MBS holdings in the retained mortgage portfolios of the GSEs doubled between June 2025 and the end of the year. And that’s before President Trump directed them to buy $200 billion of MBS. (Includes data table.)

Republicans are poised to introduce a bill that would codify reforms of the GSEs that have been completed administratively. The bill would also establish a utility model framework for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and alter how calculations are made to annual changes in loan limits.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac appear to be using aggressive pricing at the cash window to boost whole loan purchases, then retaining the most attractive coupons.

Securitization of industrial properties, including data centers, was the hottest sector in non-agency commercial MBS last year. Meanwhile, all three agencies saw hefty increases in multifamily MBS issuance. (Includes two data tables.)

Monthly issuance of agency single-family MBS was up just 1.9% from December, boosted by a surge in cash-out refinances. Production in January 2026 rose 21.6% from the same month last year. (Includes two data tables.)

FHFA quietly increased the cap on the GSEs’ holdings of agency MBS from $40 billion apiece to $225 billion. That’s the same as the cap on their entire retained mortgage portfolios.

Interest rate and spread volatility has declined in recent months. That’s leading to a reduction in potential returns from agency MBS along with a more stable investing environment.

Investors are seeking out Ginnie Mae custom pools with better convexity profiles than those of forward trading multiple-issuer pools, causing the convexity of the multi-pools to further deteriorate.

Lower interest rates and potential policy changes are expected to help drive an increase in prepayment activity this year.

Columbia University researchers dispute the conventional wisdom that says Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac dramatically overpay CRT investors.