The prime home-equity origination market posted solid growth in the early part of 2006 – thanks largely to surging demand among banks and thrifts for second mortgages. Inside Alternative Mortgages estimates that $100 million in new prime home-equity loans – including home-equity lines of credit and closed-end second mortgages – were originated during the first quarter of this year. That marks an 8.6 percent increase from same period in 2005. But on a quarterly basis,… [One data table included]