As the historic mortgage boom fades into the past, buyback claims from the GSEs have declined. The biggest downturn has been at Freddie. (Includes three data tables.)
With barely any refinance activity, the seasonal housing slowdown showed overcapacity in production platforms that squashed profitability. (Includes data table.)
Bank holding companies reported a solid 5.0% increase in agency MBS held in trading accounts during the fourth quarter. But non-agency MBS and non-mortgage ABS holdings were down. (Includes two data tables.)
Banks, thrifts and credit unions ended the year with $3.551 trillion of unsecuritized home loans on their books, a gain of 0.8% from the third quarter.
Commercial banks posted a surprising increase in MBS holdings during the fourth quarter, while foreign investors, money managers, life insurers and credit unions also grew their portfolios. (Includes three data tables.)
The biggest growth in the mortgage market during the fourth quarter was in home equity loans. Ginnie Mae continued as drum major in the MBS market. (Includes three data tables.)