Federal Housing Finance Agency Report Shows Refinance Volumes on the Rise for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

More than 2.9 Million Loans Refinanced

Washington, DC - August 13, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac refinanced more than 2.9 million mortgage loans in 2009 through July of this year. Since the inception of the Making Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) in April, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac refinanced almost 1.9 million mortgage loans through July. The numbers were announced today by James B. Lockhart, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, in the first monthly report on Enterprises’ refinance volumes and the Administration’s Making Home Affordable Refinance Program.

“This report shows that more than 190,000 homeowners that are current in their mortgage payments have been assisted through the GSE streamlined refinance process,” said Lockhart. “Borrowers refinancing their loans are enjoying significant interest rate reductions refinancing through the GSE streamlined refinance process with an average rate reduction of 1.3 percent. Importantly, over 60,000 borrowers with mortgage loans that exceed 80 percent of the house value up to 105 percent have been refinanced. We are now seeing significant results from the HARP and the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), but much more work needs to be done. I commend the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac teams for helping drive this effort.”

Under HARP, borrowers whose loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is above 80 percent up to 105 percent are able to refinance without added mortgage insurance requirements, a previous key barrier to refinancing.

Through July, Fannie Mae had refinanced 1.7 million loans. Of that total, approximately 138,000 loans were refinanced under the company’s DU Refi Plus and Refi Plus flexibilities that were put in place to support the HARP. Approximately 32,000 of the loans refinanced through July had LTVs above 80 percent up to 105 percent.

Freddie Mac refinanced 1.2 million loans through July. Of that total, approximately 53,000 loans were refinanced under the company’s Relief Refinance program that was put in place to support HARP. Freddie Mac had refinanced approximately 29,000 loans with LTVs above 80 percent up to 105 percent.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency recently announced the expansion of HARP to allow borrowers with LTVs up to 125 percent to participate. Fannie Mae will begin accepting deliveries of refinanced loans with LTVs over 105 percent up to 125 percent as of September 1. Freddie Mac will begin accepting deliveries of these loans on October 1.

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The Federal Housing Finance Agency regulates Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the 12 Federal Home Loan Banks. These government-sponsored enterprises provide more than $6.3 trillion in funding for the U.S. mortgage markets and financial institutions.

Contact: Corinne Russell (202) 414-6921
Stefanie Mullin (202) 414-6376

Tagged as: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, HARP, Home Affordable

 

 

 

USGBC - U.S. Green Building Council

HUD - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

NAR - National Association of REALTOR

RealtyTrac

FHFA - Federal Housing Finance Agency

Freddie Mac

MBA - Mortgage Bankers Association