Freedom Mortgage remained the top Ginnie MBS issuer in the first quarter, though third-ranked Quicken Loans posted a mighty 47% gain from the prior period. Some 57% of loans securitized by Ginnie had VA guarantees. (Includes four data charts.)
FHA/VA lending through correspondents rose 6.0% in 2020, but other channels saw more robust increases from the previous year, according to an Inside FHA/VA Lending analysis. (Includes data chart.)
VA refinance activity was the key driver in the government-insured market last year, as production rose 168% from 2019. Freedom rode the refi train to become the top FHA/VA lender in the market.
Volume was up more in correspondent and wholesale-broker platforms, but retail continued to account for just over half of government-insured lending in the third quarter.