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Conventional-Conforming Share of Originations Rises in 1Q
May 29, 2026
Conventional-conforming mortgages accounted for 54.3% of originations in the first quarter of 2026.
Two Harbors Extends CCM Vote; CCM Not Budging
May 29, 2026
The shareholder vote on a Two Harbors merger with CrossCountry Mortgage was postponed until June 11.
eNote Proponents Surprised by Limited Adoption
May 29, 2026
Amy Moses, vice president for strategic growth at the Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization, said a widespread shift to eNotes will occur when industry participants recognize the economic benefits and when not participating in the eNote space would make them less competitive.
FHA Seeks Feedback on Property Requirements
May 29, 2026
FHA published a request for information seeking ways to ease its minimum property requirements.

Earnings
Nonbanks See Rebound in Mortgage-Banking Income
Most of the overall increase in nonbank mortgage-banking income in the first quarter of 2026 came from Rithm Capital, which saw a big improvement on the servicing side. (Includes data table.)
Investors
Bank MBS Holdings Rise in 1Q26, Investors Like Ginnie
Some large banks repositioned their portfolios to favor Ginnie pass-throughs during the first quarter of 2026, and several regional banks closed mergers that grew their MBS holdings. (Includes two data tables.)
Originations
Refi Share of Originations Nears 50% in First Quarter
The refi share of originations hit 46.7% in the first quarter, thanks to low interest rates in January and February. Purchase-mortgage volume was up 3.7% compared to the first quarter of 2025. (Includes four data tables.)
Sales
GSE Deliveries Increase in April, Credit Box Tightens
Single-family MBS issuance by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac increased by 8.5% from March to April. Lenders boosted their deliveries without compromising on underwriting standards for purchase mortgages. (Includes two data tables.)
Ginnie Mae Issuance
Ginnie Issuance Up Across the Board in April
Issuance of loans to Ginnie Mae mortgage-backed securities hit a four-year peak in April, marked by strong refinance volume and rising activity involving loan modifications. (Includes two data tables.)
Securitization
GSE-Eligible Loans, Refis Fuel Prime Non-Agency MBS
Issuance of prime non-agency mortgage-backed securities increased by 17.0% on a quarterly basis in the first quarter of 2026. (Includes three data tables.)

Inside Mortgage Finance

Conventional-Conforming Share of Lending Up in 1Q
Conventional-conforming mortgages accounted for 54.3% of originations in the first quarter of 2026. Rocket Mortgage was the top producer of the loans in the quarter. (Includes two data tables.)
Rate Cut Under New Fed Chair Unlikely This Year
The interest rate outlook is looking better for MSR values than it is for mortgage originations. New Fed Chair Kevin Warsh faces headwinds on a rate cut this year, with some economists anticipating that the next move by the central bank will actually be a rate hike.
- ARM Share Poised to Remain Elevated
- Rocket, Redfin Offer Discount With Home Purchase
More Inside Mortgage Finance

Inside MBS & ABS

Bank Holdings of Consumer ABS Trend Higher in 1Q
May 28, 2026
Bank ABS holdings rose in the first quarter thanks to sizable gains in securities backed by consumer and auto loans. TD Bank accounted for much of the increase. (Includes two data tables.)
SFA Simplifies TRID Compliance Review for Home Equity Loans
May 28, 2026
The voluntary scope aims to standardize practices among due diligence reviewers and also prevent a “race to the bottom.”
eNotes Struggle to Take Off Despite Evident Cost Savings
May 28, 2026
A relatively small portion of mortgages use eNotes despite the insistence of trendsetters that eNotes have boosted their bottom lines.
Supers/Platinum, Agency CMO Volume up in First Quarter
May 28, 2026
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.)

More Inside MBS & ABS

Poll

Inside Nonconforming Markets

Banks’ Mortgage Holdings Inch Down in First Quarter
May 22, 2026
Adjustable-rate mortgages accounted for 38.2% of first-lien holdings at banks and thrifts at the end of March, down from 42.6% at the end of December. (Includes data table.)
Non-QM Lenders Look to Maintain Momentum
May 22, 2026
At the MBA’s secondary market conference this week, non-agency industry participants discussed how to keep non-QM originations flowing through market volatility.
Explosion of Insurance Capital Helping DSCR Lending
May 22, 2026
Demand from insurance companies is helping fuel originations of mortgages underwritten with debt service coverage ratios.
Chase Lags on Non-Agency MBS Servicing
May 22, 2026
Among the top-five servicers handling non-agency mortgage-backed securities, JPMorgan Chase was the only servicer to see a drop in volume in the first quarter. (Includes data table.)

