While many lenders are already originating mortgages using replacements for LIBOR, many legacy ARMs remain linked to the London benchmark, according to an analysis by Inside Mortgage Finance.
Sales of purchase-money mortgages into the agency secondary market continued to gain momentum in the third quarter, but the refinance sector saw further erosion. (Includes two data charts.)
As federal regulators consider ways to oversee how mortgage lenders disclose climate change risk to borrowers, industry participants warned of unintended consequences if the rules aren’t carefully crafted.
Despite protests that existing yield maintenance protects investors from prepayment risk on agency CMBS, FHFA directed the Federal Home Loan Banks to limit their exposure.
Home Point and UWM earnings reports suggest the GSEs’ new limits on cash window purchases and caps on certain mortgage products took a bite out of the profits of some larger wholesalers.
If Ginnie Mae hikes its capital requirement as proposed, it could reduce the number of issuer/servicers. But some nonbanks would benefit from reduced competition.
Lenders with heavy concentrations of refi loans, like Quicken and Freedom Mortgage, recorded big declines in agency business during the second quarter of 2021. (Includes two data charts.)
Critics argue that community banks and small credit unions are vulnerable to rules designed for large lenders. Also, if Fannie and Freddie exit conservatorship, many of the guardrails protecting small lenders could vanish.