In case you missed it: The VA reported an astronomical increase in its interest rate reduction refinance program in early 2024...

Production of new collateralized loan obligations as well as reset transactions in the first quarter of 2024 hit the highest level since the market reached all-time highs in 2021.

A surge in refinance activity — especially in the VA program — led to a significant increase in loan removals from Ginnie Mae MBS during the first quarter of 2024.

The first-quarter slump was largely confined to bulk sales of Fannie and Freddie mortgage servicing rights.

A substantial slowdown in bulk sales of Fannie/Freddie servicing led to the lowest secondary market volume for agency MSRs since the third quarter of 2020. (Includes three data tables.)

The share of mortgages with primary MI increased by 2.1% in the first quarter, based on agency MBS issuance.

It’s been almost 20 years since the ABS market had a quarter like the first three months of 2024. Some 72 of the 114 issuers that brought deals to market in the first quarter were on the sidelines in the previous period. (Includes three data tables.)

Refinance volume was up across the board in first-quarter agency business, but the sharp spike in VA activity caught the most attention. (Includes three data tables.)

Fun fact: Expanded-credit deals were the biggest source of new issuance in the first quarter...

At the end of March, some 11.1% of agency single-family servicing had coupons over 6.0%, up from just 3.1% a year ago.