Global Markets 

Analysis Report

A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF GINNIE MAE’S 

OFFICE OF CAPITAL MARKETS

PREPARED FOR GINNIE MAE 

BY STATE STREET GLOBAL ADVISORS 

URBAN INSTITUTE, HOUSING FINANCE POLICY CENTER
CONTENTS

Relative Attractiveness of US Fixed Income and Ginnie Mae MBS

Barclays US Aggregate and Global Indices 4

Global 10-year treasury yields 5

Ginnie Mae yields and yield spreads—USD, JPY, Euro 6-8

MBS yield per duration 9

Total return and Sharpe Ratios 10 

State of the US housing Market 

Serious delinquency rates 11

National HPI 11

HPI by state 12

Ginnie Mae Agency issuance and Agency outstanding by state 13

Size and value of the US Residential housing and mortgage markets 14

Outstanding Agency MBS 15

Origination volume over time 16

US Agency Market, Originations

Annual Agency Gross Issuance 17

Annual Agency Net Issuance 18

Monthly Agency Issuance 19

Purchase versus refi: Percent Refi at Issuance 20

Credit Box 

First time home buyer share—purchase only loans 21

First time home buyer share— Ginnie Mae purchase only loans 22

FICO score distribution 23

Credit box at a glance (FICO, LTV, DTI) 24-26

Historical credit box (FICO, LTV,DTI) 27-29

Ginnie Mae Nonbank Originators

Nonbank originator share (All, Purchase, Refi) 30

Bank vs. nonbank originators credit box at a glance (FICO, LTV, DTI) 31-33

Bank vs. nonbank originators historical credit box (FICO) 34

Prepayments 

Aggregate 35

Select coupon/origination year cohorts 36-37

Other Ginnie Mae Programs

HMBS 38

Multifamily 39

Market Conditions-Agency MBS

Average daily trading volume and turnover by sector 40

Dealer net positions, repo volume 41

MBS Ownership

Ownership breakdown of total agency debt 42

MBS share of total agency debt and commercial bank ownership of MBS 43

Bank and Thrift Residential MBS Holdings 44

Foreign ownership of MBS 45-46

Fed Ownership of MBS 47
HIGHLIGHTS

The recent decline in average FICO scores

The top chart on page 27 shows that FICO scores for originations in recent months have dropped considerably. 

The decline has been broad based and has materialized for Ginnie Mae as well as for GSE-backed mortgages. The 

GSE average FICO has declined from roughly 760 in Oct 2016 (just before rates increased), to about 750 

currently. Ginnie average FICO has declined from 686 to 682 over the same period. The bottom two charts on the 

same page make it clear that this decline has been driven mainly by refinances, as purchase FICOs have registered 

very little to no reduction. 

Looking more granularly at Ginnie Mae-backed mortgages, FICO scores have declined for both bank and nonbank 

originations. However, nonbank FICOs have declined more. Page 34 shows that the average FICO for Ginnie’s

nonbank originations has declined 6 points (from 683 to 677) since October 2016, while bank average FICO, after 

declining by 3 points (from 699 to 696) between October ’16 and March ’17, has climbed back. A further analysis 

(not included in this report) of bank and nonbank FICOs by loan purpose confirms that refinance was the driver of 

the reduction for both bank and nonbank originations.

One possible explanation for the refinance-driven reduction in FICOs is that lenders, in the wake of rising rates, 

are approving more applications from slightly less creditworthy borrowers than before to maintain volumes 

amidst a shrinking pool of in-the-money refinance borrowers. If lenders are indeed refinancing an increasing 

number of marginal borrowers from this pool, the average FICO for those that remain in the pool should decline 

over time. An analysis of these borrowers conducted by the Urban Institute confirms this hypothesis. The average 

FICO for still in-the-money pool of borrowers has declined from 716 in Oct 2016 to 705 in May 2017. That is, as 

the pool of refinanceable mortgages shrinks, lenders are more likely to approve the marginal applicant.

Highlights this month:

• The yield advantage has narrowed between US Treasury notes hedged into other currencies, and the sovereign 

bonds of those countries. However, US MBS still offers a substantial pick up over Treasuries, explaining the 

continued attractiveness of these securities (Pages 5-8).

• We have added a new page which allows our users to track agency gross and net issuance on a monthly basis. In 

April 2017, Ginnie Mae gross issuance reached the highest market share of agency gross issuance since 

December 2015 (Page 19).

• The non-bank originator share of the Ginnie Mae market edged down to 76 percent in April 2017 after a small 

uptick in March (Page 30).

• Prepayment speeds went up for all agencies in May 2017, mostly due to the recent decline in rates and a 

normal seasonal uptick (Pages 35-37).

• In February 2017, China has reversed recent contracting trends and expanded their holdings of agency MBS 

(Page 46).
Relative Attractiveness of US Fixed 

Income and Ginnie Mae MBS

Sources: Bloomberg and State Street Global Advisors. 

Note: Data as of March 2017

Sources: Bloomberg and State Street Global Advisors

Note: Data as of March 2017

US MBS comprise 29 percent of the Barclays US Aggregate Index-- marginally less than either the US Treasury share 

(37%) or the US Credit share (31%). Fannie Mae 30-year MBS comprises the largest percent of US MBS (10%), while 

Ginnie Mae 30-year MBS and Freddie Mac 30-year MBS comprise 8 percent and 6 percent of the market, 

respectively. Mortgages with terms of 15- and 20- year comprise the balance (5%) of the US MBS share. US securities 

are the largest single contributor to the Barclays Global Aggregate, accounting for 39 percent of the global total. US 

MBS comprises 12 percent of the global aggregate. 

37%

2%

31%

8%

10%

6%

5%

2%

Barclays US 

Aggregate Index

Treasury

Agency

Credit

GNMA MBS 30y

FNMA MBS 30y

FHLMC MBS 30y

15y and 20y MBS

ABS & CMBS

54%

6%

25%

12%

1%

Global Treasury 3%

Global Agency

Global Credit

US MBS

ABS & CMBS

Collateralised

(Pfandbrief)

2%

3% 1%

39%

30%

21%

1% 0.3%

2%

1%

Australia

Canada

Middle East

United States

Europe

Asia & Pacific Rim

Latin America

Africa

Supranational

Others

Sources: Bloomberg and State Street Global Advisors. Note: Data as of March 2017

Barclays Global Aggregate Index by Country Barclays Global Aggregate Index by Sector

4
Relative Attractiveness of US Fixed 

Income and Ginnie Mae MBS

-1.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

May-12 May-13 May-14 May-15 May-16 May-17

Yield (%)

Global 10-year Treasury Yields

US 10y UK 10y GER 10y ITA 10y JPY 10y

-1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

May-12 May-13 May-14 May-15 May-16 May-17

10yr US Treasury hedged yield, JPY

10y US hedged yield, JPY (left)

US 10y hedged yield advantage vs 10y JGB (right)

-1.5

-1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

-1.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

May-12 May-13 May-14 May-15 May-16 May-17

10yr US Treasury hedged yield, EUR

10y US hedged yield, EUR (left)

10y US hedge yield advantage vs 10y Bund (right)

Sources: Bloomberg and State Street Global Advisors. 

Note: Data as of May 2017

Sources: Bloomberg and State Street Global Advisors

Note: Data as of May 2017

Sources: Bloomberg and State Street Global Advisors. Note: Data as of May 2017 

Over the past few years, US Treasury interest rates, as measured by the 10-year note have consistently been the 

highest in the developed world. But it declined to the level of Italy’s 10-year bond yield since April. As of the end 

of May, both the US 10-year Treasury note and Italy’s 10-year bond had the same yield of 2.20 percent, while the 

yields stood at 1.05 percent for the UK, 0.30 percent for Germany and 0.05 percent for Japan. If the Treasury 

notes are hedged into foreign currencies, the US yield advantage narrows -- it stands at 47 basis points (bps) this 

month versus the JGB, and -9 bps versus the 10-year Bund. This month shows a decrease of 27 bps versus the 

JGB and a decrease of 17 bps versus the Bund. 

5
Relative Attractiveness of US Fixed 

Income and Ginnie Mae MBS

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

May-15 Aug-15 Nov-15 Feb-16 May-16 Aug-16 Nov-16 Feb-17 May-17

G2SF CC yield & nominal spread, USD

G2SF CC yield, USD (left) G2SF CC yield nominal spread vs UST 5/10 blend (50%/50%) (right)

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

May-06 May-07 May-08 May-09 May-10 May-11 May-12 May-13 May-14 May-15 May-16 May-17

GNSF CC yield & nominal spread, USD

GNSF CC yield, USD (left) GNSF CC yield nominal spread vs UST 5/10 blend (50%/50%) (right)

Sources: Bloomberg and State Street Global Advisors. Note: Data as of May 2017

Sources: Bloomberg and State Street Global Advisors. Note: Data as of May 2017

Ginnie securities outyield their Treasury counterparts (as measured by the average of the 5- and 10-year 

Treasury yields) -- 72 basis points on both G2SF and GNSF.

6
Relative Attractiveness of US Fixed 

Income and Ginnie Mae MBS

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

May-15 Aug-15 Nov-15 Feb-16 May-16 Aug-16 Nov-16 Feb-17 May-17

G2SF CC yield & nominal spread, JPY

G2SF CC yield, JPY (left) G2SF CC yield nominal spread vs JGB 5/10 blend (50%/50%) (right)

Sources: Bloomberg and State Street Global Advisors. Note: Data as of May 2017

Sources: Bloomberg and State Street Global Advisors. Note: Data as of May 2017

If Ginnie Mae securities are hedged into foreign currencies, they look attractive on a yield basis; handily 

outyielding the sovereign debt of other countries. This figure shows that G2SF and GNSF hedged into 

Japanese yen yield more than the JGB 5/10 blend by 140 basis points.

-2.0

-1.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

May-06 May-07 May-08 May-09 May-10 May-11 May-12 May-13 May-14 May-15 May-16 May-17

GNSF CC yield & nominal spread, JPY 

GNSF CC yield, JPY (left) GNSF CC yield nominal spread vs JGB 5/10 blend (50%/50%) (right)

7
Relative Attractiveness of US Fixed 

Income and Ginnie Mae MBS

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

May-15 Aug-15 Nov-15 Feb-16 May-16 Aug-16 Nov-16 Feb-17 May-17

G2SF CC yield & nominal spread, EUR

G2SF CC yield, EUR (left) G2SF CC yield nominal spread vs GER 5/10 blend (50%/50%) (right)

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

May-06 May-07 May-08 May-09 May-10 May-11 May-12 May-13 May-14 May-15 May-16 May-17

GNSF CC yield & nominal spread, EUR

GNSF CC yield, EUR (left) GNSF CC yield nominal spread vs GER 5/10 blend (50%/50%) (right)

Sources: Bloomberg and State Street Global Advisors. Note: Data as of May 2017

Sources: Bloomberg and State Street Global Advisors. Note: Data as of May 2017

If Ginnie Mae securities are hedged into foreign currencies, they look attractive on a yield basis versus sovereign 

alternatives. This figure shows that G2SF and GNSF hedged with euros yield more than the average of the 

German 5/10 Bund blend by 96 and 97 basis points, respectively.

8
Relative Attractiveness of US Fixed 

Income and Ginnie Mae MBS

Sources: Bloomberg and State Street Global Advisors. Note: Yields are in base currency of security and unhedged. 

Data as of May 2017.

As interest rates have risen, Ginnie Mae durations have extended by more than a year. Even so, US MBS yields 

are about the same or higher than most securities with the same or shorter durations. The only exception is the 

high yield index, where interest rate risk does not fully capture the volatility of the high yield asset class. 

Investors are unable to match the yield on Ginnie Mae securities, while preserving the full government 

guarantee, even if they extend their duration significantly.

