Investors are being quite choosy these days when it comes to debt service coverage loans. But perhaps that's a buying opportunity for those with a strong stomach.

The Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization has released a standardized template to facilitate the bidding process for MBS between mortgage originators and dealers for Bids Wanted in Competition.

Earlier this year, banks saw an advantage in purchasing jumbo mortgages for their portfolios, but of late it seems as though the edge is beginning to erode. 

KBRA said that third-quarter MBS issuance volume didn’t meet its expectations and will drop rapidly in the coming year. Meanwhile, both DBRS and Moody’s noted that performance is stabilizing. 

Acra Lending will continue to sell its production in whole-loan form, given the dicey nature of securitizations. CEO Keith Lind said he feels fortunate to have a strong parent and “plenty” of liquidity.

Community development financial institutions are exempt from some ability-to-repay rules and can provide up to 40% of their financial services to customers outside their targeted underserved community.

The Swiss bank is transferring most of its securitized products unit to a group of investors — affiliates of Apollo Global Management and PIMCO. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2023.

Much like the GSEs, banks have the ability to share credit risk on a pool of assets. However, bank CRT issuance has been limited thus far as industry participants wait for an endorsement from banking regulators.

Uncertainty regarding future actions by the Federal Reserve has dampened investor demand for MBS and ABS. The outlook, too, is negative.

Declining home prices have MBS investors worried about potential losses and downgrades. Officials from rating services said their assessments include significant stresses.