Originations of purchase-money mortgages jumped 44.3 percent from the first to the second quarter of 2016, without any sign of significant easing in underwriting standards. Mortgage lenders produced an estimated $267.0 billion of purchase loans during the second quarter, lifting year-to-date purchase originations to $452.0 billion, an 8.1 percent increase from the first half of last year. The refinance market still had...[Includes three data tables]

After a difficult year so far, sales of mortgage servicing rights are beginning to pick up a head of steam this fall with the hope that the fourth quarter could turn out be a barn-burner. According to interviews conducted by Inside Mortgage Finance this week, servicing advisors for the most part are feeling mildly optimistic about the final three months of the year, although they all admit the obvious: an unexpected drop in rates could spoil the party. But that may not...

The near-zero default rate seen on mortgages originated in recent years combined with lenders’ extensive underwriting processes provide “clear evidence” that lenders should loosen underwriting standards, according to Laurie Goodman, director of the Urban Institute’s Housing Finance Policy Center. Wells Fargo originated more than 2.10 million conventional conforming mortgages between 2011 and the end of the first quarter of 2016. Only 4,082 of them became 60+ days past due in the first 24 months after origination, according to Moody’s Investors Service. Goodman said...

The new nonprime mortgage-backed securities deals from Angel Oak Capital Advisors and Deephaven Mortgage contain a number of mortgages reflecting a range of issues in terms of complying with the CFPB’s TILA/RESPA Integrated Disclosure rule (TRID), a review of the offering documents revealed. Part of the compliance issues stem from the ongoing uncertainty about cures for minor errors. While the CFPB issued a proposed rule in July attempting to clarify some of these TRID uncertainties, and the Structured Finance Industry Group has worked with industry participants on a set of guidelines, it is still not clear whether some TRID errors can be cured. The $132.65 million nonprime MBS from Angel Oak included 251 mortgages subject to TRID, representing 59.4 percent ...

Real estate investment trusts that specialize in residential MBS posted a slight increase in their agency MBS holdings during the second quarter of 2016, along with a drop in non-agency MBS. The 16 publicly traded mortgage REITs tracked by Inside MBS & ABS had a combined residential MBS portfolio of $234.65 billion at the end of June, a gain of 0.9 percent from the previous quarter. However, 11 of the institutions reported declining balances, including the two largest REITs at the top of the ranking. Two Harbors Investment reported...[Includes one data table]

Over the past week, two nonprime MBS deals came to light: a $138.89 million bond issued by Deephaven Residential Mortgage Trust and a $119.38 million security from Angel Oak Real Estate Investment Trust. Both deals were private placements backed by newly originated mortgages and underwritten by Wall Street veterans Credit Suisse and Nomura Securities. Although both were publicized this week, the transactions – which were not rated – closed...

One of the fastest-growing top-10 originators, loanDepot, this month came to market with a $150 million debt financing deal that portends good things for other firms looking to raise capital in a tough stock market. “The cost of money has really come down for nonbanks,” said consultant Paul Hindman. The privately held loanDepot disclosed...

In a somewhat uncommon occurrence, four law firms published a position paper late last week aimed at helping industry participants comply with pending risk-retention requirements for new commercial MBS. The paper was written by attorneys at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft; Dechert; Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe; and Sidley Austin. “The paper was authored...

Credit Suisse sold two warehouse facility-backed securities this week totaling $800.0 million, according to Moody’s Investors Service. The rating service placed A2 ratings on the Mortgage Repurchase Agreement Financing Trust Series 2016-1 and Series 2016-2 transactions. Much like a warehouse facility security issued by Jefferies in May, Moody’s said the MRAFT securities are structured with two legs of “back to back” repurchase agreements. The first leg consists...

Moody’s Investors Service has asked the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to dismiss the remaining claim in a lawsuit alleging manipulation of credit ratings leading up to the financial crisis. In its motion to dismiss, Moody’s said that plaintiff Ilya Eric Kolchinksy’s second amended complaint fails to show that the rating agency used its electronic “ratings delivery service” to issue false ratings on MBS that later turned bad. In 2012, Kolchinsky, a former managing director at Moody’s, filed...