FHA has extended appraisal validity periods, in some cases up to a year, to align more closely with standards at the GSEs and VA.

There’s not much left at non-agency lender Sprout Mortgage but there are plenty of rumors, none of them good. Meanwhile, mortgage fintech Better.com has been adding senior managers.

The $346 million MBS is the third expanded-credit deal from Ellington this year...

Purchase mortgages accounted for nearly 60% of jumbos in March...

loanDepot hopes to retain as much servicing as it can...

Spreads on ECM deals priced in May were near levels last seen in the early days of the pandemic...

Rising interest rates had a major impact on non-agency MBS issuance in the second quarter, with volume down nearly 40% on a sequential basis. Expanded-credit MBS issuance held up better than prime volume, though the ECM sector is now in turmoil. (Includes data chart.)

Two prominent non-QM lenders ceased operations in the past two weeks amid weak demand for the loans. Still, other market participants are stressing that they remain in strong operating positions.

Shortly after lenders adjusted to QM standards set in December 2020, the CFPB is initiating a review of the standards. Significant changes appear unlikely, though the seasoned QM option could be eliminated.

Western Alliance Bank sold first-loss exposure on a pool of mortgages with an unpaid principal balance of $3.88 billion. The mortgages were acquired from various correspondent sellers and include many non-agency jumbos.