Security Duration Yield

US 5y 4.8 1.75

US 10y 8.8 2.20

GNMA II 3% 6.5 2.72

GNMA II 3.5% 5.5 2.73

JPY 5y 4.8 -0.12

JPY 10y 9.7 0.04

GER 5y 4.9 -0.43

GER 10y 9.6 0.30

ITA 5y 4.6 0.91

ITA 10y 8.8 2.19

US credit 7.2 3.07

US credit >= A 7.6 2.94

US HY 3.9 5.48

Pan-Euro corp 5.9 1.07

Pan-Euro HY 3.4 2.7

US 5y

US 10y

G2 3.0%

G2 3.5%

JPY 5y

GER 10y

GER 5y

JPY 10y

ITA 5y

ITA 10y

US Credit

US Credit>=A

US HY

Pan-Euro 

Corp

Pan-Euro HY

-1.00

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0

Yield

Duration

Yield per duration

9
Relative Attractiveness of US Fixed 

Income and Ginnie Mae MBS

Average Return (Per Month)

Time Period US MBS 

Ginnie Mae US Treasury US Credit Corp Pan Euro Credit Corp US High Yield* Pan EuroHigh Yield*

1 year 0.08 0.01 0.36 0.14 1.07 0.58

3 year 0.18 0.17 0.30 0.31 0.40 0.41

5 year 0.15 0.11 0.33 0.41 0.60 0.76

10 year 0.36 0.34 0.48 0.37 0.66 0.72

Source: State Street

*Assumes 2% capitalization max per issuer

Average Excess Return (Per Month)

Time Period US MBS 

Ginnie Mae US Treasury US Credit Corp Pan Euro Credit Corp US High Yield* Pan EuroHigh Yield*

1 year 0.04 -0.03 0.32 0.21 1.03 0.65

3 year 0.16 0.15 0.28 0.35 0.38 0.45

5 year 0.14 0.09 0.32 0.44 0.59 0.78

10 year 0.32 0.30 0.44 0.33 0.62 0.68

Source: State Street

*Assumes 2% capitalization max per issuer

Standard Deviation

Time Period US MBS 

Ginnie Mae US Treasury US Credit Corp Pan Euro Credit Corp US High Yield* Pan EuroHigh Yield*

1 year 0.58 1.16 1.28 1.10 0.93 1.19

3 year 0.49 1.00 1.18 1.15 1.75 1.45

5 year 0.65 0.90 1.20 1.18 1.53 1.38

10 year 0.76 1.22 1.75 1.46 3.08 3.65

Source: State Street

*Assumes 2% capitalization max per issuer

Sharpe Ratio

Time Period US MBS 

Ginnie Mae US Treasury US Credit Corp Pan Euro Credit Corp US High Yield Pan EuroHigh Yield*

1 year 0.07 -0.03 0.25 0.19 1.11 0.55

3 year 0.33 0.15 0.24 0.31 0.22 0.31

5 year 0.21 0.10 0.27 0.37 0.38 0.57

10 year 0.42 0.25 0.25 0.22 0.20 0.19

*Assumes 2% capitalization max per issuer on high yield indices

Sources: Barclays Indices, Bloomberg and State Street Global Advisors Note: Data as of May 2017

The average return on the Ginnie Mae index over the past decade has been in line with the US Treasury Index, but 

lower than many alternatives, including the US Investment-Grade Corporate and US and European High Yield 

Indices. However, the standard deviation of the Ginnie Mae index is the lowest of any sector, as it has the least 

duration (interest rate risk). The result: the excess return per unit of risk for the mortgage market is the highest of 

any market over the past decade. 

10
State of the US Housing Market

7.1%

6.8%

-25.0%

-20.0%

-15.0%

-10.0%

-5.0%

0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

Sep-00

Mar-01

Sep-01

Mar-02

Sep-02

Mar-03

Sep-03

Mar-04

Sep-04

Mar-05

Sep-05

Mar-06

Sep-06

Mar-07

Sep-07

Mar-08

Sep-08

Mar-09

Sep-09

Mar-10

Sep-10

Mar-11

Sep-11

Mar-12

Sep-12

Mar-13

Sep-13

Mar-14

Sep-14

Mar-15

Sep-15

Mar-16

Sep-16

Mar-17

Year-over-year growth rate

National Year-Over-Year HPI Growth

CoreLogic HPI year-over-year Zillow HPI year-over-year

Sources: CoreLogic, Zillow, and Urban Institute. Note:Data as of March 2017

1.12%

0.92%

3.99%

2.13%

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

7%

8%

9%

10%

1Q053Q051Q063Q061Q073Q071Q083Q081Q093Q091Q103Q101Q113Q111Q123Q121Q133Q131Q143Q141Q153Q151Q163Q161Q17

Serious delinquency rates

Fannie Mae Freddie Mac FHA VA

Sources: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, MBA Delinquency Survey and Urban Institute.

Note: Serious delinquency is defined as 90 days or more past due or in the foreclosure process. Data as of Q1 2017.

Serious Delinquency Rates: Single-Family Loans

Serious delinquencies for GSE single-family loans continue to decline in Q1 2017. After last quarter’s small 

seasonal upswing, both FHA and VA delinquencies resumed a decline to 3.99 and 2.13 percent in Q1 2017, 

respectively, falling even lower than levels before last quarter’s uptick. GSE delinquencies remain higher relative 

to 2005-2007, while FHA and VA delinquencies (which are higher than their GSE counterparts) are at levels 

lower than 2005-2007. Home price changes turned positive in 2012, and continue to increase at around 7 

percent per year, as measured by both CoreLogic and Zillow.

11
State of the US Housing Market

Debt,

household 

mortgages,

$9,833

Sources: CoreLogic and Urban Institute. Note: HPI data as of March 2017. Negative sign indicates that state is above earlier peak. Peak refers to the month when HPI 

reached the highest level for each state/US during the housing boom period, ranging from 09/2005 to 09/2008. Trough represents the month when HPI fell to the lowest 

level for each state/US after the housing bust, ranging from 01/2009 to 03/2012. Current is 03/2017, the latest HPI data period.

Nationally, the housing market has improved by 46.0 percent since the trough, and needs to increase by another 

2.9 percent to achieve peak valuation. However, the picture is very different for different states, with many states 

well in excess of the prior peak, while Nevada is 42.6 percent below peak levels and Connecticut and Florida 

remain 25 percent or more below peak levels. 

HPI Changes

State 2000 to Peak Peak to Trough Trough to Current YOY Current HPI % Below Peak

National 93.7% -33.4% 46.0% 7.1% 2.9%

Alabama 45.9% -21.0% 20.8% 6.2% 4.7%

Alaska 69.0% -9.2% 14.3% -0.8% -3.6%

Arizona 121.6% -50.6% 63.3% 7.3% 24.1%

Arkansas 39.3% -7.8% 12.5% 4.4% -3.6%

California 149.1% -42.6% 67.1% 6.1% 4.2%

Colorado 40.3% -13.9% 57.8% 8.7% -26.4%

Connecticut 79.5% -25.0% 5.4% 0.9% 26.4%

Delaware 90.5% -24.0% 16.9% 2.4% 12.5%

District of Columbia 150.3% -10.4% 35.9% 6.0% -17.9%

Florida 149.2% -49.7% 58.8% 6.6% 25.3%

Georgia 40.2% -31.0% 46.4% 5.6% -1.1%

Hawaii 152.3% -20.7% 42.8% 6.4% -11.7%

Idaho 86.0% -41.1% 62.1% 8.4% 4.7%

Illinois 60.1% -32.8% 27.4% 6.3% 16.8%

Indiana 24.2% -16.4% 23.9% 6.0% -3.4%

Iowa 25.6% -4.8% 16.0% 3.0% -9.4%

Kansas 33.1% -13.9% 19.7% 2.1% -2.9%

Kentucky 27.0% -8.9% 16.6% 4.4% -5.9%

Louisiana 58.3% -7.8% 20.5% 3.8% -10.0%

Maine 92.3% -15.4% 30.8% 1.7% -9.6%

Maryland 137.8% -31.3% 16.9% 3.8% 24.4%

Massachusetts 81.8% -21.4% 33.5% 6.1% -4.7%

Michigan 26.0% -43.5% 63.1% 6.9% 8.5%

Minnesota 69.9% -28.3% 35.4% 5.8% 3.0%

Mississippi 35.7% -19.0% 14.6% 0.1% 7.8%

Missouri 46.2% -22.3% 24.7% 5.0% 3.2%

Montana 80.2% -16.6% 30.8% 4.9% -8.3%

Nebraska 25.2% -5.2% 20.7% 4.1% -12.6%

Nevada 129.0% -60.1% 75.7% 6.3% 42.6%

New Hampshire 82.9% -24.0% 26.1% 6.9% 4.4%

New Jersey 109.6% -26.5% 12.4% 3.1% 21.1%

New Mexico 64.3% -26.8% 15.9% 1.7% 17.9%

New York 102.4% -13.7% 31.3% 7.1% -11.7%

North Carolina 39.4% -14.7% 24.0% 6.0% -5.5%

North Dakota 49.3% -2.0% 47.0% 3.4% -30.5%

Ohio 22.1% -20.7% 22.9% 3.6% 2.7%

Oklahoma 35.6% -3.3% 12.1% 1.1% -7.7%

Oregon 87.6% -29.4% 60.1% 9.4% -11.5%

Pennsylvania 71.6% -12.8% 11.0% 3.0% 3.3%

Rhode Island 131.0% -34.6% 26.1% 7.4% 21.4%

South Carolina 61.4% -22.2% 28.8% 5.7% -0.2%

South Dakota 37.2% -3.6% 24.6% 2.7% -16.7%

Tennessee 41.0% -13.5% 28.7% 5.5% -10.2%

Texas 39.2% -13.2% 43.8% 6.0% -19.9%

Utah 64.8% -31.9% 55.9% 9.9% -5.9%

Vermont 80.8% -9.0% 9.1% 6.0% 0.8%

Virginia 135.4% -30.7% 26.8% 2.5% 13.9%

Washington 90.2% -28.3% 59.3% 12.8% -12.5%

West Virginia 78.4% -30.2% 15.7% -1.2% 23.8%

Wisconsin 48.7% -17.4% 20.1% 5.7% 0.8%

Wyoming 75.8% -15.4% 26.1% 2.0% -6.3%

12
State of the US Housing Market

Debt,

household 

mortgages,

$9,833

Agency Issuance (past 1 year) Agency Outstanding 

State Ginnie Mae 

Share

Ginnie Mae Average

Loan Size (Thousands)

GSE Average Loan 

Size (Thousands)

Ginnie Mae 

Share

Ginnie Mae Average 

Loan Size (Thousands)

GSE Average Loan

Size (Thousands)

