MBS investors are likely to charge a pay-up for securities backed by mortgages underwritten with VantageScore — at least until they’re confident prepayment speeds won’t accelerate.

New Fed Chair Kevin Warsh has long criticized the size of the Fed’s balance sheet, in particular, its massive holdings of agency MBS.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac each issued two CRT transactions during the first quarter of 2026, including deals in March amid broader economic volatility. (Includes data table.)

FICO’s CEO argued that VantageScore isn’t gaining much traction in the MBS and ABS markets, and that the only way the score will take share with GSE mortgages will be if lenders game the system.

Some large servicers are using securitizations for MSR financing while mid-size and smaller servicers stick with bilateral agreements.

Policies put in place during the pandemic prevent many small banks and credit unions from selling small-balance loans to the GSEs, which constrains mortgage lending in rural and low-income communities.

Even with strong earnings the GSEs are making little progress on meeting stringent capital levels set during the first Trump administration.

For MBS investors, the biggest complication in the GSEs’ implementation of VantageScore 4.0 is likely loan-level pricing adjustments.

Fannie Mae expanded its portfolio by adding both whole loans and MBS, while Freddie Mac cut whole loans as it added MBS.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac appear to be buying more MBS at times when spreads widen. They’re also hedging the purchases with interest rate swaps, according to industry participants.