A number of lenders have introduced new non-agency products with looser underwriting guidelines in recent weeks. Rocket and United Wholesale offered jumbos and Deephaven widened expanded-credit products.
Jumbo lending increased a scant 2% in the fourth quarter and held steady on an annual basis in 2020. The sector lost a significant amount of market share as agency refi business boomed. (Includes data chart.)
In the span of two days, Chase offered a first-of-its-kind risk-sharing transaction involving non-qualified mortgages and two prime non-agency MBS, including one with a balance of $1.10 billion.
The QM patch was scheduled to end July 1, but the timeline has been delayed as a Biden CFPB considers its options. The bureau might also revoke the newly-created category of seasoned QMs.
After reducing its non-agency investments amid volatility from the coronavirus, Annaly is ready to ramp up activity in the sector. The REIT is acquiring non-QMs and packaging them into MBS.
Non-agency forbearance increases; personnel moves at Deephaven, Wells Fargo and Quontic; new non-agency MBS; a jumbo mortgage symposium; PCMA loosens standards for jumbo product.
Wells Fargo is once again buying jumbo mortgages from correspondents. Meanwhile, newly minted public company United Wholesale is set to resume originating the product through brokers.
The CFPB’s acting director has asked bureau officials to explore options to maintain the status quo on QM standards with less than a month left before the new rule takes effect.