Freddie issuance totaled $35.67 billion in August versus $34.36 billion at Fannie — a rare instance in which Freddie was the larger issuer. Year to date, though, Fannie is still the leader. (Includes two data tables.)
GSE MBS issuance declined by 3.3% on a monthly basis in July. Fannie lost a little market share to Freddie during the month. (Includes two data tables.)
Former Freddie CEO Don Layton said the pilot’s only connection to housing is that some of the homeowner’s equity is used as collateral for the new second.
Nearly all of the top 30 GSE sellers managed to increase deliveries to the enterprises in the second quarter, helping drive a 33.1% sequential bump in sales. Even so, year-to-date deliveries were down slightly. (Includes two data tables.)
Supporters of the program say the expanded use of second mortgages is a less costly way for homeowners to access their home equity when interest rates are high. But they worry about the pilot’s restrictions.
Researchers say strategic securitization by lenders exposes the GSEs to higher insurer counterparty risk, especially in regions with frequent climate-related disasters. The proposed cure: LLPAs and capital rules that compensate the GSEs for this risk.
Beginning July 1, the capital markets team at Freddie Mac will start offering multifamily giant PCs, products that will allow investors to pool larger securities and better manage their portfolios.