Fannie Mae doesn't want to kick you out of your rented home. The mortgage behemoth is finalizing plans to allow renters who pay their rent to remain in homes that have been foreclosed upon. Residents can either sign a new lease with Fannie Mae and continue to live in the property until it is sold, or take a cash payment for moving expenses.

The new policy should be in place by early January, and rival Freddie Mac has promised its customers something similar. So renters in foreclosure property, if the loan is owned by Fannie Mae, can breathe easier, knowing their Christmas won't be disrupted by an eviction as long as the rent gets paid. If concerned, checl with your county clerk's office or a local title company to see who owns the loan on the home you're living in.