HMBS issuance totaled $732 million in November 2019, as lower rates continued to strengthen new production. 89 pools were issued in November, including about $506 million of new unseasoned HECM first participation pools, easily the highest monthly total for new production this year, and the fourth straight monthly increase. For comparison, HMBS issuers sold 84 pools totaling $522 million in November 2018.
Reverse mortgage lenders weathered a long period of reduced new origination volume, primarily due to the new lower PLFs for Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (“HECMs”) in effect since the beginning of FY2018. Yet, with this month’s issuance, the HMBS market is on track to total about $8 billion for calendar year 2019. HMBS issuance totaled $9.6 billion in 2018, and $10.5 billion in 2017.
November’s production of original new loan pools was about $506 million, compared to $426 million in October, $393 million in September, $390 million in August, $321 million in July, $331 million in June, $325 million in May, $300 million in April, $277 million in March, $274 in February, and $304 million in January. Last month’s tail pool issuances totaled $225 million, within the range of recent tail issuance. As predicted last quarter, we are seeing the benefit of lower interest rates helping new origination volume.
November 2019 issuance divided into 35 First-Participation or Original pools and 54 tail pools. Original pools are those HMBS pools backed by first participations in previously uncertificated HECM loans. Tail HMBS issuances are HMBS pools consisting of subsequent participations. Tails are not from new loans, but they do represent new amounts lent. Tail HMBS issuance can generate profits for years, helping HMBS issuers during challenging times.
New View Advisors compiled this data from publicly available Ginnie Mae data as well as private sources.
Leave a Reply