Retail mortgage lending, in terms of market share, set a new record last year, but those gains may fade.

In a market that grew by 15.9 percent in 2012, Moody’s increased the volume of ABS deals it rated by just 6.9 percent over its activity in 2011.

Thanks, in part, to HARP loans private mortgage insurers in 2012 posted their best year since the financial market collapse back in 2008, according to new figures compiled by Inside Mortgage Finance.

FHA single-family production rose 22.3 percent in 2012, but another increase in the mortgage insurance premiums will likely accelerate the program’s three-year decline in market share.

GSE MBS issuance increased in January and the most likely explanation may be new, more seller-friendly repurchase policies at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Residential mortgages sourced through the correspondent channel and sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac increased by 26 percent in 2012 compared to the year before.

Mortgage bankers of all sizes continued to report strong earnings on their mortgage banking operations during the fourth quarter of 2012, but the salad days may be over.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac saw a noticeable decline in HARP activity during the final months of 2012, according to a new Inside MBS & ABS analysis.

Residential production increased modestly during the fourth quarter of 2012, according to a new Inside Mortgage Finance ranking and analysis.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2012 combined for the third biggest year ever in single-family mortgage-backed securities issuance, according to a new Inside Mortgage Finance market analysis and ranking.