• Consumer Research | March 22, 2021

    Confidence in Housing Market High as Concerns about Finances Linger

    New Freddie Mac research shows the uncertainty renters and homeowners have about their ability to pay their rent or mortgage during the pandemic. More

    Confidence in the housing market has remained high, averaging 60% across the polling period
  • Research Note | March 5, 2021

    Refinance Trends in 2020

    This past year was a busy year for the mortgage market. While the economy was in recession, record low mortgage interest rates contributed to refinance activity reaching near record highs. Many borrowers saved thousands of dollars by lowering their mortgage rate through refinances. This Research Note highlights some of the key trends defining refinance mortgage activity in 2020. More

    U.S. Single-family mortgage refinance originations (2020, US Dollars, billions)
  • Research Note | February 8, 2021

    Mortgage Forbearance and Performance during the Early Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic

    During the COVID-19 crisis, mortgage forbearance plans have played an important role in helping households manage their finances by providing short-term liquidity to mortgage borrowers. Mortgage forbearance plans temporarily remove the obligation of borrowers to make their monthly mortgage payment. More

    Exhibit 1: Month of first delinquency for loans in forbearance during COVID-19
  • Insight | January 28, 2021

    U.S. Population Growth: Where is housing demand strongest?

    What is the main driver of demand for housing in the United States? The answer is simple: people. The American population is a diverse group with multifaceted and individualistic housing needs. More

    Exhibit 4a: Line chart showing population growth rate by region between 1970 and 2019
  • Forecast | January 14, 2021

    Quarterly Forecast: Housing Market Continues to Perform Strongly Primarily Driven by Historically Low Mortgage Rates

    It’s been close to a year since the pandemic began, and economic growth continues to remain uncertain. The availability of a COVID-19 vaccine and its widespread distribution should steer the economy towards recovery, but the timelines remain unknown. The labor market has recovered from the lows it reached in April of last year but continues to be weak. As of mid-December of 2020, jobless claims were still around 20 million, remaining well above the pre-pandemic levels. The unemployment rate was 6.7% in December with more permanent job losses and less labor force participation signaling a slowdown in the current labor market recovery. More

    Table chart of Forecast: January 2021 Snapshot
  • Insight | November 17, 2020

    Mortgage Forbearance Rates during the COVID-19 Crisis

    Bob and Jane purchased their home three years ago. Now, in the midst of the pandemic, Jane is furloughed from her job as a purchasing manager, and Bob is working fewer hours as a mechanic. They are wondering how long their savings will last. Postponing mortgage payments would make their reserves hold out a lot longer. More

    Exhibit 1: Forbearance rates by sample period

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