Borrowers Will Save on Net Approximately $7 Billion in Interest Annually
MCLEAN, VA--(Marketwired - Jun 6, 2013) - Freddie Mac (
News Facts
Property-value change, loan age, and rate reduction differed between refinancings under the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) and other refinances.
Quotes
Attributed to Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist:
"Borrowers continue to strengthen their fiscal house by taking advantage of near record low mortgage rates. In total, borrowers who refinanced in the first quarter of this year will save approximately $7 billion in interest payments over the next 12 months, which they can put towards savings, paying down debt or to support additional expenditures. Further, the estimated $8 billion in 'cash-out' activity will further augment borrowers' investment and consumption spending."
About the Quarterly Refinance Report
These estimates come from a sample of properties on which Freddie Mac has funded two successive conventional, first-mortgage loans, and the latest loan is for refinance rather than for purchase. The analysis does not track the use of funds made available from these refinances. The analysis also does not track loans paid off in entirety, with no new loan placed. Some loan products, such as 1-year ARMs and balloons, are based on a small number of transactions. During the first quarter of 2013, the refinance share of applications averaged 79 percent in Freddie Mac's monthly refinance survey, and the ARM share of applications was 5 percent in Freddie Mac's monthly ARM survey, which includes purchase-money as well as refinance applications.
With the report for the first quarter of 2013, the calculation of the principal balance at payoff of the previous loan has been modified. Previously, the payoff balance was calculated as the amount due based on the loan's amortization schedule, and "cash-in" was defined as a new loan amount that was less than the scheduled amortization amount. Data for 1994 to current have been recalculated using the actual payoff amount of the old loan, with an allowance for rounding down the principal at refinance; thus, from 1994 to present, "cash-in" is defined as a new loan amount that is at least $1,000 less than the payoff principal balance of the old loan. Data are presented under both methods for 1994 for comparison purposes.
Freddie Mac was established by Congress in 1970 to provide liquidity, stability and affordability to the nation's residential mortgage markets. Freddie Mac supports communities across the nation by providing mortgage capital to lenders. Today Freddie Mac is making home possible for one in four home borrowers and is one of the largest sources of financing for multifamily housing. For more information please visit www.FreddieMac.com and Twitter: @FreddieMac.
Contact Information:
MEDIA CONTACT:
Chad Wandler
703.903.2446
Chad_Wandler@freddiemac.com