Mortgages in the transaction were acquired by Western Alliance Bank on a correspondent basis and will remain on its balance sheet. Risk-sharing deals in the non-agency market are rare and largely involve megabanks.

Prospects for non-agency MBS issuance in 2022 look mixed, with expanded-credit activity expected to increase while volume involving non-agency jumbos and GSE-eligible loans could decline.

Western Asset Mortgage Capital plans to shed investments in commercial mortgages and shift to residential assets, including non-QMs. The REIT was taking losses on commercial investments.

Non-agency MBS issuers are off to a fast start this year, with four deals marketing this week. The MBS are backed by non-agency jumbos and GSE-eligible mortgages for investment properties.

Officials at Velocity said the acquisition of an FHA multifamily lender will help to expand the company’s product offerings and serve as a hedge for its traditional focus on business-purpose lending.

New Residential set to issue single-family rental securitization; DBRS accepts Phoenix Collateral Advisors as due-diligence provider.

In a familiar refrain, participants in the non-QM market suggest the sector is ready for takeoff. Still, technology in the non-QM market lags compared with the GSEs.

Some non-agency lenders are widening the credit box to uncomfortable levels, prompting discussion at the ABS East conference this week.

Wells Fargo was the only bank among the top 10 holders of first liens to reduce its portfolio during the third quarter. The bank’s holdings are also down sharply on an annual basis. (Includes data chart.)

Issuers of prime non-agency MBS are increasingly removing loans subject to third-party due diligence reviews from the final MBS pools. Kroll Bond Rating Agency said the practice is a slippery slope.