National 33.2% 211.0 230.4 32.9% 173.3 204.8

Alabama 46.2% 159.1 180.6 48.1% 139.5 166.3

Alaska 53.1% 279.9 244.8 52.4% 251.6 225.1

Arizona 38.1% 200.8 206.6 35.7% 170.1 186.5

Arkansas 43.1% 139.9 166.3 47.9% 120.3 150.4

California 26.8% 335.5 322.1 22.5% 274.5 287.4

Colorado 32.1% 261.1 255.8 31.7% 216.6 229.5

Connecticut 30.8% 214.4 229.0 30.0% 202.4 217.1

Delaware 40.3% 213.4 220.9 37.9% 196.4 205.6

District of Columbia 17.9% 408.0 361.6 18.3% 316.5 329.1

Florida 39.9% 199.1 198.8 37.2% 165.9 180.7

Georgia 41.5% 177.0 205.4 41.5% 150.2 182.6

Hawaii 41.0% 485.7 373.6 31.7% 405.2 340.3

Idaho 35.6% 183.8 188.7 36.0% 156.7 170.5

Illinois 24.3% 175.6 202.4 25.5% 152.6 181.6

Indiana 39.4% 137.4 156.9 40.5% 119.4 139.3

Iowa 24.2% 141.8 164.9 27.9% 122.7 146.2

Kansas 34.4% 149.9 174.7 37.9% 130.1 154.2

Kentucky 40.3% 146.2 166.3 40.8% 131.0 147.6

Louisiana 41.9% 168.3 190.3 44.6% 148.1 174.9

Maine 35.7% 179.9 196.2 33.1% 164.0 178.1

Maryland 44.6% 282.8 268.2 40.1% 247.9 244.7

Massachusetts 21.1% 276.6 277.7 19.8% 247.2 251.6

Michigan 26.4% 141.6 169.1 27.7% 120.6 148.8

Minnesota 25.3% 189.7 205.4 26.5% 165.7 186.8

Mississippi 49.1% 147.8 169.3 53.4% 129.3 155.7

Missouri 34.5% 148.4 174.4 37.3% 130.2 153.6

Montana 31.5% 206.5 207.5 32.7% 177.8 187.3

Nebraska 31.9% 156.4 168.5 37.1% 131.8 150.3

Nevada 44.3% 221.1 213.6 42.0% 188.2 191.7

New Hampshire 32.6% 223.3 219.3 30.7% 204.9 198.6

New Jersey 29.1% 248.7 268.5 28.6% 230.9 246.7

New Mexico 45.1% 175.0 185.1 44.7% 154.0 170.9

New York 26.7% 237.8 263.6 27.2% 200.8 239.1

North Carolina 35.1% 175.3 200.8 37.0% 151.6 181.7

North Dakota 27.2% 206.8 204.2 27.5% 175.5 181.9

Ohio 36.8% 138.0 157.4 38.8% 123.4 142.2

Oklahoma 46.3% 149.6 169.1 51.3% 128.7 154.6

Oregon 27.5% 235.1 244.4 26.5% 202.0 214.7

Pennsylvania 34.5% 167.0 194.2 34.6% 150.3 178.7

Rhode Island 36.6% 213.3 215.9 34.2% 196.1 200.5

South Carolina 40.3% 177.7 191.1 39.7% 154.3 174.6

South Dakota 35.2% 171.0 181.5 37.9% 151.2 161.1

Tennessee 42.0% 171.7 193.7 44.3% 145.7 174.0

Texas 35.9% 186.1 208.7 40.0% 147.0 186.6

Utah 32.0% 220.8 235.1 33.8% 194.1 212.0

Vermont 23.5% 194.8 195.4 19.9% 179.6 180.7

Virginia 45.6% 278.4 266.5 42.2% 239.1 241.9

Washington 32.0% 263.6 266.8 31.5% 224.2 236.2

West Virginia 47.8% 154.1 155.6 46.1% 136.8 145.7

Wisconsin 21.1% 160.9 175.7 22.1% 144.2 158.7

Wyoming 40.6% 206.8 207.9 42.4% 190.4 192.7

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute. Note: Ginnie Mae share are based on loan balance as of March 2017.

Ginnie Mae loans constitute 32.9 percent of outstanding agency issuance by loan balance, 33.2 percent of the 

issuance over the past year. However, the Ginnie Mae share varies widely across states, with the share of 

outstandings (as measured by loan balance) as low as 18.3 percent in the District of Columbia and as high as 53.4 

percent in Mississippi. In general, the Ginnie Mae share is higher in states with lower home prices.

13
State of the US Housing Market

$10.3

$14.0

$24.3

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

$ Trillions

Value of the US Housing Market

Debt, household mortgages Household equity Total Value

Sources: Federal Reserve Flow of Funds and Urban Institute. Data as of Q4 2016.

$0.5

$0.6

$6.1

$3.1

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

$ Trillions

Size of the US Residential Mortgage Market

Private Label Securities Second Liens Agency MBS Unsecuritized first liens

Sources: Federal Reserve Flow of Funds, Inside Mortgage Finance, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, eMBS and Urban Institute.

Note: Unsecuritized first liens includes loans held by commercial banks, GSEs, savings institutions, and credit unions. Data as of Q4 2016.

The Federal Reserve's Flow of Funds report has consistently indicated an increasing total value of the housing 

market driven by growing household equity since 2012, and 2016 was no different. While total debt and 

mortgages was stable at $10.3 trillion, household equity reached a new high of $14.0 trillion, bringing the total 

value of the housing market to $24.3 trillion, surpassing the pre-crisis peak of $23.9 trillion in 2006. Agency MBS 

make up 59.2 percent of the total mortgage market, private-label securities make up 5.1 percent, and 

unsecuritized first liens at the GSEs, commercial banks, savings institutions, and credit unions make up 29.9 

percent of the market. Second liens comprise the remaining 5.8 percent of the total.

14
State of the US Housing Market

As of March 2017, outstanding securities in the agency mortgage market (forward mortgages only) totaled $6.2 

trillion: 44.2 percent Fannie Mae, 27.5 percent Freddie Mac, and 28.3 percent Ginnie Mae. Ginnie Mae now has 

more outstandings than Freddie Mac. Within the Ginnie Mae market, VA has been growing very rapidly--

comprising 31.7 percent of total Ginnie Mae outstandings.

$2.7

$1.7

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

Oct-00

Apr-01

Oct-01

Apr-02

Oct-02

Apr-03

Oct-03

Apr-04

Oct-04

Apr-05

Oct-05

Apr-06

Oct-06

Apr-07

Oct-07

Apr-08

Oct-08

Apr-09

Oct-09

Apr-10

Oct-10

Apr-11

Oct-11

Apr-12

Oct-12

Apr-13

Oct-13

Apr-14

Oct-14

Apr-15

Oct-15

Apr-16

Oct-16

Apr-17

$ Trillions

Outstanding Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities

Fannie Mae Freddie Mac Ginnie Mae

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of March 2017

$1.1

$0.6

$0.1

0

0

0

1

1

1

1

Oct-00

Apr-01

Oct-01

Apr-02

Oct-02

Apr-03

Oct-03

Apr-04

Oct-04

Apr-05

Oct-05

Apr-06

Oct-06

Apr-07

Oct-07

Apr-08

Oct-08

Apr-09

Oct-09

Apr-10

Oct-10

Apr-11

Oct-11

Apr-12

Oct-12

Apr-13

Oct-13

Apr-14

Oct-14

Apr-15

Oct-15

Apr-16

Oct-16

Apr-17

$ Trillions

Outstanding Ginnie Mae Mortgage-Backed Securities

FHA VA Other

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute Note: Data as of April 2017

15
State of the US Housing Market

$0.66

$0.47

$0.009

$0.64

$0.0

$0.5

$1.0

$1.5

$2.0

$2.5

$3.0

$3.5

$4.0

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

$ trillions

First Lien Origination Volume Portfolio

PLS securitization

FHA/VA securitization

GSE securitization

Sources: Inside Mortgage Finance and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of Q4 2016. 

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

First Lien Origination Share

First lien originations in 2016 totaled approximately $2.1 trillion, the most robust origination year since 2012. The 

share of portfolio originations was 30.9 percent, up from 30.2 percent in 2015. The GSE share went up to 45.9 

percent, from 45.7 percent in 2015. The FHA/VA share was slightly down: 22.8 percent in 2016 versus 23.3 

percent in 2015. Origination of private-label securities was well under 1 percent in both years.

Sources: Inside Mortgage Finance and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of Q4 2016. 

30.9%

0.5%

22.8%

45.9%

16
US Agency Market, Originations

Debt,

household 

mortgages,

$9,833

Ginnie Mae Breakdown: Agency Gross Issuance

Issuance Year FHA VA Other Total Agency

2000 $80.2 $18.8 $3.2 $102.2

2001 $133.8 $34.7 $3.1 $171.5

2002 $128.6 $37.9 $2.5 $169.0

2003 $147.9 $62.7 $2.5 $213.1

2004 $85.0 $31.8 $2.5 $119.2

2005 $55.7 $23.5 $2.1 $81.4

2006 $51.2 $23.2 $2.3 $76.7

2007 $67.7 $24.2 $3.0 $94.9

2008 $221.7 $39.0 $6.9 $267.6

2009 $359.9 $74.6 $16.8 $451.3

2010 $304.9 $70.6 $15.3 $390.7

2011 $216.1 $82.3 $16.9 $315.3

2012 $253.4 $131.3 $20.3 $405.0

2013 $239.2 $132.2 $22.2 $393.6

2014 $163.9 $111.4 $21.0 $296.3

2015 $261.5 $155.7 $19.2 $436.3

2016 $281.8 $206.5 $19.9 $508.2

2017 YTD $82.4 $54.6 $6.4 $143.4

2017 %Change YOY 5.0% 4.9% 17.0% 5.5%

2017 Ann. $247.2 $163.8 $19.2 $430.1

Agency Gross Issuance

Issuance Year Fannie Mae Freddie Mac GSE Total Ginnie Mae Total Agency

2000 $202.8 $157.9 $360.6 $102.2 $462.8

2001 $506.9 $378.2 $885.1 $171.5 $1,056.6

2002 $710.0 $529.0 $1,238.9 $169.0 $1,407.9

2003 $1,174.4 $700.5 $1,874.9 $213.1 $2,088.0

2004 $517.5 $355.2 $872.6 $119.2 $991.9

2005 $514.1 $379.9 $894.0 $81.4 $975.3

2006 $500.2 $352.9 $853.0 $76.7 $929.7

2007 $633.0 $433.3 $1,066.2 $94.9 $1,161.1

2008 $562.7 $348.7 $911.4 $267.6 $1,179.0

2009 $817.1 $462.9 $1,280.0 $451.3 $1,731.3

2010 $626.6 $377.0 $1,003.5 $390.7 $1,394.3

2011 $578.2 $301.2 $879.3 $315.3 $1,194.7

2012 $847.6 $441.3 $1,288.8 $405.0 $1,693.8

2013 $749.9 $426.7 $1,176.6 $393.6 $1,570.2

2014 $392.9 $258.0 $650.9 $296.3 $947.2

2015 $493.9 $351.9 $845.7 $436.3 $1,282.0

2016 $600.5 $391.1 $991.6 $508.2 $1,499.8

2017 YTD $172.0 $111.5 $283.5 $143.4 $426.9

2017 %Change YOY 13.5% 14.6% 13.9% 5.5% 10.9%

2017 Ann. $516.0 $334.4 $850.5 $430.1 $1,280.6

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute (top and bottom). 

Note : Dollar amounts are in billions. Annualized figure based on data from April 2017. “Other“ refers to loans insured by HUD’s Office of Public 

and Indian Housing and the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development. All data is as of April 2017.

Agency gross issuance totaled $426.9 billion in the first four months of 2017, a 10.9 percent increase from the 

same period last year. Ginnie Mae gross issuance is up by 5.5 percent, while GSE gross issuance is up by 13.9 

percent. Within the Ginnie Mae market, FHA is up by 5.0 percent while VA origination is up by 4.9 percent. Despite 

strong early-year numbers, origination in 2017 is expected to be low compared to 2016, courtesy of higher rates.

