The slowdown in premium increases comes as insurers focused on restoring profitability after a period of high inflation, rising construction costs, expensive reinsurance and record catastrophe losses.
Primary mortgage insurance activity was up 17% in the second quarter after a slow start to the year, with private insurers claiming more of the purchase market but losing share in refinances. (Includes four data tables.)
Lenders aren’t stretching to goose originations of GSE or government-insured loans. Issuance of agency MBS was fairly stable through the first half of 2026 and underwriting standards held firm, regardless of the presence of primary MI. (Includes three data tables.)