Stephen Johnson

As the SVP of Production and Sales, Steve manages a nationwide team of Multifamily professionals, overseeing the development and implementation of initiatives that improve the supply, speed, and flow of capital nationwide, and addresses the rapidly evolving needs of our Optigo® lenders and their borrowers. Previously, Steve managed Freddie Mac Multifamily’s mission business, as vice president of Small Balance Lending (SBL) and Targeted Affordable Housing (TAH). Both groups work to create and preserve affordable housing for America’s workforce, and together they closed over $16 billion in annual volume in 2021 (including tax credit investment and forward rate-lock activities). Under Steve’s leadership, TAH has experienced record volume. Steve began managing the SBL business in 2015 and since then has built the small lending concept into an established loan program with a dedicated lender network and nearly $40 billion in securitized deals. Before leading the SBL and TAH teams, Steve served as chief of staff to the head of production, where he was able to learn the business and hone his penchant for operational efficiency and sound economics in business. He also held previous roles at Freddie Mac as Director of Structured/Portfolio Asset Management and Director of Transaction Management for the TAH business. Steve first joined Freddie Mac Multifamily in 2007. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Government from the University of Virginia.