Freddie Mac reported this week that its total mortgage portfolio increased
at an annualized rate of 17.7 percent in February compared to a 16.1 percent
gain in January. The portfolio balance at the end of the period was $2.818
trillion compared to $2.777 trillion the prior month and $2.350 trillion a year
earlier. Purchases and Issuances totaled $116.362 billion, and Sales were ($1.174)
billion. The January numbers were $120.128
billion and ($.588) billion, respectively. Single-family refinance loan purchase and guarantee volume was $85.0 billion
in February compared to $84.56 billion in January, representing a 77 percent
share of total single-family mortgage portfolio purchases and issuances, up
from 73 percent the previous month.
…(read more)