie Mae has recently reversed a long-standing
policy that allowed
lenders to include the income
of the relocating spouse/partner to qualify for a loan sold to them prior to the spouse/partner actually securing new employment. Going forward, the new underwriting guideline will have detrimental consequences for relocating families, since transferees applying for mortgages will no longer be able to include the co-borrower's income, unless employment in the new location
is secured and documented.
Transferring employees will either have to qualify on the basis of one income and buy 'less house' than they wanted, or they may be required to rent for an extended period of time until their spouse/partner is re-employed. This could drag out the relocation process (which was already slowed by the economy) even further. If a couple must wait to purchase a new home until the spouse/partner can find a new job, it could cause some to reconsider whether a transfer is the right choice for them.
Fannie Mae is a government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) chartered by Congress with a mission to provide liquidity, stability and affordability to the U.S. housing and mortgage markets.
Freddie Mac has not changed their guideline on spousal/partner employment however fewer lenders underwrite to Freddie Mac guidelines.
Greetings! 
policies were designed for a predictable real estate market. Today's market is anything but predictable and employees who own homes are not moved quickly. For the first time ever, the number one reason in reluctance to relocate is the employee's fear of not being able to sell their home. Family ties are now second. 