17
US Agency Market, Originations

Debt,

household 

mortgages,

$9,833

Ginnie Mae Breakdown: Net Issuance

Issuance Year FHA VA Other Total

2000 $29.0 $0.3 $0.0 $29.3

2001 $0.7 -$10.6 $0.0 -$9.9

2002 -$22.5 -$28.7 $0.0 -$51.2

2003 -$56.5 -$21.1 $0.0 -$77.6

2004 -$45.2 $5.1 $0.0 -$40.1

2005 -$37.7 -$11.8 $0.0 -$42.2

2006 -$4.7 $3.8 $1.2 $0.2

2007 $20.2 $8.7 $2.0 $30.9

2008 $173.3 $17.7 $5.4 $196.4

2009 $206.4 $35.1 $15.8 $257.4

2010 $158.6 $29.6 $10.0 $198.3

2011 $102.8 $34.0 $12.8 $149.6

2012 $58.9 $45.9 $14.3 $119.1

2013 $20.7 $53.3 $13.9 $87.9

2014 -$4.8 $53.9 $12.5 $61.6

2015 $20.0 $66.8 $7.9 $94.7

2016 $46.4 $72.7 $6.1 $125.1

2017 YTD $15.7 $23.9 $1.4 $40.9

2017 %Change YOY 23.7% 16.8% -46.5% 14.8%

2017 Ann. $47.10 $71.70 $4.20 $122.63

Agency Net Issuance

Issuance Year Fannie Mae Freddie Mac GSE Total Ginnie Mae Total Agency

2000 $92.0 $67.8 $159.8 $29.3 $189.1

2001 $216.0 $151.8 $367.8 -$9.9 $357.9

2002 $219.2 $138.3 $357.6 -$51.2 $306.4

2003 $293.9 $41.1 $335.0 -$77.6 $257.4

2004 $33.2 $50.2 $83.3 -$40.1 $43.2

2005 $62.6 $111.7 $174.4 -$42.2 $132.1

2006 $164.3 $149.3 $313.6 $0.3 $313.8

2007 $295.9 $218.8 $514.7 $30.9 $545.5

2008 $212.5 $101.8 $314.3 $196.4 $510.8

2009 $207.0 $42.5 $249.5 $257.4 $506.8

2010 -$158.7 -$146.8 -$305.5 $198.2 -$107.3

2011 -$37.6 -$95.8 -$133.4 $149.4 $16.0

2012 $28.8 -$75.3 -$46.5 $118.4 $71.9

2013 $54.9 $11.6 $66.5 $85.8 $152.3

2014 $0.4 $29.9 $30.3 $59.8 $90.1

2015 $10.1 $64.9 $75.0 $94.5 $169.5

2016 $68.6 $67.0 $135.6 $125.1 $260.7

2017 YTD $28.4 $23.8 $52.2 $40.9 $93.1

2017 %Change YOY 169.7% 95.7% 130.1% 14.8% 59.6%

2017 Ann. $85.2 $71.4 $156.6 $122.6 $279.2

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute (top and bottom) 

Note : Dollar amounts are in billions. Annualized figure based on data from April 2017. “Other“ refers to loans insured by HUD’s Office of Public and Indian 

Housing and the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development. All data is as of April 2017.

Agency net issuance totaled $93.1 billion for the first four months of 2017, up 59.6 percent over the same period 

last year. Ginnie Mae net issuance was $40.9 billion, comprising 43.9 percent of total agency net issuance. Note 

that Ginnie Mae net issuance is up 14.8 percent versus the same time last year. Ginnie Mae net issuance is 

comprised of 58.5 percent VA issuance, 38.4 percent FHA issuance and 3.4 percent other issuance.

18
US Agency Market, Originations

Debt,

household 

mortgages,

$9,833

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute

Note : Dollar amounts are in billions. “Other“ refers to loans insured by HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing and the Department of Agriculture’s 

Rural Development. All data is as of April 2017.

With the winter season and elevated mortgage rates since the election, monthly agency issuance has been 

declining in the first four months of 2017. Fannie Mae gross issuance was almost cut in half from 73 billion in 

December 2016 to 39 billion in April 2017, and Freddie Mac’s gross issuance dropped from 41 to 21 billion. Less 

dependent on refinances, Ginnie Mae gross issuance fell less from 47 to 36 billion in the same period, driving its 

share up to 38 percent in April 2017, its highest since December 2015. Despite the variability in gross issuance, 

Ginnie net issuance is relatively constant; 10.2 billion per month for the first four months of 2017, versus 10.5 

billion per month in 2016.

Date

Gross Issuance Net Issuance

Fannie Mae Freddie Mac Ginnie Mae Fannie Mae Freddie Mac Ginnie Mae

Jan-14 $28.2 $20.0 $21.6 -$4.9 $0.5 $4.9

Feb-14 $27.9 $17.9 $20.1 -$0.2 $1.2 $5.2

Mar-14 $24.1 $14.7 $16.7 -$2.3 -$0.9 $1.9

Apr-14 $28.0 $18.7 $21.7 -$1.9 $1.2 $5.2

May-14 $27.7 $18.1 $23.9 -$3.7 $0.0 $4.9

Jun-14 $32.1 $20.7 $24.9 -$0.4 $1.8 $4.5

Jul-14 $36.3 $23.2 $27.4 $0.6 $2.6 $5.4

Aug-14 $34.2 $28.4 $30.0 -$2.7 $7.4 $7.9

Sep-14 $39.6 $25.9 $27.0 $4.8 $5.6 $5.2

Oct-14 $39.5 $25.8 $29.9 $4.3 $6.2 $8.4

Nov-14 $32.0 $23.1 $26.4 -$3.0 $2.6 $4.2

Dec-14 $43.3 $21.6 $26.7 $9.9 $1.8 $4.1

Jan-15 $36.8 $22.9 $27.5 -$1.2 $0.8 $2.2

Feb-15 $35.4 $29.9 $23.9 $1.5 $10.1 $2.9

Mar-15 $44.8 $26.0 $30.7 $3.1 $1.1 $0.5

Apr-15 $49.3 $33.8 $40.6 -$1.3 $3.7 $4.1

May-15 $42.4 $33.2 $39.4 -$2.9 $6.6 $5.7

Jun-15 $44.6 $34.4 $40.5 $0.8 $8.3 $9.0

Jul-15 $46.0 $39.2 $45.6 $1.0 $12.3 $13.0

Aug-15 $39.4 $27.6 $43.4 -$2.2 $3.1 $14.7

Sep-15 $45.3 $30.4 $39.4 $7.6 $7.9 $12.5

Oct-15 $41.5 $28.4 $39.2 $4.8 $6.4 $12.1

Nov-15 $28.8 $23.3 $35.8 -$8.1 $1.3 $10.3

Dec-15 $39.7 $22.8 $30.3 $7.1 $3.2 $8.0

Jan-16 $35.6 $22.5 $32.5 -$0.6 $1.0 $9.0

Feb-16 $32.4 $21.2 $30.5 $2.4 $3.1 $8.3

Mar-16 $39.7 $27.5 $32.9 $7.9 $8.2 $9.6

Apr-16 $43.8 $26.2 $40.1 $0.8 -$0.2 $8.7

May-16 $44.2 $29.9 $41.6 $2.4 $4.4 $11.3

Jun-16 $46.7 $30.1 $43.9 $2.7 $3.0 $11.8

Jul-16 $49.8 $35.3 $46.1 $2.3 $6.3 $10.7

Aug-16 $54.9 $37.9 $46.7 $10.4 $11.0 $13.7

Sep-16 $65.8 $44.0 $52.5 $8.7 $9.0 $12.5

Oct-16 $66.0 $35.9 $47.4 $11.8 $2.7 $9.3

Nov-16 $48.8 $40.2 $47.2 -$3.5 $7.9 $10.2

Dec-16 $72.7 $40.5 $46.8 $23.2 $10.4 $10.7

Jan-17 $55.6 $38.5 $42.6 $10.1 $10.7 $10.5

Feb-17 $37.6 $27.4 $33.1 $3.1 $6.5 $9.2

Mar-17 $39.5 $24.4 $31.3 $10.3 $6.2 $9.5

Apr-17 $39.3 $21.2 $36.4 $4.8 $0.4 $11.7

Monthly Agency Issuance

19
US Agency Market, Originations

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

7%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Oct-03

Apr-04

Oct-04

Apr-05

Oct-05

Apr-06

Oct-06

Apr-07

Oct-07

Apr-08

Oct-08

Apr-09

Oct-09

Apr-10

Oct-10

Apr-11

Oct-11

Apr-12

Oct-12

Apr-13

Oct-13

Apr-14

Oct-14

Apr-15

Oct-15

Apr-16

Oct-16

Apr-17

Mortgage Rate

Percent Refi

Percent Refi at Issuance

Freddie Mac (left) Fannie Mae (left) Ginnie Mae (left) Mortgage rate (right)

29.1%

43.2%

0% 4.5%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Sep-13

Oct-13

Nov-13

Dec-13

Jan-14

Feb-14

Mar-14

Apr-14

May-14

Jun-14

Jul-14

Aug-14

Sep-14

Oct-14

Nov-14

Dec-14

Jan-15

Feb-15

Mar-15

Apr-15

May-15

Jun-15

Jul-15

Aug-15

Sep-15

Oct-15

Nov-15

Dec-15

Jan-16

Feb-16

Mar-16

Apr-16

May-16

Jun-16

Jul-16

Aug-16

Sep-16

Oct-16

Nov-16

Dec-16

Jan-17

Feb-17

Mar-17

Apr-17

Percent Refi

Percent Refi at Issuance: Ginnie Mae Breakdown

FHA VA Other

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute. Note: Based on at-issuance balance. Data as of April 2017.

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute.

Note: Based on at-issuance balance. “Other“ refers to loans insured by HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing and the Department of Agriculture’s 

Rural Development. Data as of April 2017.

The Ginnie Mae refi share stood at 30 percent in April 2017, below the 45 percent shares for Fannie Mae and 

Freddie Mac. Within Ginnie Mae, VA had the highest refi share of 43 percent in April 2017, followed by FHA’s 29 

percent refi share. 

20
Credit Box

38%

42%

70%

54%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Oct-13 Jan-14 Apr-14 Jul-14 Oct-14 Jan-15 Apr-15 Jul-15 Oct-15 Jan-16 Apr-16 Jul-16 Oct-16 Jan-17 Apr-17

First Time Homebuyer Share: Purchase Only Loans

Freddie Fannie Ginnie All

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of April 2017.

First time homebuyers are important to the Ginnie Mae market, comprising 70 percent of purchase originations, 

compared to Fannie and Freddie’s 42 percent and 38 percent share of the first-time homebuyer market. The 

bottom table shows that based on mortgages originated in April 2017, the average first-time homebuyer was 

more likely than an average repeat buyer to take out a smaller loan and have a lower credit score, a much higher 

LTV and a higher DTI, thus requiring a higher interest rate.

Fannie Mae Freddie Mac Ginnie Mae All

First-Time Repeat First-Time Repeat First-Time Repeat First-Time Repeat

Loan Amount 

($Thousands ) 231.1 253.0 218.9 248.7 196.8 237.6 207.8 245.9 

Credit Score 740.7 753.9 737.1 753.4 683.0 700.9 706.1 735.3

LTV (%) 86.5 80.0 86.1 78.4 96.5 95.3 92.0 84.4

DTI (%) 34.8 35.9 34.1 35.0 40.6 41.5 38.0 37.5

Loan Rate (%) 4.35 4.24 4.38 4.26 4.21 4.11 4.28 4.20

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of April 2017.

21
Credit Box

76%

54%

77%

70%

40%

45%

50%

55%

60%

65%

70%

75%

80%

85%

Oct-13 Jan-14 Apr-14 Jul-14 Oct-14 Jan-15 Apr-15 Jul-15 Oct-15 Jan-16 Apr-16 Jul-16 Oct-16 Jan-17 Apr-17

First Time Homebuyer Share: 

Ginnie Mae Purchase Only Loans Breakdown by Source

FHA VA Other All

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of April 2017. “Other“ refers to loans insured by HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing and the 

Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development. 

Within the Ginnie Mae purchase market, 76 percent of FHA loans, 54 percent of VA loans and 77 percent of other 

loans represent financing for first time home buyers. The bottom table shows that based on mortgages originated 

in April 2017, the average first-time homebuyer was more likely than an average repeat buyer to take out a 

smaller loan and have a lower credit score, a higher LTV and slightly lower DTI, thus requiring a higher interest 

rate.

FHA VA Other Ginnie Mae Total

First-Time Repeat First-Time Repeat First-Time Repeat First-Time Repeat

Loan Amount

($ Thousands) 194.4 213.9 232.3 282.5 140.2 148.9 196.8 237.6 

Credit Score 677.1 683.0 697.6 725.6 694.4 690.3 683.0 700.9

LTV (%) 95.5 94.3 98.7 95.7 99.3 99.4 96.5 95.3

DTI (%) 41.7 42.7 39.6 40.8 34.9 35.6 40.6 41.5

Loan Rate (%) 4.27 4.22 4.05 3.96 4.15 4.25 4.21 4.11

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of April 2017.

22
Credit Box

Sources: Credit Bureau Data and Urban Institute. 

Note: Data as of August 2015.

