The housing market’s market-maker Fannie Mae released updated originations and sales forecasts on Friday, maintaining bullish estimates that yearly loan production will still break $2.34 trillion in 2026.
Balanced between more than $1.45 trillion in purchase production and $892 billion in refinance volumes, the government-sponsored enterprise's estimates compare to Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) projections of a 2026 purchase market around $1.41 trillion, supported by about $757 billion in refinances.
“The MBA number seems more realistic than the Fannie Mae,” says Seth Sprague, director of mortgage banking services at advisory firm Richey May.
“It does assume a strong second-half buying season,” adds Sprague. “If I look at the MBA forec...