Beginning with a theoretical analysis of housing finance in the context of housing markets and financial intermediation generally, the authors then analyse, drawing on international experience, each of the main types of housing finance system: informal, deposit taking, contract and mortgage bank. Various aspects of the market are covered using examples drawn from the UK and elsewhere, including the regulatory framework, contemporary developments and securitization and secondary markets. Critical public policy issues, such as housing and the real economy, and housing subsidies, are analysed in detail. Finally the authors examine the future for housing and the housing finance market.