FICO Score Distribution: Mortgage Owners vs All Consumers

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

300-500500-520520-540540-560560-580580-600600-620620-640640-660660-680680-700700-720720-740740-760760-780780-800800-820820-850

All Consumers Mortgage owners

All Consumers- Percentiles

Minimum P5 P10 P25 P50 P75 P90 P95 Maximum

300 501 523 575 675 770 812 821 839

Mortgage Owners- Percentiles

Minimum P5 P10 P25 P50 P75 P90 P95 Maximum

306 564 609 676 749 800 818 824 839

Consumers who have a mortgage are concentrated at the high end of the general credit score spectrum. The top 

table shows that the median FICO score for all consumers (675) is lower than the 25th percentile of those with a 

mortgage (676).

23
Debt,

household 

mortgages,

$9,833

Purchase FICO

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 247,995 643 676 725 773 796 722 

Fannie 88,090 681 715 757 787 802 748 

Freddie 49,715 688 720 758 787 801 750 

Ginnie 110,190 626 649 681 725 769 688 

Refi FICO

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 168,307 643 679 725 771 796 721 

Fannie 76,448 658 695 739 778 799 733 

Freddie 46,027 667 700 742 779 799 736 

Ginnie 45,832 618 647 683 727 771 687 

All FICO

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 416,302 643 678 725 772 796 722 

Fannie 164,538 668 705 749 783 801 741 

Freddie 95,742 677 710 751 783 801 743 

Ginnie 156,022 624 648 682 725 770 688 

Purchase FICO: Ginnie Mae Breakdown By Source

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 110,190 626 649 681 725 769 688 

FHA 71,160 623 645 673 709 748 679 

VA 29,295 633 662 708 761 633 662 

Other 9,735 640 658 689 730 765 693 

Refi FICO: Ginnie Mae Breakdown By Source

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 45,832 618 647 683 727 771 687 

FHA 25,493 608 638 669 706 749 672 

VA 19,906 631 663 702 750 786 704 

Other 433 623 657 692 731 767 693 

All FICO: Ginnie Mae Breakdown By Source

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 156,022 624 648 682 725 770 688 

FHA 96,653 621 643 672 708 748 677 

VA 49,201 632 662 705 757 790 708 

Other 10,168 640 658 689 730 765 693 

April 2017 Credit Box at a Glance

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute. Note: “Other“ refers to loans insured by HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing and the Department of 

Agriculture’s Rural Development.Data as of April 2017.

In April 2017, the median Ginnie Mae FICO score was 682 versus 749 for Fannie and 751 for Freddie. Note that the 

FICO score for the 10th percentile was 624 for Ginnie Mae, versus 668 for Fannie and 677 for Freddie. Within the 

Ginnie Mae market, FHA loans have a median FICO score of 672, VA loans have a median FICO score of 705 and 

other loans have a median FICO score of 689.

24
April 2017 Credit Box at a Glance

Debt,

household 

mortgages,

$9,833

Purchase LTV

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 240,038 72.0 80.0 95.0 96.5 99.4 87.6 

Fannie 87,962 62.0 75.0 80.0 95.0 95.0 81.1 

Freddie 49,726 64.0 78.0 80.0 95.0 95.0 81.6 

Ginnie 102,350 92.0 96.5 96.5 98.9 101.3 96.2 

Refi LTV

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 161,277 43.0 59.0 74.0 80.8 91.9 69.9 

Fannie 76,454 40.0 55.0 69.0 78.0 80.0 65.3 

Freddie 46,021 40.0 55.0 69.0 79.0 82.0 65.4 

Ginnie 38,802 66.7 79.5 85.0 94.4 99.9 84.3 

All LTV

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 401,315 54.0 72.0 80.7 96.5 97.0 80.5 

Fannie 164,416 48.0 64.0 79.0 85.0 95.0 73.8 

Freddie 95,747 48.0 65.0 79.0 85.0 95.0 73.9 

Ginnie 141,152 80.9 91.1 96.5 97.1 101.0 92.9 

Purchase LTV: Ginnie Mae Breakdown By Source

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 102,350 92.0 96.5 96.5 98.9 101.3 96.2 

FHA 65,003 93.0 96.5 96.5 96.5 96.5 95.2 

VA 27,568 89.3 96.9 100.0 102.0 102.4 97.3 

Other 9,779 95.3 99.2 101.0 101.0 102.0 99.4 

Refi LTV: Ginnie Mae Breakdown By Source

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 38,802 66.7 79.5 85.0 94.4 99.9 84.3 

FHA 24,962 66.8 79.0 85.0 89.7 95.8 82.4 

VA 13,393 66.3 80.6 91.9 100.0 102.2 87.5 

Other 447 77.0 88.2 96.5 100.2 102.0 92.7 

All LTV: Ginnie Mae Breakdown By Source

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 141,152 80.9 91.1 96.5 97.1 101.0 92.9 

FHA 89,965 80.7 89.6 96.5 96.5 96.5 91.6 

VA 40,961 78.8 91.7 99.3 101.5 102.3 94.1 

Other 10,226 94.4 99.0 101.0 101.0 102.0 99.1 

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute. Note: “Other“ refers to loans insured by HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing and the Department of 

Agriculture’s Rural Development. Data as of April 2017.

In April 2017, the median loan-to-value ratio (LTV) was 96.5 percent for Ginnie Mae, and 79.0 percent for Fannie 

Mae and Freddie Mac. The 10th percentile was 80.9 percent for Ginnie Mae and 48 percent for the GSEs. Within the 

Ginnie Mae market, the median LTV was 96.5 for FHA, 99.3 for VA and 101.0 for other lending programs. 

25
Debt,

household 

mortgages,

$9,833

Purchase DTI

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 247,715 24.0 31.0 38.6 44.0 49.1 37.5 

Fannie 88,078 22.0 28.0 36.0 42.0 45.0 34.5 

Freddie 49,680 22.0 29.0 37.0 43.0 46.0 35.3 

Ginnie 109,957 28.1 34.6 41.5 47.8 53.0 40.9 

Refi DTI

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 153,323 22.0 29.0 37.0 43.0 48.0 35.8 

Fannie 74,422 21.0 28.0 36.0 42.0 45.0 34.4 

Freddie 44,552 21.0 28.0 37.0 43.0 46.0 35.2 

Ginnie 34,349 24.8 32.4 40.6 47.4 52.5 39.5 

All DTI

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 401,038 23.0 30.0 38.0 44.0 48.9 36.8 

Fannie 162,500 21.0 28.0 36.0 42.0 45.0 34.5 

Freddie 94,232 22.0 29.0 37.0 43.0 46.0 35.3 

Ginnie 144,306 27.3 34.1 41.3 47.7 52.9 40.5 

Purchase DTI: Ginnie Mae Breakdown By Source

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 109,957 28.1 34.6 41.5 47.8 53.0 40.9 

FHA 71,258 29.4 35.9 42.9 48.8 53.7 41.9 

VA 29,083 26.7 33.4 40.8 47.4 52.7 40.2 

Other 9,616 25.7 30.6 35.9 40.2 43.1 35.1 

Refi DTI: Ginnie Mae Breakdown By Source

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 34,349 24.8 32.4 40.6 47.4 52.5 39.5 

FHA 18,509 26.4 33.8 41.8 48.2 52.8 40.5 

VA 15,484 23.5 31.0 39.2 46.3 52.1 38.5 

Other 356 17.0 23.8 31.1 38.7 44.8 31.6 

All DTI: Ginnie Mae Breakdown By Source

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 144,306 27.3 34.1 41.3 47.7 52.9 40.5 

FHA 89,767 28.8 35.5 42.7 48.7 53.5 41.6 

VA 44,567 25.5 32.6 40.3 47.0 52.5 39.6 

Other 9,972 25.3 30.4 35.8 40.1 43.1 34.9 

April 2017 Credit Box at a Glance

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute. Note: “Other“ refers to loans insured by HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing and the Department of 

Agriculture’s Rural Development. Data as of April 2017.

In April 2017, the median Ginnie Mae debt-to-income ratio (DTI) was 41.3 percent, considerably higher than the 36 

and 37 percent median DTIs for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, respectively. The 90th percentile for Ginnie Mae was 

52.9 percent, also much higher than the 45-46 percent DTIs for the GSEs. Fannie Mae has recently announced they 

will raise their DTI limit from 45 to 50. Within the Ginnie Mae market, the median FHA DTI ratio was 42.7 percent, 

versus 40.3 percent for VA and 35.8 percent for other lending programs. 

26
Credit Box: Historical

660

680

700

720

740

760

780

Oct-13

Dec-13

Feb-14

Apr-14

Jun-14

Aug-14

Oct-14

Dec-14

Feb-15

Apr-15

Jun-15

Aug-15

Oct-15

Dec-15

Feb-16

Apr-16

Jun-16

Aug-16

Oct-16

Dec-16

Feb-17

Apr-17

FICO Scores

FICO Scores for Purchase Loans 

Freddie Median FICO Fannie Median FICO

Ginnie Median FICO All Median FICO

660

680

700

720

740

760

780

Oct-13

Dec-13

Feb-14

Apr-14

Jun-14

Aug-14

Oct-14

Dec-14

Feb-15

Apr-15

Jun-15

Aug-15

Oct-15

Dec-15

Feb-16

Apr-16

Jun-16

Aug-16

Oct-16

Dec-16

Feb-17

Apr-17

FICO Scores for Refinance Loans

Freddie Median FICO Fannie Median FICO

Ginnie Median FICO All Median FICO

751

749

682

725

660

680

700

720

740

760

780

Oct-13 Jan-14 Apr-14 Jul-14 Oct-14 Jan-15 Apr-15 Jul-15 Oct-15 Jan-16 Apr-16 Jul-16 Oct-16 Jan-17 Apr-17

FICO Scores

FICO Scores for All Loans

Freddie Median FICO Fannie Median FICO Ginnie Median FICO All Median FICO

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute. Note:Data as of April 2017 Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of April 2017

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of April 2017

This figure, showing median FICO scores since October 2013, demonstrates that the median FICO score for 

Ginnie Mae has always been considerably lower than for the GSEs. The difference between Ginnie Mae and 

GSE FICO scores is wider in purchase loans than in refi loans. The recent drop in FICO scores reflects two 

factors: (1) the composition of the market has shifted more heavily toward purchase borrowers who have 

lower FICO scores and (2) FICO scores have dropped sharply for refinance borrowers, indicating that lenders 

are willing to spend the time to refinance more marginal borrowers, as overall volumes slip.

27
Credit Box: Historical

79.0

96.5

80.7

65.0

70.0

75.0

80.0

85.0

90.0

95.0

100.0

Oct-13 Jan-14 Apr-14 Jul-14 Oct-14 Jan-15 Apr-15 Jul-15 Oct-15 Jan-16 Apr-16 Jul-16 Oct-16 Jan-17 Apr-17

Loan-to-Value Ratio

LTV Ratio for All Loans

Freddie Median LTV Fannie Median LTV Ginnie Median LTV All Median LTV

65.0

70.0

75.0

80.0

85.0

90.0

95.0

100.0

Oct-13

Jan-14

Apr-14

Jul-14

Oct-14

Jan-15

Apr-15

Jul-15

Oct-15

Jan-16

Apr-16

Jul-16

Oct-16

Jan-17

Apr-17

LTV Ratio for Refinance Loans

Freddie Median LTV Fannie Median LTV

Ginnie Median LTV All Median LTV

65.0

70.0

75.0

80.0

85.0

90.0

95.0

100.0

Oct-13

Jan-14

Apr-14

Jul-14

Oct-14

Jan-15

Apr-15

Jul-15

Oct-15

Jan-16

Apr-16

Jul-16

Oct-16

Jan-17

Apr-17

LTV Ratio for Purchase Loans

Freddie Median LTV Fannie Median LTV

Ginnie Median LTV All Median LTV

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute

Note:Data as of April 2017.

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute

Note:Data as of April 2017.

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of April 2017.

Median LTVs for Ginnie Mae loans have historically been at 96.5, much higher than the 75-80 average for 

the GSEs. Through time, refinances have LTVs about 10 points lower than their purchase counterparts.

