Refinance lending plummeted in the first quarter of 2022 but still clung to a narrow lead over purchase-mortgage originations. Refis may account for only 30% of the market for the rest of the year. (Includes four data charts.)
A surge in bank investment in deals backed by car loans accounted for much the industry's growth in ABS holdings during the first quarter. (Includes two data charts.)
Portfolio holdings of agency MBS fell mostly due to lower market value for the assets. REITs also recorded a significant drop in TBA investments as agency MBS issuance declined. (Includes data chart.)
Retail, correspondent and wholesale-broker all saw sharp declines in production volume in the first quarter, but retail may have been the most profitable. (Includes six data charts.)
Most bank holdings of residential MBS are in available-for-sale accounts that require fair-value accounting, which led to a rare decline in the industry's portfolio in the first quarter. (Includes two data charts.)