The refinance market is showing signs of life — especially in the government-insured sector — and total agency MBS issuance in the first quarter was up from a year ago. (Includes two data tables.)

The impact climate change-related natural disasters are having on the property insurance sector is not limited to Texas, according to experts.

The FHA gained share in the agency purchase-mortgage market last year, while private MIs continued to do more first-time buyer business. (Includes four data tables.)

A few top lenders managed to gain share in primary market originations of agency-eligible loans during the fourth quarter. But product totals were down across the board. (Includes two data tables.)

There weren’t many bright spots in the agency market last year, but a handful of lenders saw sales climb in the fourth quarter.

The GSEs’ new multifamily loan acquisitions came to just $82.7 billion in the first 10 months of the year. That was down 23.8% from the first 10 months of 2022.

UWM was the top originator of purchase loans for the first nine months of 2023, while Rocket held the lead in refinance lending. The FHA saw a rising share of purchase loans sold to the agencies in the third quarter. (Includes four data tables.)

The MBA and others are pushing for federal regulators to go back to the drawing board on capital requirements for large banks. The regulators state that they will be flexible but defend the proposal.

The residential finance industry is hoping the Federal Reserve and/or the GSEs might come to the rescue by playing a role in driving down mortgage rates. How’s it looking, then? Not so good.

The MBA, NAHB and NAR want the Fed to announce it’s done raising interest rates and that it won’t sell MBS holdings until there’s some stability in the housing market. The request could fall on deaf ears.