Transfers of servicing from large servicers to smaller firms can help improve loss mitigation performance while introducing new risks to the system, according to industry analysts. Smaller servicers tend to be more “nimble” than large servicers and are better suited to handle distressed mortgages, according to analysts at Moody’s Investors Service. The rating service published a report recently highlighting changes in the servicing industry. Many large servicers, predominantly banks, have reduced...

For the most part, several different factions of the mortgage industry have applauded the move by the Federal Housing Finance Agency to allow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to build some type of capital buffer. Now comes the hard part: the details. Early this week, FHFA Acting Deputy Director of the Division of Conservatorship Bob Ryan said in a speech that the capital buffer plan would entail a delay of dividend payments to the U.S. Treasury Department – not an elimination of them. No other specifics were provided...

The Financial Services Roundtable recently called for enacting comprehensive housing finance reform, including reform of the FHA’s single-family mortgage insurance program while focusing the agency’s mission on first-time and low- and moderate-income borrowers. The FSR’s call came in a detailed response to President Trump’s executive order earlier this year directing the Treasury Department to conduct an assessment of financial regulations. For starters, the trade group urged...

Craig Phillips, counselor to the Treasury secretary, recently spoke about the importance of credit-risk transfers, the role of private capital in the mortgage market and burdensome regulations. During a credit-risk transfer symposium in New York City earlier this week, he said it’s important to grow participation in the government-sponsored enterprises’ CRT programs. “Every dollar of risk today is a dollar less of taxpayer risk,” said Phillips. “In my view we should continue...

Specifically, HUD wants to know if there are any regulations that should be repealed, replaced or modified.

All three hope to raise cash by selling MSR assets, eliminate the need to hold large sums for servicing advances and – importantly – buy some time.

Performance of non-QM loans has been strong, buoyed by good house-price appreciation and the fact there have been no lawsuits based on the ability-to-repay rule.

Redwood generally prefers to have multiple execution options. The company is considering issuing MBS backed solely by Choice mortgages.

Deutsche noted that after years of a steady broad-based housing market recovery “investors are now facing severe shortages in distressed housing pipelines.”

This fall will mark – unless there’s divine intervention or a Kumbaya moment in Washington – the ninth anniversary of the federal takeover of Fannie and Freddie.