One thing I think has become clear to investors is that the US Government will always "socialized the losses" for Housing. Which is to say that while such ventures could be considered risky investments (particularly during a downturn), the US Government has made clear that there's a floor on housing and that the money-gates will open if things turn bad.

So in essence the US government has created, for corporations, a nearly risk free investment. Highly profitable in the good years, and the bill picked up by all of us in the bad years.