“We continue to see nearly zero [non-QM] loans hit the liquidation stage,” dv01 said.

The February lull is a common seasonal occurrence.

“I think that the bid for the whole loan itself and the ability to have a lot more control and cherry pick what you want on your balance sheet has been very strong,” an executive at a major life insurance company said.

A portfolio manager said if agency MBS investors aren’t kept in mind during the GSE reform process, the changes could hit investor demand for GSE MBS, having a negative impact on homebuyers.

Anthony Hsieh, chairman, founder and controlling shareholder of loanDepot, is returning to senior leadership as executive chairman of mortgage originations at the nonbank.

Only 12 banks reported a loss from their mortgage-banking operations in the fourth quarter.

Goldman issued a similar deal with home equity lines of credit in October.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-MA, said responses to her questions from both Jonathan McKernan, nominee to lead the CFPB, and Bill Pulte, nominee to lead the FHFA, were disqualifying.

Most of the fourth-quarter activity came from the Federal Reserve’s efforts to enhance its holdings of Freddie Mac paper.

A decline in interest rates helped to increase demand for refis and purchase mortgages last week.