SPS, which has been servicing residential loans since 1989, handles a portfolio of about $180 billion, largely of loans in non-agency mortgage-backed securities.
The first quarter revealed slippage in warehouse financing and that Flagstar, a longtime player in the space, was pulling the plug. Still, there was a hint of good news: More nonbank originators are operating at break-even or better.
Hometown Lenders has filed for bankruptcy citing issues stemming from interest rate trends. Plenty of conventional lenders have folded their tents the past two years, but there hasn’t really been a groundswell in bankruptcy filings.
To date, nonbank lender/servicers that play in the conventional/government arena have had mixed success in capitalizing on using REITs that sell shares to the public.