Monthly issuance of agency single-family MBS was up just 1.9% from December, boosted by a surge in cash-out refinances. Production in January 2026 rose 21.6% from the same month last year. (Includes two data tables.)

FHFA quietly increased the cap on the GSEs’ holdings of agency MBS from $40 billion apiece to $225 billion. That’s the same as the cap on their entire retained mortgage portfolios.

Interest rate and spread volatility has declined in recent months. That’s leading to a reduction in potential returns from agency MBS along with a more stable investing environment.