The Home Affordable Refinance Program for underwater Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgages has accelerated sharply in the first quarter of 2012, according to a new analysis and ranking by Inside Mortgage Finance. Based on loan-level data on mortgage-backed securities issued by the two government-sponsored enterprises during the first quarter, HARP activity surged to a record 180,572 loans in the first three months of the year. That was up 93.8 percent from the fourth quarter of 2011, and it featured a huge 56.3 percent jump in activity from February to March. Total HARP activity...(Includes one data chart)