28
Credit Box: Historical

37.0

36.0

41.3

38.0

32.0

33.0

34.0

35.0

36.0

37.0

38.0

39.0

40.0

41.0

42.0

Oct-13 Jan-14 Apr-14 Jul-14 Oct-14 Jan-15 Apr-15 Jul-15 Oct-15 Jan-16 Apr-16 Jul-16 Oct-16 Jan-17 Apr-17

Debt-to-Income Ratio

DTI Ratio for All Loans

Freddie Median DTI Median DTI Fannie Median DTI Median DTI Ginnie Median DTI Median DTI All Median DTI Median DTI

30.0

32.0

34.0

36.0

38.0

40.0

42.0

44.0

Oct-13

Dec-13

Feb-14

Apr-14

Jun-14

Aug-14

Oct-14

Dec-14

Feb-15

Apr-15

Jun-15

Aug-15

Oct-15

Dec-15

Feb-16

Apr-16

Jun-16

Aug-16

Oct-16

Dec-16

Feb-17

Apr-17

DTI Ratio for Refinance Loans 

Freddie Median DTI Fannie Median DTI

Ginnie Median DTI All Median DTI

30.0

32.0

34.0

36.0

38.0

40.0

42.0

44.0

Oct-13

Jan-14

Apr-14

Jul-14

Oct-14

Jan-15

Apr-15

Jul-15

Oct-15

Jan-16

Apr-16

Jul-16

Oct-16

Jan-17

Apr-17

DTI Ratio for Purchase Loans

Freddie Median DTI Fannie Median DTI

Ginnie Median DTI All Median DTI

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute. Note:Data as of April 2017

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute. 

Note:Data as of April 2017

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute. 

Note:Data as of April 2017

Median debt-to-income ratios on Ginnie Mae loans have historically been in the low 40s, considerably higher 

than the 36-37 percent DTIs for the GSEs. The DTIs for refinance loans have historically been much lower than 

for purchase loans, but the DTIs for refinance loans have been creeping up sharply in recent months.

29
Ginnie Mae Non-bank Originators

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute

Note:Data as of April 2017.

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute

Note:Data as of April 2017.

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute. Note: Other“ refers to loans insured by HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing and the Department of Agriculture’s Rural 

Development. Data as of April 2017.

The non-bank originator share of the Ginnie Mae market fell to 76 percent in April 2017, after an uptick in 

March. The non-bank share of VA issuance stood at 66% in March, while the non-bank share of FHA issuance 

stood at 82 percent, and the non-bank share of Other issuance stood at 79 percent.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Oct-13 Jan-14 Apr-14 Jul-14 Oct-14 Jan-15 Apr-15 Jul-15 Oct-15 Jan-16 Apr-16 Jul-16 Oct-16 Jan-17 Apr-17

Ginnie Mae Non-bank Originator Share: All Loans

All FHA VA Other

82%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Oct-13

Dec-13

Feb-14

Apr-14

Jun-14

Aug-14

Oct-14

Dec-14

Feb-15

Apr-15

Jun-15

Aug-15

Oct-15

Dec-15

Feb-16

Apr-16

Jun-16

Aug-16

Oct-16

Dec-16

Feb-17

Apr-17

Ginnie Mae Non-bank Share: 

Purchase Loans

All FHA VA Other

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Oct-13

Dec-13

Feb-14

Apr-14

Jun-14

Aug-14

Oct-14

Dec-14

Feb-15

Apr-15

Jun-15

Aug-15

Oct-15

Dec-15

Feb-16

Apr-16

Jun-16

Aug-16

Oct-16

Dec-16

Feb-17

Apr-17

Ginnie Mae Non-bank Share: Refi

Loans

All FHA VA Other

76%

79%

66%

30
All Ginnie Mae FICO

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 155,409 624 648 682 725 770 688

Bank 37,617 639 662 699 746 784 704

Non-Bank 117,792 622 645 677 718 762 683

FHA Ginnie Mae FICO

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 96,191 621 643 672 708 748 677

Bank 18,389 636 656 684 720 759 690

Non-Bank 77,802 618 640 669 705 745 674

VA Ginnie Mae FICO

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 49,104 632 662 705 757 790 708

Bank 17,071 644 674 720 769 795 720

Non-Bank 32,033 628 656 698 749 787 702

Other Ginnie Mae FICO

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 10,114 640 658 689 730 765 694

Bank 2,157 622 656 698 745 776 694

Non-Bank 7,957 641 658 688 726 761 693

Ginnie Mae Non-bank Originators: 

April 2017 Credit Box

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute. Note: “Other“ refers to loans insured by HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing and the Department of 

Agriculture’s Rural Development. Data as of April 2017.

An analysis of recent origination suggests that non-bank originators have considerably lower median borrower FICO 

scores than do bank originators. Overall, the median Ginnie Mae FICO score is 682-- it is 699 for bank borrowers 

versus 677 for non-bank borrowers. For FHA borrowers, the median FICO score for bank originators is 684 versus 

669 for non-banks. For VA borrowers, the median FICO score for bank originators is 720 versus 698 for non-banks. 

For “Other” loans, the median FICO score for bank originators is 698 versus 688 for non-banks.

31
All Ginnie Mae LTV

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 140,554 80.9 91.1 96.5 97.1 101.0 92.9

Bank 34,356 83.5 94.4 96.5 99.8 102.0 94.1

Non-Bank 106,198 80.1 90.0 96.5 96.5 101.0 92.5

FHA Ginnie Mae LTV

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 89,511 80.7 89.5 96.5 96.5 96.5 91.6

Bank 17,574 85.0 95.0 96.5 96.5 96.5 93.4

Non-Bank 71,937 80.0 87.3 96.5 96.5 96.5 91.2

VA Ginnie Mae LTV

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 40,871 78.8 91.6 99.3 101.5 102.3 94.1

Bank 14,593 79.0 91.9 99.3 101.4 102.2 94.2

Non-Bank 26,278 78.6 91.5 99.4 101.5 102.4 94.1

Other Ginnie Mae LTV

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 10,172 94.5 99.0 101.0 101.0 102.0 99.1

Bank 2,189 96.7 100.8 101.0 102.0 103.3 100.1

Non-Bank 7,983 94.0 98.6 100.8 101.0 101.0 98.8

Ginnie Mae Non-bank Originators: 

April 2017 Credit Box

An analysis of the loans backing Ginnie Mae origination indicates that there are virtually no differences in median 

LTV ratios between bank originated loans and non-bank originated loans. Mean LTVs for banks are actually 

marginally higher than their non-bank counterparts.

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute. Note: “Other“ refers to loans insured by HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing and the Department of 

Agriculture’s Rural Development. Data as of April 2017. 

32
All Ginnie Mae DTI

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 143,698 27.3 34.1 41.3 47.7 52.9 40.5 

Bank 36,308 25.8 32.9 40.1 46.1 51.7 39.3 

Non-Bank 107,390 27.9 34.6 41.7 48.2 53.2 41.0 

FHA Ginnie Mae DTI

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 89,308 28.8 35.5 42.7 48.7 53.5 41.7 

Bank 18,035 28.0 34.8 41.7 47.0 52.3 40.6 

Non-Bank 71,273 28.9 35.7 43.0 49.1 53.7 41.9 

VA Ginnie Mae DTI

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 44,472 25.6 32.6 40.3 47.0 52.5 39.6 

Bank 16,246 24.0 31.1 39.0 45.8 51.6 38.3 

Non-Bank 28,226 26.5 33.5 41.0 47.8 52.9 40.3 

Other Ginnie Mae DTI

Number of Loans P10 P25 Median P75 P90 Mean

All 9,918 25.3 30.4 35.8 40.1 43.1 34.9 

Bank 2,027 24.6 30.3 36.0 40.4 43.6 34.9 

Non-Bank 7,891 25.5 30.4 35.7 40.1 43.0 34.9 

Ginnie Mae Non-bank Originators: 

April 2017 Credit Box

An analysis of the borrowers’ DTI ratios for bank versus non-bank originators indicates the former are very slightly 

more conservative. That is, the median DTI ratio for bank originators is 40.1, versus 41.7 for non-banks. The only 

exception is for “Other” loans, for which the median DTI ratio for banks is marginally higher than for non-banks.

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute. Note: “Other“ refers to loans insured by HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing and the Department of 

Agriculture’s Rural Development. Data as of April 2017.

33
Ginnie Mae Nonbank Originators: 

Historical Credit Box

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute

Note:Data as of April 2017

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute

Note: “Other“ refers to loans insured by HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing 

and the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development.

Data as of April 2017.

The difference in FICO scores between loans originated by banks and non-banks has widened for Ginnie Mae 

loans in April 2017, as the median FICO scores for bank originators stabilized while the median FICO scores for 

non-bank originators continued to decline for the FHA and VA channels.

660

665

670

675

680

685

690

695

700

705

Oct-13

Jan-14

Apr-14

Jul-14

Oct-14

Jan-15

Apr-15

Jul-15

Oct-15

Jan-16

Apr-16

Jul-16

Oct-16

Jan-17

Apr-17

Ginnie Mae FICO Scores 

Bank vs. Nonbank

All Median FICO Bank Median FICO

Nonbank Median FICO

660

665

670

675

680

685

690

695

700

705

Oct-13

Dec-13

Feb-14

Apr-14

Jun-14

Aug-14

Oct-14

Dec-14

Feb-15

Apr-15

Jun-15

Aug-15

Oct-15

Dec-15

Feb-16

Apr-16

Jun-16

Aug-16

Oct-16

Dec-16

Feb-17

Apr-17

Ginnie Mae FHA FICO Scores Bank vs. 

Nonbank

FHA All Median FICO FHA Bank Median FICO

FHA Nonbank Median FICO

670

680

690

700

710

720

730

740

Oct-13

Jan-14

Apr-14

Jul-14

Oct-14

Jan-15

Apr-15

Jul-15

Oct-15

Jan-16

Apr-16

Jul-16

Oct-16

Jan-17

Apr-17

Ginnie Mae VA FICO Scores Bank 

vs. Nonbank

VA All Median FICO VA Bank Median FICO

VA Nonbank Median FICO

670

680

690

700

710

720

730

740

Sep-13

Nov-13

Jan-14

Mar-14

May-14

Jul-14

Sep-14

Nov-14

Jan-15

Mar-15

May-15

Jul-15

Sep-15

Nov-15

Jan-16

Mar-16

May-16

Jul-16

Sep-16

Nov-16

Jan-17

Mar-17

Ginnie Mae Other FICO Scores Bank vs. 

Nonbank

Other All Median FICO Other Bank Median FICO

Other Nonbank Median FICO

Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute Note:Data as of April 2017 Sources: eMBS and Urban Institute Note:Data as of April 2017

34
Prepayments

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

May-11 Nov-11 May-12 Nov-12 May-13 Nov-13 May-14 Nov-14 May-15 Nov-15 May-16 Nov-16 May-17

Constant Prepayment Rate (%)

Aggregate Prepayments

Fannie CPR Freddie CPR Ginnie I CPR Ginnie II CPR

11%

16%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

May-15 Jul-15 Sep-15 Nov-15 Jan-16 Mar-16 May-16 Jul-16 Sep-16 Nov-16 Jan-17 Mar-17 May-17

Constant Prepayment Rate (%)

2015 Issued 3.5 Coupon CPR

Freddie 2015 3.5 Coupon CPR Fannie 2015 3.5 Coupon CPR Ginnie II 2015 3.5 Coupon CPR

Sources: Credit Suisse and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of May 2017

Sources: Credit Suisse and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of May 2017

Prepayments on Ginnie Mae securities were lower than on GSE securities from 2011 through mid-2013, but have 

been higher since. These differences hold across all coupon buckets. The differences are especially pronounced on 

more recent production. These increased Ginnie speeds reflect the growing share of VA loans, which prepay at 

faster speeds than FHA loans. This also reflects the fact that FHA streamlined refinances apply to a wide range of 

borrowers and unlike GSE streamlined refinances, requires no credit report and no appraisal. Some of the upfront 

mortgage insurance premium can also be applied to the refinanced loan. Moreover, FHA permits refinancing of 

existing mortgages after 6 months, while the GSEs do not allow refinancing for a year. With the increases in 

interest rates since November 2016, the prepayment speeds for all agencies have slowed down considerably. The 

rates have stabilized and started to decline slowly since March, and the speeds resumed their increase in May, 

reflecting both this decline in rates and a normal seasonal uptick.

