ITEM 7.01. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.

MFA Financial, Inc. ("MFA") issued a press release, dated February 24, 2009, announcing tax information regarding its dividend distributions for the year ended December 31, 2008, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

The information referenced in this Current Report on Form 8-K (including Exhibit 99.1 referenced in Item 9.01 below) 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 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 contains 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 SEC, 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 February 24, 2009, announcing tax information regarding MFA's dividend distributions for the year ended December 31, 2008.

---