Freddie Mac recently reported monthly volume levels for its total mortgage portfolio, which ended April with a balance of $2,137,833 in assets.
The government-sponsored agency provides liquidity to mortgage lenders through purchases of bank mortgages for securitization. The bank's portfolio provides a good indication of mortgage market activity.
As mortgage rates are now seeing all-time lows, the portfolio has in turn been struggling as well. The annualized growth rate for the portfolio ended the month of April down more than 14 percent, reflecting the low return on mortgage investments in the U.S. market and the stress on debt markets resulting from Europe's debt crisis.
Meanwhile, the agency's single-family serious delinquent rate was unchanged for the month, remaining at 3.51 percent. The multifamily delinquency rate increased slightly from 0.23% to 0.25% in April.
Single-family refinance loan purchases and guarantee volume totaled 74 percent of the total mortgage portfolio purchases and issuances for the GSE, as many borrowers have sought to alter their loan terms while low rates remain in tact.
