Borrower payoffs reflect heavy refinance activity in the Ginnie program.

Late on Jan. 27, the Trump administration ordered a pause for federal loan and grant activity, but the vague wording of the order prompted uncertainty for the mortgage market.

FHA servicing volume increased by 2.5% on a quarterly basis, hitting $1.39 trillion at the end of the fourth quarter of 2024.

Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-WI, said unelected VA officials shouldn’t have the authority to “write a $16 billion or $17 billion check” through creation of a loan-modification program.

Cardinal started originating VA loans using 10 T scores in October.

Payoffs accounted for 89.1% of total loan liquidations from Ginnie MBS in the third quarter.

Government mortgage insurance programs captured most of the primary MI gain in the third quarter.

Some $15.44 billion of refis were pooled into Ginnie MBS in October, a 25.7% jump from the previous month.

Ginnie initially planned on implementing the capital requirements at the end of 2023, along with other reforms.

Sam Valverde, acting president of Ginnie Mae, noted that Ginnie and the Department of Veterans Affairs have policies in place to prevent refis that don’t benefit borrowers and they will continue to watch for “abnormal” refi activity.