Lenders can use the QM standards drafted in the waning days of the Trump administration. But there’s no certainty new leadership at the CFPB will leave them as they are.

MFA Financial made an investment in a non-QM lender, Starwood Property Trust is closing in on a similar move, and Western Asset Mortgage Capital expanded its purchase agreements.

The real estate investment trust launched a new program to quickly close loan acquisitions — at times faster than the GSEs.

A number of lenders have introduced new non-agency products with looser underwriting guidelines in recent weeks. Rocket and United Wholesale offered jumbos and Deephaven widened expanded-credit products.

Non-agency forbearance declines; Redwood staff shrinks in 2020; SFVegas rescheduled; details on due diligence billing.

Jumbo lending increased a scant 2% in the fourth quarter and held steady on an annual basis in 2020. The sector lost a significant amount of market share as agency refi business boomed. (Includes data chart.)

In the span of two days, Chase offered a first-of-its-kind risk-sharing transaction involving non-qualified mortgages and two prime non-agency MBS, including one with a balance of $1.10 billion.

The QM patch was scheduled to end July 1, but the timeline has been delayed as a Biden CFPB considers its options. The bureau might also revoke the newly-created category of seasoned QMs.

Ellington Financial and Credit Suisse are set to issue the first MBS with newly-originated non-QMs since the market was disrupted in March 2020.

After reducing its non-agency investments amid volatility from the coronavirus, Annaly is ready to ramp up activity in the sector. The REIT is acquiring non-QMs and packaging them into MBS.