GSE MBS Issuance Up Again in August, Market Share Improved
September 16, 2016
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac saw a solid 10.0 percent increase in production of single-family mortgage-backed securities in August, and there are signs that the GSEs are regaining some lost market share as well. The two GSEs issued $91.59 billion of single-family MBS last month, their highest monthly total since August 2013. Interestingly, most of the increase came from rising refinance activity. The flow of refi loans is up 14.0 percent at Fannie and 8.7 percent at Freddie, while purchase-mortgage business rose 9.9 percent and 6.3 percent, respectively, at the two firms. Two thirds of the way through 2016, GSE single-family business was still down slightly from the first eight months of last year.