Even with a 9.0% decline during the fourth quarter, production of home equity loans in 2025 was up 25.1% on an annual basis. Both depositories and nonbanks had a hand in boosting production. (Includes three data tables.)

Speakers at the Mortgage Bankers Association’s servicing solutions conference discussed what makes a good non-agency servicer.

Though Angel Oak Mortgage REIT’s main focus is non-qualified mortgages, the REIT plans to regularly participate in securitizing home equity lines of credit.

Home equity investment deals propped up issuance of home equity loan securitizations in the fourth quarter. For the full year, HEL securitizations nearly doubled from 2024 levels. (Includes three data tables.)

A change in how MBS deals are rated led to more than 1,000 upgrades for tranches of deals backed by HELs and seasoned mortgages.

Mortgage lenders are partnering with student loan debt repayment services as a pathway to drive business with new and existing borrowers.

Citizens Bank maintained its top HEL lender position with $3.10 billion of volume in the third quarter, down 0.9% from the previous three-month period.

Analysts noted that the non-agency MBS market will benefit from strong investor demand, including more new shelves participating in the sector.

Homeowners said in a recent Hometap survey that traditional home equity solutions do not fit their needs and they are looking for more flexible finance options.

Achieve Loans started marketing a $271.2 million securitization of home equity lines of credit late last week.