• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Financemortgages

A mortgage market so tough even Ben Bernanke can’t refinance

By
Ben Geier
Ben Geier
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Ben Geier
Ben Geier
Down Arrow Button Icon
October 3, 2014, 1:20 PM ET
Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke Speaks At The Brookings Institution
Ben S. Bernanke, chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, listens to a question during a discussion at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014. Bernanke defended quantitative easing, saying it has helped the economy while posing little risk of inflation. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesPhotograph by Andrew Harrer — Bloomberg/Getty Images

Refinancing your home is, apparently, very hard. So hard, in fact, that even former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke can’t do it.

According to a Bloomberg report, at a conference in Chicago Bernanke told Mark Zandi of Moody’s Analytics Inc. that he’d “recently tried to refinance my mortgage and I was unsuccessful in doing so.”

Cue laughter from the audience, followed by the man once responsible for U.S. monetary policy defending his own mortgage troubles.

“I’m not making that up,” he reportedly said.

He also commented on the broader lending landscape, saying that lenders “may have gone a little bit too far on mortgage credit conditions.”

The interview took place at The National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care.

The mortgage credit market might still be tight, but there may be something else going on here, as the New York Times’ Neil Irwin explains.

About the Author
By Ben Geier
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Finance

trump
PoliticsWhite House
America’s paying more at the pump. Trump’s new Air Force One jet donated by Qatar is nearly ready
By Jonathan J. Cooper and The Associated PressMay 2, 2026
13 minutes ago
croatia
Travel & Leisuretourism
War in Iran has Croatia’s tourist hotspot wondering: will Dubrovnik host another 4 million visitors in 2026?
By Darko Bandic and The Associated PressMay 2, 2026
18 minutes ago
shoplift
EconomyGen Z
Gen Z is rebelling against the economy with ‘disillusionomics,’ tackling near 6-figure debt by turning life into a giant list of income streams
By Jacqueline MunisMay 2, 2026
20 minutes ago
Suze Orman once said earning more than $800,000 would make her ‘sick to my stomach’—but that turning down Oprah Winfrey cured her self-doubt
SuccessHow I made my first million
Suze Orman once said earning more than $800,000 would make her ‘sick to my stomach’—but that turning down Oprah Winfrey cured her self-doubt
By Orianna Rosa RoyleMay 2, 2026
28 minutes ago
Pope Leo XIV encourages wealthy U.S. Catholics to keep donating after Papal Foundation approves most grants in its history
PoliticsPope
Pope Leo XIV encourages wealthy U.S. Catholics to keep donating after Papal Foundation approves most grants in its history
By Nicole Winfield and The Associated PressMay 2, 2026
1 hour ago
Berkshire’s cash pile hits $397.4 billion as profit more than doubles, but annual meeting attendance falls sharply without Warren Buffett as CEO
InvestingBerkshire Hathaway
Berkshire’s cash pile hits $397.4 billion as profit more than doubles, but annual meeting attendance falls sharply without Warren Buffett as CEO
By Josh Funk and The Associated PressMay 2, 2026
1 hour ago

Most Popular

Scott Bessent on financial literacy: 'it drives me crazy' to see young men in blue-collar construction jobs playing the lottery
Personal Finance
Scott Bessent on financial literacy: 'it drives me crazy' to see young men in blue-collar construction jobs playing the lottery
By Fatima Hussein and The Associated PressMay 1, 2026
1 day ago
China dominates the world's lithium supply. The U.S. just found 328 years' worth in its own backyard
North America
China dominates the world's lithium supply. The U.S. just found 328 years' worth in its own backyard
By Jake AngeloApril 30, 2026
2 days ago
The U.S. economy is booming — just not where 50 million Americans live
Commentary
The U.S. economy is booming — just not where 50 million Americans live
By Derek KilmerMay 1, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of May 1, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of May 1, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 1, 2026
1 day ago
A Chick-fil-A worker got fired and then showed up behind the register to allegedly refund himself over $80,000 in mac and cheese
Law
A Chick-fil-A worker got fired and then showed up behind the register to allegedly refund himself over $80,000 in mac and cheese
By Catherina GioinoMay 1, 2026
22 hours ago
Apple cofounder Ronald Wayne—whose stake would be worth up to $400 billion had he not sold it in 1976—says that at 91, he has no regrets
Success
Apple cofounder Ronald Wayne—whose stake would be worth up to $400 billion had he not sold it in 1976—says that at 91, he has no regrets
By Preston ForeApril 27, 2026
5 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.