Rising interest rates prompted a loss of $231.6 million at MFA Financial in 2022. The losses slowed in the fourth quarter, at “only” $6.7 million, helped by business-purpose lending operations.
Two new issuers are offering expanded-credit MBS, there’s a securitization backed by newly-originated second liens and the jumbo MBS market is showing more signs of life.
The performance of expanded-credit MBS was attractive to investors until interest rates increased throughout 2022. Higher rates cut into excess interest and slowed build-up of credit enhancement levels on outstanding deals.
Occupancy fraud on jumbos; FoA to sell its business-purpose lending unit to Roc Capital; new CEOs at two leading fix-and-flip lenders; new COO at Deephaven.
Rising interest rates and financial volatility battered the non-QM market in 2022. This year almost has to be better by default, according to industry participants.
The DOJ continues to investigate issues involving a non-QM program Sterling Bank & Trust ended in 2019. Fallout from the program continues to cut into the bank’s profitability.