FHFA: Refinance Report – February 2019

Investor Update
April 11, 2019

Source: FHFA

February 2019 Highlights

• Total refinance volume in February 2019 was similar to January as mortgage rates fell in previous months but remained above the lows observed in 2018. Mortgage rates decreased in February: the average interest rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage fell to 4.37 percent from 4.46 percent in January.

In February 2019:

- Borrowers completed 323 refinances through HARP, bringing total refinances from the inception of the program to 3,495,156.
- HARP volume represented 0.4 percent of total refinance volume.
- Four percent of the loans refinanced through HARP had a loan-to-value ratio greater than 125 percent.

Year to date through February 2019:

- Borrowers with loan‐to‐value ratios greater than 105 percent accounted for 17 percent of the volume of HARP loans.
- Thirty-five 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 2 percent of total refinances in Illinois compared to 1 percent of total refinances nationwide over the same period.

• Borrowers who refinanced through HARP had a lower delinquency rate compared to borrowers eligible for HARP who did not refinance through the program.

• Nine states and one territory accounted for over 70 percent of the nation’s HARP eligible loans with a refinance incentive as of June 30, 2018.

Attachments:

Refinance Report – February 2019

FHFA: Refinance Report – February 2019

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