Higher conforming loan limits likely helped agency MBS issuance edge slightly higher in January. But the market started 2022 well behind its pace a year ago. (Includes two data charts.)

Nonbank servicers in the top 50 posted a hefty 4.6% gain in owned servicing...

Wells Fargo still ranks as the top mortgage servicer, but its industry-leading portfolio fell below the $1 trillion mark. (Includes three data charts.)

Roughly $153.60 billion of Fannie/Freddie MSRs changed hands in bulk deals during the fourth quarter...

Since the beginning of 2021, low interest rates fed a gusher of refinance and restructuring activity that totaled $230.29 billion...

Freedom Mortgage ranked as the top bulk buyer of agency MSR in 2021, but Chase came on strong in the second half. Coissuance volume gained some share last year, led by Lakeview Loan Servicing as the top buyer.

Refinance and restructuring deals accounted for just over half of last year's record $459.84 billion of CLO and CDO issuance. The major collateral groups all posted big gains from 2020, though CRE faltered a bit in the fourth quarter.

For six consecutive quarters home lenders pounded out $1 trillion or more in originations...

First-lien originations set a new annual record of $4.825 trillion in 2021 despite an 8.4% decline in the fourth quarter. Many top lenders reported significant quarterly declines in production.

All major product groups saw significant gains in 2021...