Subservicing balances are declining across the spectrum, but not all vendors are suffering. Cenlar remains the market leader, but Mr. Cooper, ranked second, is no slouch. (Includes data table.)

Some MSR buyers are offering exceptionally strong bids for servicing, counting on being able to recapture borrowers when interest rates drop. The high bids are creating some complications for sellers and MSR valuations.

Prepayment rates during the recent dip in mortgage rates were higher than expected, suggesting lenders have extra staff on hand. Still, it could be a while before interest rates fall low enough to significantly boost lending.

Increasingly, nonbanks have a large chunk of their assets tied up in mortgage servicing rights — some more than others. Is that a problem? (Includes data table.)

The former Freddie executive said eliminating mortgage servicing rights, or transferring them to the GSEs, would eliminate the need for nonbank mortgage servicers to make servicing advances on delinquent loans.

The delinquency rate on mortgages has been on the upswing this year, reaching 3.61% at the end of September, according to the Inside Mortgage Finance Large Servicer Delinquency Index. (Includes data tables.)

Ginnie Mae wants to give a capital break to servicers that hedge their positions and do it well. But the government guarantor might make some changes to the language first published last week.

The MBA is focusing on regulatory reforms to help reduce the cost of mortgages. There is also some hope that Congress will pass legislation addressing trigger leads.

The Cenlar regulatory saga continues. There are rumblings of a potential sale though no known offering book.

MSR bids are currently largely rational, though a few packages sold in recent weeks at unexpected prices, according to Brian Simon, a managing director at Bungalow Funding.