Credit risk transfers

Delinquencies associated with the government-sponsored enterprises high loan-to-value ratio programs that target low-to-moderate income homebuyers are slightly better than expected, at least early on, according to Fitch.

Government-sponsored enterprise executives say they want to continue to offer credit risk transfers and guarantee-fee parity after the GSEs are released from conservatorship, but they might not be able to.

Freddie Mac will keep building on the financial reforms that produced profitability during conservatorship as broader government-sponsored enterprise proposals take shape, according to departing CEO Don Layton.

Fannie Mae is considering sharing more risk with the private sector to reduce future strain on its earnings from the implementation of the Current Expected Credit Loss accounting standard next year.

The residential mortgages being reinsured are less risky, by several measures, than its previous deal; none of the borrowers have ever missed a payment.

This time, investors required Radian to hold on to the first 2.5% of losses it covers on the pool; by comparison, the insurer’s previous deal, Eagle Re 2018-1, had a lower “attachment” point of 2.25%.

An emerging gap between the government-sponsored enterprises on a Federal Housing Finance Agency scorecard item is prompting Fannie Mae to diversify its multifamily credit risk transfer efforts.

While reinsurers are becoming more comfortable with the risk it is offloading, the GSE wants to maintain control of the workout process for loans that go bad.

Arch Capital’s next offering of credit risk transfer notes features heavy exposure to residential mortgages that have been modified by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

Credit risk transfer does more than just reduce exposure to a downturn in the housing market. It also provides them with information about how others view mortgage credit risk.