1.   Cisneros told the National Press Club that the longstanding problems were almost entirely confined to the multi-family apartment buildings whose mortgages are guaranteed by the federal government.

2.   In a way, the arrangement would be somewhat akin to one person guaranteeing the mortgage of a friend.

3.   In some cases, the government held or guaranteed mortgages through the Federal Housing Administration.

4.   That would be somewhat akin to a person agreeing to guarantee a mortgage, so long as the obligation could be rescinded as soon as a payment came due.

5.   The bill was opposed by private mortgage insurance companies, which provide a similar service guaranteeing mortgages for people who make low down payments or have shaky credit.

6.   The program provides competition for mortgage insurance companies, which charge fees to guarantee mortgages.

7.   The program provides competition for private mortgage insurance companies, which charge fees to guarantee mortgages.