Most mortgage REITs took advantage of strong MBS fundamentals to increase their agency holdings in the fourth quarter. While some REITs are drawn to the surging non-QM sector, industry holdings of non-agency MBS fell last year. (Includes two data tables.)

Non-agency jumbo mortgages accounted for 15.4% of total single-family originations in 2025, compared with a 12.7% share in 2024. Meanwhile, agency high-balance activity declined somewhat. (Includes three data tables.)

Three of the top-five GSE issuers posted declines in volume last month. Meanwhile, Fannie’s share of total residential MBS issuance fell to a decade-plus low of 24.0% in the fourth quarter of 2025. (Includes two data tables.)

Most nonbanks reported bigger gains in lending volume in the fourth quarter of 2025 than in production income. MSR valuations continued to drive servicing income lower. (Includes data table.)

Secondary-market sales of agency loans followed seasonal patterns last month. Although purchase-mortgage volume saw the biggest decline, the sector still accounted for 55.8% of agency issuance last month. (Includes two data tables.)

VA refinance activity more than doubled in the fourth quarter and FHA refi volume was up 55%. United Wholesale Mortgage was the top lender in both government loan programs. (Includes three data tables.)

Holdings of first-lien mortgages at commercial banks and savings institutions increased just 0.3% from the end of the third quarter to the fourth. All of the increase was driven by a 14.6% jump in holding of adjustable-rate mortgages. (Includes data table.)

Select Portfolio Servicing and Newrez/Shellpoint, the top two servicers of non-agency MBS issued during the fourth quarter of 2025, handled nearly 50% of the market. But both lost market share. (Includes data table.)