Strong home price appreciation helped push some GSE conforming jumbos into the non-agency market. Are loans for second homes next? (Includes data chart.)

The California-based mortgage lender has a new CEO and plans to increase its non-QM production and issue MBS.

UWM’s new jumbo promises its lowest interest rate yet, while Arc Home’s offer includes investment-property loans with balances of up to $2.0 million.

The upfront fees the GSEs charge for conforming jumbos and mortgages for second homes are set to increase. Some volume in those products will likely flow into the non-agency market.

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.

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.

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.