Latest News

Expanded-Credit Mortgages Defy the Odds, Showing Growth in 1Q
May 19, 2022
Since the beginning of 2021, $40.25 billion of ECM mortgage-backed securities have come to market...
New loanDepot Chief Spends Six Figures on Company Stock
May 19, 2022
The shares reside in a family trust that carries the Martell name.
As Priorities Shift, CFPB Expands Attorney Roster
May 19, 2022
The application window for CFPB attorney positions closed on May 16...
A New MSR Offering From Prestwick. MIAC Busy as Well
May 19, 2022
The Prestwick Group is brokering a $618 million portfolio of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac product.

Commercial MBS
Commercial MBS Issuance Falls Back to Earth in 2022
While CMBS issuance was down overall, there were a few pockets of strength in the non-agency sector. Agency multifamily MBS issuance tumbled 16% from the fourth quarter. (Includes two data charts.)
Mortgage Insurance
Purchase Market Props Up Primary MI Volume in 1Q22
New primary MI coverage on refinance loans fell sharply in the first quarter. Purchase MI business saw a somewhat softer landing as the mortgage market nosedived. (Includes three data charts.)
Agency MBS
Agency MBS Market Still Searching for New Normal
With refinance activity plummeting, lenders with concentrations of purchase loans were more likely to see their agency sales increase in April. Total agency MBS issuance fell 11% from March. (Includes two data charts.)
Servicing
Nonbank Servicing Market Share Still Growing in 1Q22
An active secondary market in agency servicing rights helped a number of second-tier nonbanks build their owned servicing portfolios significantly in the first quarter. (Includes three data charts.)
Complaints
Consumer Complaints Surge in the First Quarter of 2022
Complaints filed with the CFPB saw sharp sequential increases across all categories in the first quarter. However, gripes related to mortgages, debt collection and money transfers declined on an annual basis. (Includes two data charts.)
Servicing
Agency MSR Transfers Slow in 1Q22 But Still Plenty Active
Bulk MSR transfers were down in the first quarter, with a number of pending deals yet to close. Coissuance saw a boost in its share of agency securitization. (Includes three data charts.)

Inside Mortgage Finance

Will ECM Lending Hold Up Under the Spotlight?
Expanded-credit mortgage was the only product line to show any growth in the first quarter of 2022, and more lenders are sizing it up as agency and jumbo markets wilt. (Includes two data charts.)
HUD’s Top Priority is Cutting FHA Premiums
FHA premium cuts are being closely analyzed by HUD while FHFA and Treasury have had no talks about reforming the GSEs through the PSPAs. MBA also pressed FHFA on LLPA changes for conforming jumbos and mortgages for second homes.
- Acquisition Fatigue Setting In on MSR Buys?
- CFPB Beefing Up Its Enforcement Team
More Inside Mortgage Finance

Inside MBS & ABS

Banks Write Down MBS as Interest Rates Climb in 1Q22
May 19, 2022
Most bank holdings of residential MBS are in available-for-sale accounts that require fair-value accounting, which led to a rare decline in the industry's portfolio in the first quarter. (Includes two data charts.)
Prices Improve for Non-QMs but Lenders Not Out of the Woods
May 19, 2022
Non-QM originators are seeing better bid prices for their wares but is it enough to turn a decent profit? Or is “breakeven” the order of the day?
Ginnie, FHFA Working on Joint, Independent Agenda
May 19, 2022
Ginnie and FHFA are working together to set capital and liquidity requirements for nonbanks. Separately, Ginnie is working to allow for changes at the loan level and FHFA is considering reforms involving the Federal Home Loan Banks.
More Lender Criticism of FINRA Rule 4210
May 19, 2022
The Mortgage Bankers Association has asked the SEC to review the margin requirements in Rule 4210, arguing that lenders use to-be-announced securities to hedge their interest rate exposure rather than for speculation purposes.

More Inside MBS & ABS

Poll

Inside Nonconforming Markets

Jumbo Originations Decline by 26% in First Quarter, Chase Drops
May 13, 2022
The decline in jumbo production in the first quarter largely tracked the overall drop in mortgage originations. Many banks kept their underwriting standards for the loans unchanged while demand decreased. (Includes data chart.)
REITs See Opportunities in Non-QMs Amid Market Volatility
May 13, 2022
A handful of real estate investment trusts acquired non-QMs at a discount as interest rates increased during the first quarter. Lenders selling the loans took some losses but appear to have weathered the storm.
Jumbo Servicing Volume Up Slightly in First Quarter
May 13, 2022
Trends varied among the largest servicers of jumbo mortgages in the first quarter. Portfolios increased overall while the top two jumbo servicers reduced their portfolios. (Includes data chart.)
MFA’s Non-QM Holdings Eat Into Earnings in First Quarter
May 13, 2022
MFA Financial took a large loss in the first quarter as rising interest rates reduced the value of non-QMs on the REIT’s balance sheet. Lima One, a business-purpose lender now owned by MFA, was a bright spot.

