This paper analyses the continuing crisis of the Brazilian housing finance system in the second half of the 1980s and early 1990s. The paper assesses the impact of the closure of the Brazilian National Housing Bank in 1986 on future developments within the circuit of housing finance and in relation to social housing production. The paper briefly analyses the SEAC scheme, set up during the Sarney government (1985-89) and the MAS/CEF housing programme, set up during the Collor government (1990-92). The paper adds to a previous Urban Studies paper which focuses on developments in the first half of the 1980s.