Even in this bull MSR market, there are headwinds to keep an eye on going forward: bank MSR portfolios are shrinking, IMBs are on a treadmill and there are growing concerns about future trading volumes.
Elevated buyback pressure from Fannie and Freddie is particularly acute for small, struggling lenders seeking to sell mortgage-servicing rights (MSRs).
GSE repurchase risk is rippling through the MSR market housingwire.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from housingwire.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
MSR trading volume this year is on pace to meet or exceed last year’s robust mark, when some $1 trillion in MSRs exchanged hands then fueled by the spike in interest rates. The trading volume of MSRs so far this year is on pace to meet or exceed last year’s robust mark, when some $1 trillion in MSRs exchanged hands then fueled by the spike in interest rates.
Nonbanks leaning on MSR sales now face a supply-demand imbalance, which favors buyers and is expected to squeeze margins, especially for smaller players, regardless of whether they sell or retain servicing.