Non-agency MBS issuance perked up in early January as investor demand improved. Redwood Trust offered a jumbo MBS after a year-long lull in issuance and expanded-credit MBS issuers priced deals at tightening spreads.

The impairment rate on securitized non-QMs posted its largest one-month jump in November since the early days of the pandemic. Hurricane Ian was a factor.

Going forward, the FHFA will seek public comments when the GSEs are looking to launch new activities or products. There are also some broad exceptions to the public notice standard.

In October, new standards for qualified mortgages took effect. It turns out that a provision in the final rule also applies to non-QMs, which could limit originations of loans where lenders look at only a small number of a borrower’s bank statements.

Efforts by the MBA and other industry participants to get the California Supreme Court to overturn a lower court’s ruling failed near the end of December. Servicers in the state are now limited on the amount default interest they can charge.

Redwood raises funds through sale of preferred stock; lender focusing on non-QMs has national aspirations; new DSCR tool for borrowers.

The residential finance sector is going through a cleansing of sorts that will result in a leaner, meaner industry...

Prices on non-agency MBS took such a hit in 2022 that the market is now gaining popularity with investors, even with the threat of a recession. Still, new issuance in 2023 is expected to come in lower on an annual basis.

The SEC’s rulemaking agenda includes climate-related disclosures, cybersecurity disclosures and other rules aimed at the MBS and ABS markets.

Spreads tightened this week for a new CRT transaction from Fannie and new non-agency MBS; prepayment rates on agency MBS exceptionally low; lessons from Silvergate Bank’s crypto activity.