More Inside Nonconforming Markets

Videos

Inside Mortgage Trends

Primary MI Volume Falls in 1Q; FHA Boosts Refi Share
May 29, 2026
The volume of loans with primary insurance coverage flowing into agency mortgage-backed securities declined during the first quarter of 2026. FHA refinances in agency MBS issuance were up 8.0%. (Includes two data tables.)
Rocket Mortgage Begins Using VantageScore 4.0
May 29, 2026
A senior executive at the mortgage giant provides a rare glimpse into the how the new credit score impacts lender operations.
Banks’ Servicing Valuations Strengthen in First Quarter
May 29, 2026
Banks and thrifts decreased the amount of mortgage servicing they handle for other entities in the first quarter. Meanwhile, valuations for the servicing asset increased for the third straight quarter. (Includes data table.)
GO Mortgage to Compete in Wholesale Channel Using AI
May 29, 2026
Florida-based GO Mortgage believes its mix of strong technology and personal touch will differentiate the lender from giants in the wholesale channel.

More Inside Mortgage Trends

Inside FHA/VA Lending

FHA Refis Sole Bright Spot in First-Quarter Originations
Overall, FHA and VA lending declined by 8.3% on a quarterly basis in the first quarter of 2026. FHA refi volume was up, helped by loans to existing FHA borrowers. (Includes three data tables.)
Risk Lingers for FHA Portfolio With Economy Unsteady
Although changes to FHA’s loss-mitigation policies are expected to resolve most of the persistent re-defaults in its portfolio, FHA borrowers continue to be the most exposed to financial stressors.
Gormley Running FHA With a Hands-Off Approach
Ginnie Mae President Joe Gormley addressed how he’s been filling a dual role as temporary FHA head since Commissioner Frank Cassidy went on leave from the position in April.
Denial Rates on Government-Insured Mortgages Steady in 2025
Lenders turned down 22.0% of applications received for FHA loans in 2025. The rejection rate on VA mortgages was a more modest 16.1%. (Includes data table.)

More Inside FHA/VA Lending

Premium Newsletter Content

Inside Mortgage Trends
Primary MI Volume Falls in 1Q; FHA Boosts Refi Share
The volume of loans with primary insurance coverage flowing into agency mortgage-backed securities declined during the first quarter of 2026. FHA refinances in agency MBS issuance were up 8.0%. (Includes two data tables.)
Inside Mortgage Finance
Conventional-Conforming Share of Lending Up in 1Q
Conventional-conforming mortgages accounted for 54.3% of originations in the first quarter of 2026. Rocket Mortgage was the top producer of the loans in the quarter. (Includes two data tables.)
Inside Nonconforming Markets
Banks’ Mortgage Holdings Inch Down in First Quarter
Adjustable-rate mortgages accounted for 38.2% of first-lien holdings at banks and thrifts at the end of March, down from 42.6% at the end of December. (Includes data table.)
Inside MBS & ABS
Bank Holdings of Consumer ABS Trend Higher in 1Q
Bank ABS holdings rose in the first quarter thanks to sizable gains in securities backed by consumer and auto loans. TD Bank accounted for much of the increase. (Includes two data tables.)
Inside the CFPB
California Taps Chopra for New Watchdog Agency
The former director of the CFPB will lead California’s new Business and Consumer Services Agency, which will launch July 1.
Inside The GSEs
Margins Dip at FHLBanks in First Quarter
Four of the 11 regional Federal Home Loan Banks saw double-digit declines in net income in the first quarter, even though total assets grew for the period. (Includes three data tables.)
Inside FHA/VA Lending
FHA Refis Sole Bright Spot in First-Quarter Originations
Overall, FHA and VA lending declined by 8.3% on a quarterly basis in the first quarter of 2026. FHA refi volume was up, helped by loans to existing FHA borrowers. (Includes three data tables.)

Inside The GSEs

Margins Dip at FHLBanks in First Quarter
Four of the 11 regional Federal Home Loan Banks saw double-digit declines in net income in the first quarter, even though total assets grew for the period. (Includes three data tables.)
FICO, VantageScore Continue Battle
A new Milliman study finds that FICO 10T is more predictive of default risk across the full range of credit scores. VantageScore said the study is full of “statistical swindles.”
More Inside The GSEs

As homeowner equity continues to build, more and more lenders are launching home equity lending products. Are you thinking of joining this market?