16%

14%

11%

10%

35
Prepayments

10%

15%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

May-13 Sep-13 Jan-14 May-14 Sep-14 Jan-15 May-15 Sep-15 Jan-16 May-16 Sep-16 Jan-17 May-17

Constant Prepayment Rate (%)

2013 Issued 3.0 Coupon CPR

Freddie 2013 3.0 Coupon CPR Fannie 2013 3.0 Coupon CPR Ginnie II 2013 3.0 Coupon CPR

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

May-12 Nov-12 May-13 Nov-13 May-14 Nov-14 May-15 Nov-15 May-16 Nov-16 May-17

Constant Prepayment Rate (%)

2012 Issued 3.5 Coupon CPR

Freddie 2012 3.5 Coupon CPR Fannie 2012 3.5 Coupon CPR Ginnie II 2012 3.5 Coupon CPR

Sources: Credit Suisse and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of May 2017

Sources: Credit Suisse and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of May 2017

The 2013 Ginnie II 3.0s are prepaying faster than their conventional counterparts. 2012 Ginnie II 3.5s have been 

faster since mid-2013. The differences accelerated in 2015—potentially due to the FHA mortgage insurance 

premium (MIP) cut. In January 2015 FHA lowered its MIPs from 135 basis points per annum to 85 basis points 

per annum; this gives 2012 and 2013 FHA mortgages taken out with MIPs of 125-135 bps a 40-50 basis point 

rate incentive that conventional mortgages do not have. GSE guarantee fees have gone up over that same period, 

creating a disincentive for conventional loans. Moreover, recent originations are more heavily VA loans, which 

are more prepayment responsive than either FHA or Conventional loans. After a sharp mortgage rate ris in 

November, the prepayment speeds of Ginnie and Conventional loans both fell sharply. The speeds ticked up for 

all agencies in May 2017, mostly due to the recent decline in rates and a normal seasonal uptick.

17%

12%

36
Prepayments

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

May-11 Nov-11 May-12 Nov-12 May-13 Nov-13 May-14 Nov-14 May-15 Nov-15 May-16 Nov-16 May-17

Constant Prepayment Rate (%)

2011 Issued 4.5 Coupon CPR

Freddie 2011 4.5 Coupon CPR Fannie 2011 4.5 Coupon CPR Ginnie II 2011 4.5 Coupon CPR

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

May-11 Nov-11 May-12 Nov-12 May-13 Nov-13 May-14 Nov-14 May-15 Nov-15 May-16 Nov-16 May-17

Constant Prepayment Rate (%)

2011 Issued 4.0 Coupon CPR

Freddie 2011 4.0 Coupon CPR Fannie 2011 4.0 Coupon CPR Ginnie II 2011 4.0 Coupon CPR

Sources: Credit Suisse and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of May 2017

Sources: Credit Suisse and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of May 2017

The 2011 Ginnie II 4.0s and 4.5s have been prepaying faster than their conventional counterparts since late 

2013. Faster VA mortgage prepays plus simplifications to the FHA streamlined programs in 2013 are likely 

contributors to the faster speeds. However, as mortgage rates rose sharply since November 2016, the speeds 

for all agencies have slowed down considerably. The speeds trended up for all agencies in May 2017, mostly 

due to the recent decline in rates and a normal seasonal uptick.

19%

14%

20%

16%

37
Reverse Mortgage Volumes

$0.8

$0.0

$0.2

$0.4

$0.6

$0.8

$1.0

$1.2

$1.4

$1.6

$1.8

Oct-09

Dec-09

Feb-10

Apr-10

Jun-10

Aug-10

Oct-10

Dec-10

Feb-11

Apr-11

Jun-11

Aug-11

Oct-11

Dec-11

Feb-12

Apr-12

Jun-12

Aug-12

Oct-12

Dec-12

Feb-13

Apr-13

Jun-13

Aug-13

Oct-13

Dec-13

Feb-14

Apr-14

Jun-14

Aug-14

Oct-14

Dec-14

Feb-15

Apr-15

Jun-15

Aug-15

Oct-15

Dec-15

Feb-16

Apr-16

Jun-16

Aug-16

Oct-16

Dec-16

Feb-17

Apr-17

$ Billions

HMBS Issuance Volume

$55.2

$0

$10

$20

$30

$40

$50

$60

Oct-09

Dec-09

Feb-10

Apr-10

Jun-10

Aug-10

Oct-10

Dec-10

Feb-11

Apr-11

Jun-11

Aug-11

Oct-11

Dec-11

Feb-12

Apr-12

Jun-12

Aug-12

Oct-12

Dec-12

Feb-13

Apr-13

Jun-13

Aug-13

Oct-13

Dec-13

Feb-14

Apr-14

Jun-14

Aug-14

Oct-14

Dec-14

Feb-15

Apr-15

Jun-15

Aug-15

Oct-15

Dec-15

Feb-16

Apr-16

Jun-16

Aug-16

Oct-16

Dec-16

Feb-17

Apr-17

$ Billions

HMBS Outstanding 

Other Ginnie Mae Programs

Sources: Ginnie Mae and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of April 2017

Sources: Ginnie Mae and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of April 2017

Ginnie Mae reverse mortgage volumes remain steady, with issuance of $0.8 billion in April. Outstanding 

securities totaled $55.2 billion in April.

38
Multifamily Market

$1.6

$0.0

$0.5

$1.0

$1.5

$2.0

$2.5

$3.0

$3.5

$4.0

Oct-09

Dec-09

Feb-10

Apr-10

Jun-10

Aug-10

Oct-10

Dec-10

Feb-11

Apr-11

Jun-11

Aug-11

Oct-11

Dec-11

Feb-12

Apr-12

Jun-12

Aug-12

Oct-12

Dec-12

Feb-13

Apr-13

Jun-13

Aug-13

Oct-13

Dec-13

Feb-14

Apr-14

Jun-14

Aug-14

Oct-14

Dec-14

Feb-15

Apr-15

Jun-15

Aug-15

Oct-15

Dec-15

Feb-16

Apr-16

Jun-16

Aug-16

Oct-16

Dec-16

Feb-17

Apr-17

$ Billions

Ginnie Mae Multifamily MBS Issuance

$101.9

$0

$20

$40

$60

$80

$100

$120

Oct-09

Dec-09

Feb-10

Apr-10

Jun-10

Aug-10

Oct-10

Dec-10

Feb-11

Apr-11

Jun-11

Aug-11

Oct-11

Dec-11

Feb-12

Apr-12

Jun-12

Aug-12

Oct-12

Dec-12

Feb-13

Apr-13

Jun-13

Aug-13

Oct-13

Dec-13

Feb-14

Apr-14

Jun-14

Aug-14

Oct-14

Dec-14

Feb-15

Apr-15

Jun-15

Aug-15

Oct-15

Dec-15

Feb-16

Apr-16

Jun-16

Aug-16

Oct-16

Dec-16

Feb-17

Apr-17

$ Billions

Ginnie Mae Multifamily MBS Outstanding 

Other Ginnie Mae Programs

Sources: Ginnie Mae and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of April 2017.

Sources: Ginnie Mae and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of April 2017

Ginnie Mae multifamily issuance volumes in April totaled $1.6 billion. Outstanding multifamily securities totaled 

$101.9 billion in April.

39
Market Conditions

Sources: SIFMA and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of May 2017

$204 

$529 

$34 

$0

$100

$200

$300

$400

$500

$600

1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011 2014 2017

$ Billions

Average Daily Fixed Income Trading Volume by Sector

SF Agency MBS trading vol ($B) Treasury trading volume ($B) Corporates trading volume ($B)

3.37%

3.80%

0.40%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011 2014 2017

Average Daily Turnover by Sector 

Agency MBS Turnover Treasury Turnover Corporates Turnover

Agency MBS trading volume and turnover in 2017, while well lower than in 2005-2013, has been more robust 

than in the 2014-2015 period, and largely unchanged from 2016. In the first five months of 2017, daily turnover 

was 3.37 percent versus 3.55 percent in 2016 and 3.34 percent in 2015. Note that average daily Treasury 

turnover is also down dramatically from its 2005 peak. Corporate turnover is miniscule relative to either Agency 

MBS or Treasury turnover.

Sources: SIFMA and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of May 2017

40
Market Conditions

$220.3

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

600

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

$ Billions

Repo Volume: Securities In

$62.4

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

$ Billions

Dealer Net Positions: Federal Agency and GSE MBS

Sources: Federal Reserve Bank of New York Primary Dealer Statistics and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of May 2017

Sources: Federal Reserve Bank of New York Primary Dealer Statistics and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of May 2017

Dealer net positions in Agency MBS are currently within the recent range, although gross positions may well 

be down more. The volume of repurchase activity is down sharply. This reflects banks cutting back on lower 

margin businesses. 

41
MBS Ownership

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

2006Q4 2007Q4 2008Q4 2009Q4 2010Q4 2011Q4 2012Q4 2013Q4 2014Q4 2015Q4 2016 Q4

GSEs

Commercial Banks

Federal Reserve

Broker/Dealers

REITs

Other

Who owns Total Agency Debt?

Mutual 

Funds

Money Market and Pension Funds

Sources: Federal Reserve Flow of Funds and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of Q4 2016.

Credit Unions

Foreign Investors

The largest holders of agency debt (Agency MBS + agency debt) include the Federal Reserve (20 percent), 

commercial banks (20 percent) and foreign investors (12 percent). The broker/dealer and GSE shares are a 

fraction of what they once were. 

% of Total Agency 

Debt by Owner

42
MBS Ownership

Debt,

household 

mortgages,

$9,833

Sources: eMBS, Federal Reserve Flow of Funds, and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of Q4 2016.

71.0%

50%

55%

60%

65%

70%

75%

2006Q4 2007Q4 2008Q4 2009Q4 2010Q4 2011Q4 2012Q4 2013Q4 2014Q4 2015Q4 2016 Q4

Percent of MBS over Outstanding Agency Debt

MBS Share of Total Agency Debt

Sources: Federal Reserve Bank and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of May 2017

As Fannie and Freddie reduce the size of their retained portfolio, less agency debt is required to fund that activity, 

hence the MBS share of total agency debt increases. For Q4 2016, the MBS share of total agency debt stood at 71.0 

percent. Commercial banks are the second largest holders of Agency MBS behind the Federal Reserve. Out of their 

$1.7 trillion in holdings as of the end of May, $1.3 trillion of it was held by the top 25 domestic banks.

