Angel Oak Mortgage’s IPO fizzled, pricing below initial guidance. The REIT’s stock price also declined in its first day of trading.

Nine expanded-credit MBS hit the market in the past two weeks, with the deals largely backed by mortgages originated in recent months.

After temporarily suspending originations during the pandemic, wholesaler ClearEdge Lending is ramping up production of non-agency mortgages.

Trade groups representing lenders are urging regulators to maintain the link between QMs and loans exempt from mandatory risk retention.

Non-agency forbearance reading increases; non-QM lenders make personnel moves; Moody’s withdraws its jumbo assessment of Quicken Loans, Regions Bank to acquire home-improvement lender.

Nomura is set to enter the market with a deal backed by non-agency mortgages for investment properties while two other issuers also have deals with newer non-QMs. There’s also a rare non-agency MBS with jumbo reverse mortgages.

The top three servicers of non-agency MBS issued during the first quarter of 2021 handled nearly 70% of the market. Shellpoint, the top-ranked firm, alone had a 41% share.

Angel Oak Mortgage, which primarily invests in non-QMs originated by affiliates of Angel Oak Companies, plans to become a public company.

A reduction in GSE refi business along with regulatory changes are expected to prompt an increase in originations of non-agency mortgages. The bulk of the increase could come from prime loans.

A number of firms are working to increase originations of non-QMs and ramping up investments in the loans. It can be a highly profitable business, though investor demand is volatile.