An effort by the CFPB to delay the end of the QM patch is causing uncertainty for non-agency lenders. A coalition of lenders and consumer advocates said the CFPB shouldn’t move forward with the proposal.
The impairment rate on securitized non-QMs hit 11.1% at the end of February. At the end of 2020, the rate stood at 10.3% after months of steady improvement.
AIG is set to issue a jumbo MBS with new production and MFA Financial has a non-QM deal with loans that have seasoned for 16 months. A surge of issuance also looks likely later this month.
The margins on originating non-QMs look good enough for Impac to resume production. The lender suffered a large loss in 2020, partially due to pandemic-driven volatility in the sector.
Originations of expanded-credit mortgages fell by nearly 30% on an annual basis in 2020 and the sector lost market share. But lenders in the sector believe production will gradually recover. (Includes data chart.)
Lenders can use the QM standards drafted in the waning days of the Trump administration. But there’s no certainty new leadership at the CFPB will leave them as they are.
MFA Financial made an investment in a non-QM lender, Starwood Property Trust is closing in on a similar move, and Western Asset Mortgage Capital expanded its purchase agreements.
Nonprime servicing portfolios fell by 0.7% in 4Q20 and 4.1% year-over-year. But Select Portfolio Servicing boosted its receivables during the year. (Includes data chart.)