8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

_________________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):  September 15, 2009

MFA FINANCIAL, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Maryland	1-13991	13-3974868
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File No.)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

350 Park Avenue, 21st Floor, New York, New York 10022

(Address of Principal Executive Office) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code:  (212) 207-6400

                                Not Applicable                            

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

ITEM 7.01. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.

MFA Financial, Inc. (“MFA”) issued a press release, dated September 15, 2009, announcing its third quarter Senior MBS portfolio activity, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

The information referenced under Item 7.01 (including Exhibit 99.1 referenced in Item 9.01 below) of this Current Report on Form 8-K is being “furnished” under “Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure” and, as such, shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section.  The information set forth in this Current Report on Form 8-K (including Exhibit 99.1 referenced in Item 9.01 below) shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement, report or other document filed by MFA pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

As discussed therein, the press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and, as such, may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions.  These forward-looking statements relate to MFA’s current expectations and are subject to the limitations and qualifications set forth in the press release as well as in MFA’s other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, that actual events and/or results may differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements.

ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(c)	Exhibits.
99.1	Press Release, dated September 15, 2009, announcing MFA’s third quarter Senior MBS portfolio activity.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

MFA FINANCIAL, INC.
By:	/s/ Timothy W. Korth
	Timothy W. Korth
	General Counsel and Senior Vice President – Business Development

Date: September 15, 2009

EX-99.1

MFA
FINANCIAL, INC.
350 Park Avenue New York, New York 10022 (212) 207-6400

PRESS RELEASE		FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2009		NEW YORK METRO
CONTACT:	MFA Investor Relations 800-892-7547 www.mfa-reit.com	NYSE: MFA

MFA Financial, Inc.

Senior MBS Portfolio Reaches $1 Billion Mark

MFA announced today that it has made substantial progress in acquiring additional senior most tranches of non-Agency RMBS (“Senior MBS”) to complement its existing portfolio of Agency MBS.  Utilizing net proceeds from its July 29, 2009 common stock offering, as of September 10, 2009, MFA had a total of $1.04 billion market value of Senior MBS, consisting of approximately $840 million owned through its wholly-owned subsidiary, MFResidential Assets I, LLC, and approximately $200 million of legacy Senior MBS owned directly.

Stewart Zimmerman, MFA’s Chairman of the Board and CEO, said, “We are pleased with our progress in investing the proceeds of our July equity offering.  MFA’s strategy of focusing on investment opportunities within the residential MBS arena continues to deliver value for stockholders.  Our book value per share of common stock has increased to $7.25 as of August 31, 2009 from $6.99 as of June 30, 2009 and has increased 37% from $5.29 as of December 31, 2008.”

William Gorin, MFA’s President and CFO, said, “We continue to utilize our cash position to acquire additional discounted Senior MBS.  While we are in the process of investing the equity offering proceeds and reinvesting portfolio run-off, there has been an increase in our low-yielding cash position.  This temporary increase in our cash position will be reflected in our third quarter earnings which, based on current conditions, we project to be in the range of $0.25 - $0.26.  At the midpoint, this EPS represents a 14% annualized return on $7.25 per share of equity.”

When used in this press release or other written or oral communications, statements which are not historical in nature, including those containing words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “continue,” “intend,” “should,” “may” or similar expressions, are intended to identify “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, as such, may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Statements regarding the following subjects, among others, may be forward-looking: changes in interest rates and the market value of MFA’s MBS; changes in the prepayment rates on the mortgage loans securing MFA’s MBS; MFA’s ability to borrow to finance its assets; implementation of or changes in government regulations or programs affecting MFA’s business; MFA’s ability to maintain its qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes; MFA’s ability to maintain its exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940; and risks associated with investing in real estate assets, including changes in business conditions and the general economy.These and other risks, uncertainties and factors, including those described in the annual, quarterly and current reports that MFA files with the SEC, could cause MFA’s actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements it makes. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. New risks and uncertainties arise over time and it is not possible to predict those events or how they may affect MFA. Except as required by law, MFA is not obligated to, and does not intend to, update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.