WASHINGTON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Housing giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would have to raise over $200 billion in new capital to fall in line with a new capital rule finalized Wednesday by their regulator.

The new rule from the Federal Housing Finance Agency places bank-like capital requirements on the pair, and was seen as a key step in preparing the two to eventually leave government control and return to operating as private companies. (Reporting by Pete Schroeder; editing by Diane Craft)