When interest rates decline, the prepayment environment for agency MBS is likely to be much different compared with previous refinance booms, according to industry participants.

If Freddie Mac is allowed to purchase second mortgages, critics argue there should be clearly articulated capital requirements, loan-to-value ratio limits and debt-to-income ratio restrictions.

The decline was driven by conventional-conforming mortgages and government-insured mortgages. The securitization rate for non-agency mortgages actually jumped in the first quarter. (Includes data table.)

The battle between lenders and the GSEs over loan buybacks continues. But why force a repurchase if the loan is performing?

Ginnie Mae and the non-agency sector saw solid gains in MBS outstanding during the first quarter. Life insurance companies, mutual funds and money-market funds picked up the slack from diminished foreign appetite. (Includes three data tables.)

There’s new chatter that no matter who occupies the White House come January, change may finally be in the air. But the key to ending the almost 16-year-old GSE conservatorships is to figure out how to placate MBS investors.

The seasonal boost in agency purchase-mortgage business helped spur a hefty increase in correspondent-originated loans in May.

Did the Fed jump the gun by deciding to slow the pace of balance sheet reduction without waiting until it approached the point of ample reserves?

Ginnie offers new multiclass aggregation options; Fannie increases social bond disclosure; Annaly touts ESG efforts; new nonprofit advocates for greater parity for women in mortgage capital markets.

Time to REIT-up for United Wholesale Mortgage? Not really, company management said recently. Just two A-paper nonbank lender/servicers — Freedom Mortgage and PennyMac — have jumped into the REIT pond, with different growth outcomes.