Servicing

Bowman's Basel III relief may ease MSR capital but won't bring banks back; risk weights and economics still favor nonbanks, according to the Chairman of Whalen Global Advisors

The sector has specialized data that experts can help with and may mitigate cyclical risk, but costs and customers are considerations, an industry veteran says.

The Trump Administration proposed banning a smaller investor size than expected from purchasing more single-family houses, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Ownwell is one of the latest companies focused on easing mortgage-adjacent processes and costs to find new investment in the first two months of 2026.

The impact of insurance costs, availability and related state rules also were top of mind at the Mortgage Bankers Association servicing conference.

About 1.3% of residential properties in the United States were vacant at the beginning of the year, Attom found.

TransUnion projected moderate growth in 2026 for mortgages, projecting purchases and refinances to increase 4% and 4.2% year over year.

Some market sectors face growing challenges related to a K-shaped economy as servicers play an increasingly important role in keeping customers.

The agencies' representatives weighed in on the insurance fund's capital ratio and evolving policies at the Mortgage Bankers Association's servicing conference.

Some observers say changes to MSR risk-weighting would have limited near-term impact and are unlikely to prompt banks to rush back.