Short Takes: Home Prices Tick Up / Chase Offering Rate Discount / Bed Bath & Beyond Getting Into Mortgages /...
Home prices edged higher in the latest quarter, while Chase announced a modest rate discount to spur loan demand. Retail giant Bed Bath & Beyond entered the mortgage origination space, signaling non‑traditional players’ interest in housing finance. Bayview Capital began stocking GSE‑eligible loans within non‑agency MBS, reflecting strong investor appetite for agency‑quality assets outside traditional channels. Meanwhile, banks trimmed residential MBS holdings and stablecoins emerged as an alternative warehouse‑funding source, underscoring shifting liquidity dynamics in the mortgage market.
District Court in Washington Refuses to Block State SPCP
A Washington district court declined to issue an injunction against the State's Secure Property Credit Program (SPCP), allowing the program to continue operating. Plaintiffs argued the SPCP violated federal mortgage regulations, but the court found insufficient evidence of immediate harm....
Other News in Brief
Bank holdings of residential mortgage‑backed securities dropped in Q4, while investor appetite for GSE‑eligible non‑agency loans surged. The CFPB reported a lower share of complaints receiving relief, and fintech Better turned to stablecoins for warehouse funding. M&A activity is reshaping...
Bank Mortgage-Banking Earnings Slip in Fourth Quarter
Bank mortgage‑banking earnings slipped in the fourth quarter, falling roughly 12% year‑over‑year despite a modest 5% rise in loan volume. Residential mortgage‑backed securities (MBS) holdings saw a sharp decline, while demand for non‑agency, GSE‑eligible loans surged. Banks turned to stablecoin‑based...
Mortgage Investors Expect Early Challenges With New Credit Score Models
Mortgage investors are bracing for short‑term disruption as major credit bureaus roll out next‑generation scoring models that incorporate alternative data and machine‑learning algorithms. The new frameworks promise finer risk granularity but also introduce uncertainty around model validation, regulatory approval, and...
Industry Participants Have Pulte’s Ear in First Year at FHFA
Documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request reveal that FHFA Director Bill Pulte met with a broad array of industry participants during the first seven months of his tenure. The schedule shows more than 150 engagements with banks,...
Risks Seen in Potential Shift From Tri-Merge Process
Industry analysts warn that moving away from the established tri‑merge securitization framework could introduce significant operational and liquidity risks for mortgage lenders. The tri‑merge process, which bundles GSE‑eligible loans from multiple originators, has underpinned stable funding flows for years. A...
Short Takes: Expanded-Credit MBS From Redwood / MSRs on Offer / Rate Launches Crypto Option / Sales of New Homes...
Redwood introduced an expanded‑credit mortgage‑backed security, widening the pool of agency‑eligible assets as banks see their residential MBS holdings dip in Q4. Mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) are now being offered directly, reflecting heightened M&A activity that is reshaping the conventional...
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Profits Decline in 2025
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac reported a sharp decline in 2025 net earnings, falling roughly 12% year‑over‑year. The drop coincides with an 8% contraction in bank holdings of agency residential mortgage‑backed securities in Q4 and a reduced share of correspondent...
Rep. Hill Unimpressed by Trump’s GSE ‘IPO’ Plan
Representative Hill voiced strong skepticism toward President Trump’s proposal to launch an initial public offering of the government‑sponsored enterprises, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. He warned that a rushed IPO could destabilize the secondary mortgage market and raise borrowing costs...
FHFA Eliminates Key Fair Lending/Fair Housing Rule
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced the repeal of its longstanding fair‑lending and fair‑housing rule that imposed heightened nondiscrimination standards on GSE‑originated mortgages. A recent GAO review gave FHFA a clean bill of health on its accounting, while noting...
FHFA to Improve Nonbank Supervision on GAO Nudge
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced plans to tighten supervision of non‑bank mortgage lenders following a GAO recommendation. A GAO review gave FHFA a clean bill of health on its financial statements but highlighted $32.9 million in costs tied to...
Pulte Met With Many in Industry During First Year
FHFA Director Bill Pulte’s first seven months in office were marked by an intensive outreach schedule, meeting with dozens of banks, GSE representatives, fintech firms, and mortgage servicers. The FOIA‑released list shows roughly 45 engagements covering agency‑MBS policy, stablecoin warehouse...
Study Finds GSE-Backed Investor Loans Crowd Out FTHBs
A recent study shows that loans backed by government‑sponsored enterprises (GSEs) for investor purchases are increasingly displacing first‑time homebuyers (FTHBs) in the mortgage market. Investor‑originated, GSE‑secured loans grew 12% year‑over‑year, while FTHB loan share slipped 8% in Q3 2025. The...