WaFd Bank is ending its mortgage origination activity; TD Bank is considering selling jumbo mortgages; some banks are still increasing their mortgage business; President Trump issues order on housing, freezes regulatory efforts.

In 2025, servicing sales should remain hot, but franchise deals involving the transfer of “whole” companies will likely be few and far between.

This year will yield fewer sales than the two previous years but those were aberrations. Small MSR portfolios are available, but nothing in the “mega” $10 billion range.

HPS Investments, which owns nonprime originator/servicer Acra Lending and more, is toying with an IPO. Acra is a small part of what HPS owns, but it would open up the lender to public disclosures.

Private-equity firms still love MSRs, apparently. But will declining mortgage rates diminish PE demand for servicing?

Believing in its prowess as a servicing recapture expert, Rocket Mortgage is itching to buy MSR packages. In other M&A news, a distillery wants to enter the origination business. Think of the cross-selling opportunities!

Some mortgage executives might be too optimistic about the prospects for originations growth following an interest rate cut later this year.

So, you’re a nonbank and you want to purchase a federally insured depository? Have your CEO do it. And be patient.

The servicing sales market has slowed this summer, but there are rumblings of activity. Freedom Mortgage, for instance, is peeling off a piece of its conventional portfolio. And a sale of SPS is in the works.

The servicing acquisition from Flagstar puts Mr. Cooper’s pro forma portfolio at the end of June at about 31% higher.