Refinance Loans Continue to Dominate; Moment of Truth For Rates and Housing

Refinance Loans Continue to Dominate; Moment of Truth For Rates and Housing

Freddie Mac reported this week that its total mortgage portfolio increased at an annualized rate of 27.2 percent in March compared to a 17.7 percent gain in February. The portfolio balance at the end of the period was $2.927 trillion compared to $2.882 trillion the prior month and $2.404 trillion a year earlier. Purchases and Issuances totaled $142.465 billion, and Sales were ($.785) billion. The February numbers were $114.682 billion and ($.460) billion, respectively. Single-family refinance loan purchase and guarantee volume was $103.3 billion in March compared to $85.0 billion in February, representing a 76 percent share of total single-family mortgage portfolio purchases and issuances, down from 77 percent the previous month. Purchases in Freddie Mac's Mortgage Related Investments Portfolio