The conventional secondary market caught up with the seasonal surge in home-buying activity during the third quarter, leading to a hefty 17.9 percent jump in the production of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage-backed securities. The two government-sponsored enterprises issued $223.61 billion of single-family MBS during the recently completed third quarter, a new Inside Mortgage Finance analysis reveals. Although that was the strongest ... [Includes three data charts]
Since early July, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have seen the share price of their common stock rise roughly 35 percent on the over-the-counter market, turning these two government wards into some of the best short-term investments among all equities. Then again, there appears to be no real reason for the run-up in trading price, though observers speculate that a Republican National Committee resolution issued earlier in the year regarding the two might have something to do with it ...
Still, the deal world grinds forward. “Ten days ago, sales were dead, but interest is picking up again,” said Mark Garland, president of MountainView Servicing Group…
Servicers of loans in MBS and ABS responded to recent hurricanes by aiming to limit investors’ losses while also showing consideration to borrowers. Practices vary across asset types, particularly in the MBS market. A number of issuers and servicers at the ABS East conference produced by Information Management Network last week in Miami Beach said they suspend collection-related calls to delinquent borrowers in the days immediately following a hurricane. Servicers also stressed that it’s important to hear from borrowers to better understand whether loss mitigation might be necessary. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and federal government entities involved in the mortgage market issued...