The voluntary scope aims to standardize practices among due diligence reviewers and also prevent a “race to the bottom.”

Fannie saw a slightly bigger increase in Supers issuance than Freddie did in the first quarter. Ginnie Platinum issuance was down, but the agency led the way in CMO production. (Includes two data tables.)

A Federal Reserve economist estimates that a one-percentage-point steepening of the yield curve reduces the spread between mortgages and the 10-year Treasury yield by 40 basis points.