Federal National Mortgage Association and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. received their first buy recommendation from Wall Street on Thursday, as Deutsche Bank said the stocks’ dizzying rally can go further on expectations the mortgage giants will possibly be released from government control in the near future. Fannie Mae shares have jumped more than 320% year-to-date and Freddie Mac shares have surged 288% for the same period. While both were delisted from the New York Stock Exchange in 2010, their sh ...

Deutsche Bank sees shares of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac gaining further on expectations the mortgage giants will possibly be released from government control in the near future https://t.co/Owe9tQvG6N ...

Core Insights - Mortgage rates have recently decreased, leading to a surge in mortgage applications, benefiting current homeowners [1][2] - The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported a 9.2% increase in loan applications on a seasonally adjusted basis from the previous week, with refinancing applications up 12% and 34% higher than the same week last year [1][3] Mortgage Rate Trends - The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has dropped to 6.49%, the lowest since October of the previous year, indicating a weakened labor market [2] - The downward trend in rates has resulted in the highest borrower demand since 2022, with purchase applications at their highest level since July, over 20% ahead of last year's pace [3] Refinancing Insights - The holiday-adjusted refinance index experienced its strongest week in a year, with refinance applications making up nearly 49% of all applications last week [4] - The average loan size for refinances has increased significantly, as borrowers with larger loans are more sensitive to rate changes [4] Homebuyer Sentiment - A recent survey indicated that by Q3 2025, 52% of homeowners are willing to accept a mortgage rate up to 6.0% for their next purchase, up from 41% in Q1 2025 [4] - Despite the positive news, the current 30-year fixed rate is still 20 basis points higher than a year ago, reflecting ongoing market challenges [5]

Core Insights - Rocket Companies is positioned to benefit from declining mortgage rates, with strong refinancing market share and strategic acquisitions driving growth in volume and profitability [1] - Bank of America Securities upgraded Rocket Companies to Buy, raising the price target to $24, indicating a 17% upside potential [2] Group 1: Market Position and Growth Potential - Rocket holds approximately 10% of the refinancing market, which is expected to grow as mortgage rates decrease [3] - The acquisition of Mr. Cooper is projected to generate $500 million in synergies, including $400 million in cost savings and $100 million in revenue increases [4] - The recently completed acquisition of Redfin is anticipated to contribute an additional $200 million in synergies [4] Group 2: Financial Performance and Forecasts - Rocket reported Q2 earnings of $0.04 per share on revenues of $1.34 billion, exceeding market expectations [6] - The company forecasts Q3 revenue between $1.60 billion and $1.75 billion, surpassing the market estimate of $1.50 billion [6] - Bank of America raised its 2026 EPS forecast for Rocket by 11% to $1.02, reflecting confidence in the company's growth trajectory [3]

Group 1: Mortgage Industry Updates - FHFA Director Pulte is involved in a controversy regarding occupancy fraud allegations, which may not impact mortgage rates significantly [1] - Chase has launched a limited-time "mortgage rate refinance sale" offering discounts on refinancing rates, with variations based on mortgage products and locations [1] - PlainsCapital Bank's "Express Funding" service allows quick loan funding with an average turnaround time of under 20 minutes, catering to mortgage lenders' efficiency needs [3] Group 2: Loan Quality and Compliance - ACES Q1 2025 Mortgage QC Industry Trends Report indicates a rise in critical defect rates, with overall defects increasing by 12.93% to 1.31%, marking the end of a two-quarter improvement streak [4] - Significant increases in specific defect categories include Income/Employment defects rising by 42.5% and Borrower and Mortgage Eligibility defects surging by 328.57% quarter-over-quarter [4] Group 3: Non-QM and Alternative Lending - Logan Finance's Asset Qualification program allows affluent clients to qualify for loans without W-2s, accepting both liquid and non-liquid assets at full value [8] - Verus Mortgage Capital has achieved over $40 billion in cumulative acquisitions and aims for a $10 billion non-agency production goal for 2025, indicating strong momentum in the non-QM market [8] Group 4: Regulatory and Market Developments - Fannie Mae's August 2025 National Housing Survey shows a slight decrease in the Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) by 0.4 points to 71.4, reflecting consumer sentiment towards housing [9] - Ongoing discussions between the Treasury and FHFA regarding the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may complicate reform efforts, with concerns about regulatory oversight and market competition [18][19]

