New business and MBS issuance jumped in the second quarter. However, those upticks didn’t account for the spike in profitability at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. (Includes data chart.)

The rounding of home prices in HMDA data complicates the calculation of whether loans below the conforming loan limits are more likely to be securitized into agency MBS in areas affected by climate change.

Fannie and Freddie reduced the fee for commingled collateral in Supers starting in April, and new issuance showed more diversity — but nothing like the levels before mid-2022. (Includes two data charts.)

For the first time ever, nonbank lenders held the top seven rankings among agency seller-issuers in April. Their aggregate clout equaled over 40% of the market. (Includes two data charts.)

Fannie and Freddie captured a smaller share of the conventional-conforming market last year, and non-agency issuance dropped sharply in the second half. (Includes data chart.)

Despite privacy issues, industry stakeholders said Fannie’s and Freddie’s social bond disclosures should provide more granular data.

In a new book, James Lockhart, FHFA’s first director, outlines the events leading up to the conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. More than a decade later, the events and debates are still relevant.

Monthly business volume was up in March, and a handful of sellers grew their agency single-family production in an otherwise calamitous start to the new year. (Includes two data charts.)

Agency MBS industry insiders recently discussed specified pools, prepayment rates, home price growth and problems with ESG investing.

Ginnie ranked as the top agency MBS issuer in February for the sixth month in a row. A tweak in the agency's RPL pooling policies helped. (Includes two data charts.)