Issuance of non-agency MBS increased by nearly 50% on an annual basis in 2019, largely due to expanded-credit mortgages. (Includes data chart.)

Issuance of prime non-agency MBS will likely increase this year, according to projections by industry analysts. The big wildcard is how FHFA’s efforts to reduce the GSEs’ footprint will impact the non-agency market.

The lender plans to raise around $100 million through an initial public offering of shares. Velocity funded about $1.0 billion of originations in 2019, focused on residential investment and small commercial properties.

At least eight expanded-credit MBS rated by DBRS Morningstar suffered losses in the second half of 2019. Investors, though, were protected due to high credit enhancement levels.

Anchor Loans and LendingHome are the largest lenders operating in the fix-and-flip space. An analysis of the most recent HMDA data suggests the firms are neck and neck in originations of short-term loans. (Includes data chart.)

After a lull in December, issuers are bringing non-agency MBS to the market. Redwood Trust is planning a deal with seasoned mortgages while New Residential has an expanded-credit MBS.

While 12 firms are deemed as acceptable by Fitch Ratings to review loans in MBS rated by the agency, two firms, SitusAMC and Clayton, handled nearly all reviews in recent years.

LendSure launches bridge loan product; Sprout hires Ron Krueger as senior vice president; DBRS Morningstar outlines rating criteria for reverse mortgages; Fitch upgrades its servicer ratings of BSI Financial Services.

Single-family rental securitization issuance in 2019 fell by 35%. Invitation Homes, the largest issuer of such deals in 2018, avoided the market entirely, focusing instead on more attractive types of financing.

Nonbank fintech lenders put a greater emphasis on borrowers with low credit scores and in areas underserved by banks, according to research pub-lished by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.