Secondary markets

Independent mortgage banks started 2020 strong after three quarters of high profits, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

The company's planned two-week halt on originations turned into more than two months on hiatus because of coronavirus-related market disruptions.

Self-service portals fielded at least half of coronavirus-related forbearance-plan requests and made it possible to handle an influx at a challenging time, but the GSEs recommend circling back to borrowers.

The new FHFA rule sets a percentage-based threshold to measure compliance, rather than Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data.

Just like volatility begets volatility, calmness helps support continued calm.

Steps have been taken to manage coronavirus-related liquidity risks to the housing finance system, but some remain, according to Mortgage Bankers Association President and CEO Robert Broeksmit.

Aggregate numbers for coronavirus-related payment suspensions are showing more consistency as organizations clarify how they handle them, and some consumers' incentives to use them may be declining.

Embrace will originate and close home loans in its own name for clients of the wealth management firm.

The coronavirus made it particularly tough for independent contractors and independent business owners to get home mortgages, but there are some signs that market may recover soon.

The Mortgage Bankers Association's forecast anticipates tremendous coronavirus stimulus-related debt coming on to the market.

Ginnie Mae is offering temporary relief related to its acceptable delinquency-rate threshold in response to issuers' need to fulfill the forbearance requirements in the coronavirus rescue package.

First Republic is preparing a private-label residential mortgage-backed securities transaction and could be the first bank to launch this type of deal since the coronavirus first roiled U.S. markets in mid-March.

The history of riskier lending over the last half century can offer lessons for today's market.

Many originators stopped making riskier products, including jumbo loans and low credit score offerings, during April.

The government-sponsored enterprises have set new temporary limits on mortgage sales while extending processing flexibilities related to COVID-19.

Some benefits are materializing from Fannie Mae's pledge to limit servicers' exposure to principal-and-interest advances the way Freddie Mac does, but counterparties of both GSEs remain exposed to other concerns.

Federal Reserve officials restated their pledge to hold the benchmark interest rate near zero and will keep buying bonds, judging that the coronavirus pandemic "poses considerable risks to the economic outlook over the medium term."

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now able to buy loans in forbearance to alleviate pressure on the sector, but the fees charged by the mortgage giants to assume more risk could turn away some originators.

Refinancing drove a 75% year-over-year increase in mortgage banking revenue during the first quarter at Flagstar Bancorp as it shored up its operations to avoid other negative repercussions from the coronavirus.

Correspondent loan sellers are hoping the new GSE purchases will help to open a market frozen by coronavirus-related risk — but the prices offered so far aren't too promising.