February marked the fifth month in a row when agency MBS issuance topped $300 billion. Although purchase-mortgage business fell significantly, refi remained strong. (Includes two data charts.)

The Federal Reserve wants to continue buying agency MBS at its current pace, which should keep rates and spreads down for the foreseeable future.

Fannie and Freddie both grew their portfolios of whole loans targeted for the securitization process while reducing the amount of their own MBS holdings. (Includes data chart.)

So far, performance of the multifamily businesses of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2021 resembles 2020. It’s not clear if these similarities will persist.

Thanks to heavy consumer refi demand, the support of the Fed and muscular production by nonbanks, the agency single-family market pushed overall MBS/ABS issuance to record levels in 2020. (Includes three data charts.)

Freddie’s green loans have accounted for a cumulative savings of 827 million gallons in water consumed, and more than 152 million kilo-BTUs in energy savings. In raw cash terms, that comes to more than $11 million in savings per (multifamily) loan.

Freddie issued its first multifamily K-deal in which both the floating-rate bonds and the underlying mortgages are indexed to SOFR.

Led by PFSI and Quicken, some of the nation’s largest nonbanks are entering the Ginnie EBO arena. More to come?

It’s not clear why Freddie’s multifamily profits in the third quarter were more than doubled that of its sister company. Fannie’s g-fee was higher and its portfolio larger while Freddie’s MBS issuance spiked in comparison.