FHFA: Refinance Report – October 2018
Investor Update
December 13, 2018
Source: FHFA
October 2018 Highlights
- Total refinance volume increased in October 2018 after falling throughout most of the year in response to rising mortgage rates. Mortgage rates increased in October: the average interest rate on a 30‐year fixed rate mortgage rose to 4.83 percent from 4.63 percent in September.
In October 2018:
- Borrowers completed 507 refinances through HARP, bringing total refinances from the inception of the program to 3,493,512.
- HARP volume represented 1 percent of total refinance volume.
- Six percent of the loans refinanced through HARP had a loan‐to‐value ratio greater than 125 percent.
Year to date through October 2018:
- Borrowers with loan‐to‐value ratios greater than 105 percent accounted for 16 percent of the volume of HARP loans.
- Thirty‐four 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 Florida, Georgia and 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 – October 2018
