With origination profits remaining depressed, most mortgage shops are tapping MSRs to bolster their quarterly results. As that old saying goes, “If you got ‘em, smoke ‘em.”

Federal regulators have several mortgage-related regulatory revisions in the works, including standards for qualified mortgages and membership at the Federal Home Loan Banks.

It was a good news/bad news story for the second-lien market in the first quarter of 2022. Production increased nicely but outstandings fell. (Includes three data charts.)

When interest rates rise, MSRs increase in value. It happened in 1Q22 and is a sure bet for 2Q. But the breadth of the second-quarter gains is likely to be small, advisors warn.

Analysts agree that bringing management in-house is a long-term positive but differ on whether it improves value in the short run.

Nonbanks increased their share of the mortgage servicing market by nearly 5% in the first quarter, while a one-time reporting change lowered credit union portfolio holdings. (Includes three data charts.)

PE shops have quietly entered the MSR arena as owners, reaping strong gains. How long they might stick around depends on the direction of interest rates.

For years, the number of subservicing contracts has proliferated. But with loan production falling, there is less of a rush to use outsourcing vendors. Some lenders may even move the function inhouse. (Includes data chart.)

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are leaning on special purpose credit programs to offer better access to housing finance for Black and Latino borrowers.

After a respite of sorts, the insatiable appetite for mortgage servicing rights revives. Meanwhile, Better.com and its founder find themselves on the wrong end of a civil damages claim.