Core Insights - Mortgage demand surged as borrowers responded to a drop in mortgage rates, with applications for home loans increasing significantly [2][5][6] Group 1: Mortgage Rate Trends - The 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell to 6.49%, marking the lowest level since October of the previous year [2][4] - This decline in rates has prompted a notable increase in mortgage applications, with a 9% rise compared to the previous week [2][5] Group 2: Borrower Behavior - The recent drop in mortgage rates has led to the highest level of borrower demand since 2022, with both purchase and refinance applications seeing significant increases [3][6] - Applications for home purchases were 20% higher than the same period last year, indicating a renewed interest in the housing market [5][6] - Refinancing applications also rose by 12% week-over-week, as homeowners sought to capitalize on lower rates [5][6] Group 3: Market Implications - The housing market appears to be recovering from a period of stagnation caused by high mortgage rates and elevated home prices [4] - The average loan size for refinances has increased, suggesting that borrowers with larger loans are particularly responsive to rate changes [6]

Core Insights - U.S. mortgage rates have declined to their lowest level in nearly a year, with the average interest rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage falling to 6.49% as of the week ending September 5, 2024 [1] - The decrease in mortgage rates has led to a significant increase in loan applications, with refinancing applications up 12% from the previous week and 34% higher than the same week last year [2] - The housing market is showing signs of improvement, with price increases slowing and the number of homes for sale reaching its highest level in several years [3] Mortgage Application Trends - Refinancing accounted for almost half of all mortgage applications, indicating strong borrower demand [3] - There has been a rise in demand for adjustable-rate loans, which offer lower initial interest rates compared to fixed-rate mortgages [3] - The week marked the strongest borrower demand since 2022, with both purchase and refinance applications increasing [3] Economic Context - Despite lower mortgage rates, rising living costs may deter potential future homeowners from purchasing homes [4] - Upcoming inflation data is expected to show an uptick, which could widen the gap between current levels and the Federal Reserve's 2% target [4] - Mortgage rates are influenced by U.S. Treasury yields, which have dropped due to weak job market data, leading to expectations of potential rate cuts by the Federal Reserve [5]

Mortgage Rates and Market Impact - Mortgage rates have decreased, with the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.35%, down from 6.5% the previous week, marking the lowest since October 2024 [1] - The 15-year loan rate also fell to 5.5% from 5.6% [1] - The decline in mortgage rates is attributed to weak job market data, with only 22,000 jobs added in August, leading to a drop in 10-year Treasury yields [2] Borrower Demand and Applications - Lower mortgage rates have resulted in a significant increase in loan applications, with home purchase applications rising by 7% week-over-week and 23% year-over-year [3] - Refinance applications saw a 12% increase from the previous week and were 34% higher compared to the same period last year [3] - This surge in applications represents the strongest week of borrower demand since 2022, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association [4]

Mortgage rates in the US fell, extending a steady decline that offers homebuyers some relief https://t.co/krGaaqGKhs ...

Core Insights - Freddie Mac reported that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.50% as of September 4, 2025, a decrease from 6.56% the previous week and an increase from 6.35% a year ago [1][6] - The 15-year FRM averaged 5.60%, down from 5.69% last week and up from 5.47% a year ago [6] - The share of mortgage applications for refinancing reached nearly 47%, the highest level since October, indicating a growing opportunity for homeowners to refinance [2] Mortgage Rate Trends - The downward trend in mortgage rates is fostering optimism among new buyers and current homeowners [2] - The PMMS focuses on conventional, conforming, fully amortizing home purchase loans for borrowers with excellent credit who put 20% down [2][4] Freddie Mac's Mission - Freddie Mac aims to enhance liquidity, stability, and affordability in the housing market across all economic cycles, having assisted millions of families since its inception in 1970 [3]