Mortgage rates declined slightly in the government-insured market after the Trump administration directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase a combined $200 billion in agency mortgage-backed securities.

Amit Siroya, managing director of residential investments, asset-based finance, at Barings, said RTL originations could slow in certain pockets that are seeing volatility in home prices.

The last time a single company held more than $1.0 trillion of agency servicing was 2019, near the end of the reign of Wells Fargo atop the servicing market.

Michael Fratantoni, chief economist and a senior vice president of research and business development at the Mortgage Bankers Association, predicted that interest rates will largely stay above 6.0% in 2026 and 2027.

It remains unclear what types of MBS the GSEs are planning to buy and the span of the planned purchases, among other factors.

Volume with primary MI was up sharply in the fourth quarter of 2025 at both the government-sponsored enterprises and the Department of Veterans Affairs, while FHA volume lagged to some extent.

Foreclosure filings increased by 14% on an annual basis in 2025.

Issuance of residential mortgage-backed securities increased by 13.8% on an annual basis, hitting $1.43 trillion in 2025.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances decreased from 6.25% the week ending Jan. 2 to 6.18% last week.

The shift in credit scores was driven by refinance activity.