More Inside Nonconforming Markets

Videos

Inside Mortgage Trends

Banks’ Mortgage Earnings Decline in 1Q, With Wide Variety
May 6, 2022
Mortgage earnings among a group of 22 banks declined by 12% on a sequential basis in the first quarter of 2022. The downward movement was anything but uniform, with some banks posting large swings up and down. The movements were largely driven by interest rate trends. (Includes data chart.)
Nonbank Mortgage Lenders Mark Up MSRs Values in 1Q
May 6, 2022
Owning mortgage servicing rights proved to be a great counter-hedge to an ugly origination market in the first quarter. At least two nonbanks benefited: Mr. Cooper and New Residential Investment.
Defaults in Agency MBS Market Down Sharply in 1Q22
May 6, 2022
Delinquency rates declined across the board at Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae in the first quarter of 2022. The only category of loans to report higher defaults was FHA loans 120 days past due. (Includes data chart.)
Freddie’s ACE Program Outperforms Live Appraisals
May 6, 2022
Loans that received an Automated Collateral Evaluation waiver had 9% fewer defaults than similar loans that didn’t, according to Freddie economists.

More Inside Mortgage Trends

Inside FHA/VA Lending

Purchase Mortgages Prop Up Ginnie Issuance in April
Ginnie Mae MBS issuance in April remained flat month-over-month even as refinance activity declined dramatically. (Includes two data charts.)
Gordon Confirmed as FHA Commissioner
Julia Gordon, who finally received Senate confirmation this week after being nominated in June of last year, will face increasing pressure to cut mortgage insurance premiums.
FHA/VA Servicers Urged to Pause HAF-Related Foreclosures
The government housing agencies have updated their frequently-asked-questions pages to assist servicers handling borrowers whose applications for relief under the Homeowner Assistance Fund are pending.
Private MI Industry Adapts to Market Changes
The slowing pace of delinquencies helped mitigate the impact of a reduction in new private mortgage insurance policies written as mortgage originations slowed.

More Inside FHA/VA Lending

Premium Newsletter Content

Inside Mortgage Trends
Banks’ Mortgage Earnings Decline in 1Q, With Wide Variety
Mortgage earnings among a group of 22 banks declined by 12% on a sequential basis in the first quarter of 2022. The downward movement was anything but uniform, with some banks posting large swings up and down. The movements were largely driven by interest rate trends. (Includes data chart.)
Inside Mortgage Finance
Will ECM Lending Hold Up Under the Spotlight?
Expanded-credit mortgage was the only product line to show any growth in the first quarter of 2022, and more lenders are sizing it up as agency and jumbo markets wilt. (Includes two data charts.)
Inside Nonconforming Markets
Jumbo Originations Decline by 26% in First Quarter, Chase Drops
The decline in jumbo production in the first quarter largely tracked the overall drop in mortgage originations. Many banks kept their underwriting standards for the loans unchanged while demand decreased. (Includes data chart.)
Inside MBS & ABS
Banks Write Down MBS as Interest Rates Climb in 1Q22
Most bank holdings of residential MBS are in available-for-sale accounts that require fair-value accounting, which led to a rare decline in the industry's portfolio in the first quarter. (Includes two data charts.)
Inside the CFPB
Consumer Complaints Surge in the First Quarter of 2022
Complaints filed with the CFPB saw sharp sequential increases across all categories in the first quarter. However, gripes related to mortgages, debt collection and money transfers declined on an annual basis. (Includes two data charts.)
Inside The GSEs
GSE Business Drags in April; Purchase Mortgages Gain
Volume declined at all of the top 10 GSE sellers in April, both sequentially and year-to-date. Purchase mortgages outnumbered refinancings for the first time since September 2019. (Includes two data charts.)
Inside FHA/VA Lending
Purchase Mortgages Prop Up Ginnie Issuance in April
Ginnie Mae MBS issuance in April remained flat month-over-month even as refinance activity declined dramatically. (Includes two data charts.)

Inside The GSEs

GSE Business Drags in April; Purchase Mortgages Gain
Volume declined at all of the top 10 GSE sellers in April, both sequentially and year-to-date. Purchase mortgages outnumbered refinancings for the first time since September 2019. (Includes two data charts.)
Fannie/Freddie Earnings Reveal Capital Shortfalls
The GSEs’ latest SEC filings reveal a combined capital shortfall of $359 billion at the end of the first quarter. But combined earnings were a healthy $8.21 billion for the quarter. (Includes data chart.)
More Inside The GSEs

Sales of bulk mortgage servicing rights are at a fever pitch these days. Has your shop gotten in on the buying frenzy?