The revised Basel proposal doesn’t provide any capital relief for bank holdings of mortgages that carry private mortgage insurance.

A boost in primary MI for refinance loans helped offset an across-the-board downturn in new coverage for purchase loans. Private MI earnings look to be on cruise control. (Includes four data tables.)

GSE purchase-mortgage volume with private MI held up a little better on a quarterly basis than GSE business without private MI in the first quarter of 2026. (Includes three data tables.)

Strong refinance business offset a decline in new primary MI coverage on purchase mortgages during the fourth quarter. Default rates and losses were on the upswing. (Includes four data tables.)

For both purchase mortgages and refis, GSE activity with private MI posted stronger performance than FHA in the fourth quarter of 2025. For the full year, trends differed, at least with purchase mortgages. (Includes three data tables.)

Housing experts expect the market to undergo a course correction after years of rapid home price increases.

Home insurance premiums are rising at a slower pace, but affordability challenges still remain an issue for homebuyers.

Incidences of fraud and loan defects are increasing among refinances as production of the loans accelerates.

Government-insured production declined slightly during the third quarter, while new business for private mortgage insurers was up 3.8%. (Includes four data tables.)

The U.S. Mortgage Insurers said FHA’s Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund is overdue for reforms, with the 2% capital ratio requirement not sufficient to meet the standards the GSEs and private insurers must satisfy.