TheMReport — News and strategies for the evolving mortgage marketplace.
Issue link: http://digital.themreport.com/i/958155
60 | TH E M R EP O RT S E R V I C I N G D ATA S E C O N DA R Y M A R K E T G O V E R N M E N T O R I G I NAT I O N SECONDARY MARKET SECONDARY MARKET The GSEs & Refis Increased refis pushed by low mortgage rates. R efinances by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac increased in De- cember 2017, according to the Fourth Quarter Refinance Report released by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). Together, both the GSEs completed more than 446,295 refinances during the quarter. The report indicated that the increase in refis during the last month of 2017 was on the back of mortgage rates remaining below the levels observed at the beginning of the year. In December, mortgage rates increased to 3.95 percent from 3.92 percent the month before, the report indicated. In December, the GSEs completed 6,309 refinances through the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), representing one percent of total refinance volume dur - ing the month. After adding the December numbers, the total refinances by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac through this program, from the time of its inception, stood at over 3.4 million. According to the report, from inception to December 2017, more than 2.9 million loans refinanced through HARP were for primary residences, 110,562 were for second homes, and 462,325 were for investment properties. Over the year, borrowers with loan- to-value ratios greater than 105 percent accounted for 19 percent of the volume of HARP loans. The report indicated that 26 percent of HARP refinances for underwater borrowers were for shorter-term 15- and 20-year mortgages, which build equity faster than traditional 30-year mortgages. HARP refinances represented five or more percent of total refinances in Nevada and Florida—more than double the two percent of total refinances nationwide over the same period. In December, five percent of the loans refinanced through HARP had a loan-to-value ratio higher than 125 percent. Borrowers who refinanced through HARP had a lower delinquency rate com - pared to borrowers eligible for HARP who did not refinance through the program. Nine states and one U.S. territory accounted for over 70 percent of the Nation's HARP- eligible loans with a refinance incentive as of September 30, 2017. Borrowers who refinanced through HARP had a lower delinquency rate compared to borrowers eligible for HARP who did not refinance through the program. The Art of Possible Still closing this way? What if you could: • Provide a mind blowing consumer experience • Achieve accurate, consistent closings • Decrease errors & lower costs • Streamline & improve business processes • Get radical transparency It's all possible with Pavaso's Digital Close Get started pavaso.com/demo www.pavaso.com (866) 288-7051 | sales@pavaso.com