Mortgage servicing right markups have allowed several companies to report net profits this year when, absent these non-cash entries, they’d be in the red. But advisors suggest some MSR holders might be pushing the envelope on their valuations.
You know times are tough when the risk management team gets outsourced. Meanwhile, many REITs continue to diversify away from MBS but perhaps the trend has peaked?
It had to happen eventually: The sale of bulk MSR portfolios has lessened noticeably in the fourth quarter, with some buyers actively low-balling their bids. And if rates fall to 5.5% next year, as some predict, the days of asset markups will be in the rearview.
Some of the nation's largest direct-to-consumer lenders are taking a peek at FoA’s retail network to see if they can pick up some ancillary locations. FoA is in the midst of a massive and costly restructuring brought on by the production downturn.
Not a total surprise, but the central bank hiked short-term rates by 75 basis points this week. Mortgage rates hardly budged but residential finance professionals are worried about the quarters ahead. Meanwhile, more lenders are heading for the exits.