Tag Archives: Freddie Mac

Freddie Mac released the results of its first-quarter 2013 refinance analysis, showing more refinancers are interested in shortening their loans. Of borrowers who refinanced during Q1, 28 percent shortened their loan term, Freddie Mac reported--up from 27 percent in Q4 2012. The majority (68 percent) elected to keep the same term as the loan they had paid off, while 3 percent chose to lengthen their loan term.

According to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.91 percent (0.7 point) for the week ending June 6, up 10 basis points over last week. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 3.67 percent. Meanwhile, Bankrate's weekly national survey had the 30-year fixed rising to 4.1 percent, its highest level since April 2012. The 15-year fixed increased to 3.28 percent, while the 5/1 ARM rose 12 basis points to 2.93 percent.

Shadow inventory held by the GSEs and HUD "vastly" outnumbers REO properties the groups maintain, according to a joint report from the Office of Inspector General for the Federal Housing Finance Agency and HUD. The report further warned HUD and the GSEs must pay close attention to shadow inventory, which threatens to increase their supply of REOs. For the GSEs, the ratio of shadow inventory to REO inventory was about 6-to-1, while shadow inventory for HUD was 19.9 times greater than REO inventory.

Encouraging economic data helped lift fixed mortgage rates to their highest level in the past year this week, according to surveys from Freddie Mac and Bankrate.com. Freddie Mac's survey showed the 30-year fixed rate rising to an average 3.81 percent (0.8 point) for the week ending May 30, up from last week's 3.59 percent. Since the beginning of May, the 30-year fixed average has jumped up nearly half a percentage point. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) also soared this week, rising to 2.98 percent (0.7 point) from last week's 2.77 percent.

Freddie Mac is giving servicers more time to adopt several new requirements concerning its default-related legal services.

Freddie Mac's total mortgage portfolio expanded in April, but growth slowed as purchase and issuance activity declined from March, the GSE reported. According to Freddie Mac's monthly volume summary, its total portfolio grew at an annualized rate of 0.6 percent last month, a setback compared to March's 4.0 percent growth rate but still above January and February's contracting figures. As of the end of the month, the portfolio's ending balance was about $1.95 trillion.

Freddie Mac is in the process of securitizing over $1 billion in performing loans that were modified. The modified loans have been performing for at least six consecutive months and were held in the company's mortgage portfolio. ""Securitizing loans that have been modified and are now performing will allow Freddie Mac to better manage its mortgage-related investments portfolio,"" said Adama Kah, Freddie Mac VP of distressed assets management.

Fixed mortgage rates trended higher for the third consecutive week, according to reports from Freddie Mac and Bankrate.com. According to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.59 percent (0.7 point) for the week ending May 23, up from 3.51 percent the previous week. The 15-year FRM was also up, averaging 2.77 percent (0.7 point) from 2.69 percent previously.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac reminded servicers of mortgage relief options available to homeowners whose residences were affected by the tornado that ravaged areas in Oklahoma.

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) shared a proposal to bring private capital back into the mortgage market while decreasing costs for taxpayers and borrowers. In a recent paper, the MBA explained the up-front risking sharing concept, which calls for the GSEs to offer risk-sharing at the front end of transactions. The proposal also suggested Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should accept loans with ""deeper levels of credit enhancement"" in exchange for reduced guarantee fees and other loan level charges.