A sustained decline in GSE refinances, coupled with faltering purchase activity throughout the first quarter, helped contribute to an overall drop in the volume of single-family mortgages securitized by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in March. In the first quarter of 2014, Fannie and Freddie combined for $355.8 billion in new single-family securitizations, down 63.7 percent year-to-date.In March, Fannie and Freddie produced just $37.6 billion of single-family MBS, down 15.6 percent from February. It was the lowest monthly volume since January 2009.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage-backed securities remained the preferred investment choice of the 12 Federal Home Loan Banks during the fourth quarter of 2013, though with a negligible increase from the previous quarter, according to a new analysis and ranking by Inside The GSEs based on data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Meanwhile, Ginnie Mae securities posted a sizable increase within the FHLBank system during the period ending Dec. 31, 2013. GSE MBS accounted for 74.9 percent of combined FHLBank MBS portfolios, 0.3 percent from the third quarter. The Finance Agency’s data do not separately break out Fannie and Freddie volume or share.

Originations by six major banks in the first quarter of 2014 fell by 27.9 percent compared with the previous quarter.

The Dodd-Frank Act prompted major changes for mortgage joint ventures, with some firms striking out on their own and others sticking with the smaller market.

The MBA and others want documentation from HUD detailing the recent reduction to FHA loan limits in certain high-cost areas.

Judge in the DOJ's case against Standard & Poor's handed the rating service a mixed ruling.

Market fundamentals appear to have blunted the expected impact of Homeowner Bill of Rights laws enacted by three states in 2013.

The investigation by the New York Department of Financial Services of nonbank servicers including Nationstar Mortgage and Ocwen Financial has put a halt to servicing sales.

Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae saw much lower business volume in both purchase-money mortgages and refinance loans during the first quarter of 2014, according to a new Inside Mortgage Finance analysis and ranking. The agencies securitized a total of $95.9 billion of purchase mortgages during the first three months of the year, down 28.8 percent from the previous quarter. That was a steeper decline than in refinance volume, which slid 24.7 percent from the fourth quarter of 2013. Compared to a year ago, the purchase market continued...[Includes three data charts]

Some industry analysts suggest that originations of purchase mortgages have been held back by potential borrowers’ debt-to-income ratios, which have increased along with rises in home prices. However, originations of purchase mortgages have increased in the past year as home prices have risen and it’s more than DTI ratios shutting certain borrowers out of the purchase market. Even though interest rates on mortgages remain at relatively low levels, housing affordability has been an increasing concern due to trends in home prices. Borrowers in parts of California, as well as Denver, Miami and Portland, could have difficulty qualifying for a purchase mortgage, according to a recent analysis by Zillow. Based on income, mortgage and home-value data for the fourth quarter of 2013, Zillow found...