Commercial Bank Holdings ($Billions) Week Ending

Apr-16 Oct-16 Nov-16 Dec-16 Jan-17 Feb-17 Mar-17 Apr-17May3 May 10 May 17 May 24

Largest Domestic 

Banks 1147.0 1217.7 1217.2 1218.0 1224.8 1230.0 1230.2 1238.5 1240.5 1247.2 1263.0 1265.3

Small Domestic 

Banks 432.1 444.8 449.8 451.9 456.4 456.0 458.0 460.0 461.6 462.8 462.9 464.4

Foreign Related 

Banks 14.2 14.3 14.1 12.6 12.7 12.9 12.9 12.5 11.3 11.4 11.7 11.8

Total, 

Seasonally

Adjusted 1593.3 1676.8 1681.1 1682.5 1693.9 1698.9 1701.1 1711 1713.4 1721.4 1737.6 1741.5

43
MBS Ownership

Debt,

household 

mortgages,

$9,833

Top Bank & Thrift Residential MBS Investors Total ($MM) GSE PT ($MM)

GNMA PT 

($MM)

Agency REMIC 

($MM)

Non-Agency 

($MM)

Market 

Share

1 Bank of America Corporation $310,551 $177,393 $118,070 $14,440 $648 17.6%

2 Wells Fargo & Company $207,152 $163,855 $30,559 $5,378 $7,360 11.8%

3 JP Morgan Chase & Co. $104,125 $69,311 $21,024 $628 $13,162 5.9%

4 U S. Bancorp. $79,237 $29,118 $10,521 $39,597 $2 4.5%

5 Charles Schwab Bank $63,351 $38,097 $9,533 $15,721 $0 3.6%

6 Citi Group Inc. $60,717 $45,874 $331 $9,241 $5,271 3.4%

7 Capital One Financial Corporation $51,675 $17,844 $9,995 $22,124 $1,751 2.9%

8 Bank of New York Mellon Corp. $50,209 $30,533 $2,066 $15,060 $2,550 2.8%

9 PNC Bank, National Association $41,956 $29,782 $5,180 $3,601 $3,393 2.4%

10 Branch Banking and Trust Company $34,897 $9,732 $3,563 $20,959 $643 2.0%

11 State Street Bank and Trust Company $29,920 $3,852 $6,777 $10,253 $9,038 1.7%

Morgan Stanley $25,059 $10,084 $6,669 $8,306 $0 1.4%

12 KeyBank National Association $24,692 $1,003 $1,339 $22,350 $0 1.4%

SunTrust Bank $22,399 $12,125 $10,201 $0.4 $71 1.3%

13 HSBC Bank USA, National Association $20,843 $7,468 $5,338 $8,022 $6 1.2%

16 E*TRADE Bank $20,581 $11,650 $3,966 $4,966 $0 1.2%

17 Regions Bank $18,641 $11,112 $5,495 $2,030 $4 1.1%

18 Fifth Third Bank $16,244 $3,735 $3,951 $8,558 $0 0.9%

19 MUFG Union Bank, National Association $16,044 $5,340 $4,963 $5,314 $427 0.9%

20 Santander Bank, N.A. $15,671 $3,718 $3,413 $8,541 $0 0.9%

Total Top 20 $1,213,964 $681,626 $262,954 $225,089 $44,326 68.90%

Sources: Inside Mortgage Finance and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of Q1 2017

Out of the $1.8 trillion in MBS holdings at banks and thrifts, $1.3 trillion is in agency pass-through form: $950.7 

billion in GSE pass-throughs and $329.9 billion in Ginnie Mae pass-throughs. There are another $419.3 billion in 

Agency CMOs. Non-agency holdings total $62.4 billion. Ginnie Mae pass-throughs have been the fastest growing 

sector in the past 2 years. Bank and thrift holdings of MBS are very concentrated, with the top 20 holders 

accounting for 69 percent of the total, and the top 5 holders accounting for 43 percent of the total.

All Banks & Thrifts ($Billions)

Total Agency MBS GSE PT GNMA PT Agency CMO Private MBS Private CMO

2000 $683.90 $392.85 $234.01 $84.26 $198.04 $21.57 $71.43 

2001 $810.50 $459.78 $270.59 $109.53 $236.91 $37.62 $76.18 

2002 $912.36 $557.43 $376.11 $101.46 $244.98 $20.08 $89.88 

2003 $982.08 $619.02 $461.72 $75.11 $236.81 $19.40 $106.86 

2004 $1,113.89 $724.61 $572.40 $49.33 $208.18 $20.55 $160.55 

2005 $1,139.68 $708.64 $566.81 $35.92 $190.70 $29.09 $211.25 

2006 $1,207.09 $742.28 $628.52 $31.13 $179.21 $42.32 $243.28 

2007 $1,236.00 $678.24 $559.75 $31.58 $174.27 $26.26 $357.24 

2008 $1,299.76 $820.12 $638.78 $100.36 $207.66 $12.93 $259.04 

2009 $1,345.74 $854.40 $629.19 $155.00 $271.17 $7.53 $212.64 

2010 $1,433.38 $847.13 $600.80 $163.13 $397.30 $7.34 $181.61 

2011 $1,566.88 $917.10 $627.37 $214.81 $478.82 $3.28 $167.70 

2012 $1,578.86 $953.76 $707.87 $242.54 $469.27 $17.16 $138.67 

2013 $1,506.60 $933.73 $705.97 $231.93 $432.60 $26.11 $114.15 

1Q14 $1,574.44 $1,029.68 $713.50 $232.44 $500.09 $27.08 $104.97 

2Q14 $1,526.12 $951.82 $717.27 $232.75 $445.17 $24.72 $104.41 

3Q14 $1,534.59 $951.99 $725.96 $226.03 $447.46 $21.89 $113.24 

4Q14 $1,539.32 $964.16 $733.71 $230.45 $449.90 $20.33 $104.94 

1Q15 $1,579.21 $1,012.26 $767.71 $244.55 $455.47 $17.70 $93.78 

2Q15 $1,583.22 $1,032.26 $784.22 $248.05 $445.91 $16.47 $88.57 

3Q15 $1,608.44 $1,064.67 $805.05 $259.62 $447.01 $13.60 $83.16 

4Q15 $1,643.56 $1,115.40 $823.10 $292.30 $445.39 $11.14 $71.63 

1Q16 $1,660.58 $1,133.29 $833.25 $300.04 $448.63 $10.27 $68.39 

2Q 16 $1,684.33 $1,169.67 $867.64 $302.03 $440.25 $9.11 $65.29 

3Q16 $1,732.36 $1,227.52 $924.81 $302.71 $435.77 $7.90 $61.17 

4Q16 $1,736.93 $1,254.13 $930.67 $323.46 $419.80 $7.40 $55.60

1Q17 $1,762.38 $1,280.63 $950.72 $329.91 $419.34 $7.03 $55.39 

Bank and Thrift Residential MBS Holdings

44
MBS Ownership

$856.0

$388.7

$467.3

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1,000

Oct-12

Dec-12

Feb-13

Apr-13

Jun-13

Aug-13

Oct-13

Dec-13

Feb-14

Apr-14

Jun-14

Aug-14

Oct-14

Dec-14

Feb-15

Apr-15

Jun-15

Aug-15

Oct-15

Dec-15

Feb-16

Apr-16

Jun-16

Aug-16

Oct-16

Dec-16

Feb-17

$ Billions

Monthly Agency MBS Holdings by Foreigners

Total Agency MBS Held by Foreigners Foreign Official Foreign Private

Sources: Treasury International Capital (TIC) and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of February 2017.

Sources: SIFMA and Treasury International Capital (TIC). Note: Data as of Q4 2016.

14.0%

10.0%

10.5%

11.0%

11.5%

12.0%

12.5%

13.0%

13.5%

14.0%

14.5%

15.0%

Q4 2011Q1 2012Q2 2012Q3 2012Q4 2012Q1 2013Q2 2013Q3 2013Q4 2013Q1 2014Q2 2014Q3 2014Q4 2014Q1 2015Q2 2015Q3 2015Q4 2015Q1 2016Q2 2016Q3 2016Q4 2016

Percent of Agency MBS Owned by Foreigners

Foreign Share of Agency MBS

Foreign investors hold 14.0 percent of agency MBS, up considerably from the lows in 2013. For the month of 

February, this represents $856.0 billion in agency MBS, $388.7 billion held by official institutions and $467.3 

billion held by private investors. 

45
MBS Ownership

Level of Holdings ($ Millions) Change in Holdings ($ Millions)

Country Jun-16 Sep-16 Dec-16 Jan-17 Feb-17 Q3 2016 Q4 2016 Jan-17 Feb-17

Taiwan 207,000 208,352 204,005 207,344 209,651 1,352 -4,347 3,339 2,307

China 196,000 191,743 184,151 181,798 193,452 -4,257 -7,592 -2,353 11,654

Japan 197,000 222,116 220,644 218,038 220,013 25,116 -1,472 -2,606 1,975

Ireland 48,000 48,307 47,065 47,175 45,973 307 -1,242 110 -1,202

Luxembourg 32,000 32,549 35,352 33,665 30,412 549 2,803 -1,687 -3,253

Cayman Islands 31,000 30,686 30,186 29,844 29,281 -314 -500 -342 -563

Switzerland 17,000 20,638 15,626 15,262 15,708 3,638 -5,012 -364 446

United Kingdom 10,000 10,520 9,578 9,306 9,474 520 -942 -272 168

Canada 6,000 6,578 5,047 5,116 5,204 578 -1,531 69 88

Belgium 5,000 4,336 4,597 4,484 4,825 -664 261 -113 341

Rest of World 206,000 208,604 208,353 198,799 193,265 2,604 -251 -9,554 -5,534

Total 955,000 984,429 964,604 950,831 957,258 29,429 -19,825 -13,773 6,427

Agency MBS+ Agency Debt

Agency MBS Only (Estimates)

*calculated based on June 2016 report with amount asset 

backed per country 

Sources :Treasury International Capital (TIC) and Urban Institute. 

Note: Data as of February 2017.

The single largest foreign holders of agency MBS are Taiwan, China and Japan; these three countries comprise 

around 70 percent of all foreign holdings. Since June of 2016, we estimate Taiwan and Japan have expanded their 

holdings while China has contracted. Our estimates indicate that Japan has been the single largest buyer of MBS 

between June 2016 and January 2017, adding $31 billion over the 7-month period. 

Level of Holdings ($Millions)* Change in Holdings ($Millions)*

Country Jun-16 Sep-16 Dec-16 Jan-17 Feb-17 Q3 2016 Q4 2016 Jan-17 Feb-17

Taiwan 207,000 208,337 204,005 207,344 209,457 1,337 -4,332 3,339 2,113

China 187,000 183,274 176,575 177,999 191,862 -3,726 -6,699 1,424 13,862

Japan 185,000 209,835 212,729 206,655 206,326 24,835 2,894 -6,074 -329

Ireland 38,000 38,304 37,177 38,102 38,026 304 -1,126 925 -76

Luxembourg 27,000 27,543 30,931 28,994 26,821 543 3,388 -1,937 -2,173

Cayman Islands 23,000 22,725 22,284 22,524 22,677 -275 -441 240 152

Switzerland 12,000 15,597 10,791 10,779 11,533 3,597 -4,806 -12 754

United Kingdom 8,000 8,514 7,629 7,567 7,919 514 -885 -61 352

Canada 4,000 4,572 3,162 3,334 3,553 572 -1,410 172 219

Belgium 2,000 1,419 1,645 1,637 2,033 -581 227 -9 396

Rest of World 139,000 141,575 141,760 136,257 135,763 2,575 185 -5,503 -494

Total 832,000 861,694 848,688 841,193 855,970 29,694 -13,006 -7,495 14,777

46
MBS Ownership

0

50

100

150

200

250

Oct-09

Dec-09

Feb-10

Apr-10

Jun-10

Aug-10

Oct-10

Dec-10

Feb-11

Apr-11

Jun-11

Aug-11

Oct-11

Dec-11

Feb-12

Apr-12

Jun-12

Aug-12

Oct-12

Dec-12

Feb-13

Apr-13

Jun-13

Aug-13

Oct-13

Dec-13

Feb-14

Apr-14

Jun-14

Aug-14

Oct-14

Dec-14

Feb-15

Apr-15

Jun-15

Aug-15

Oct-15

Dec-15

Feb-16

Apr-16

Jun-16

Aug-16

Oct-16

Dec-16

Feb-17

Apr-17

$ Billions

Total Fed Absorption

Gross Issuance Total Fed Purchases

0

50

100

150

200

250

Oct-09

Apr-10

Oct-10

Apr-11

Oct-11

Apr-12

Oct-12

Apr-13

Oct-13

Apr-14

Oct-14

Apr-15

Oct-15

Apr-16

Oct-16

Apr-17

$ Billions

Fed Absorption of GSE MBS

Gross Issuance Total Fed Purchases

Sources: eMBS, Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Urban Institute. Note: Data as of April 2017.

Sources: eMBS, Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Urban 

Institute. Note: Data as of April 2017.

Sources: eMBS, Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Urban Institute. 

Note: Data as of April 2017.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Oct-09

Jan-10

Apr-10

Jul-10

Oct-10

Jan-11

Apr-11

Jul-11

Oct-11

Jan-12

Apr-12

Jul-12

Oct-12

Jan-13

Apr-13

Jul-13

Oct-13

Jan-14

Apr-14

Jul-14

Oct-14

Jan-15

Apr-15

Jul-15

Oct-15

Jan-16

Apr-16

Jul-16

Oct-16

Jan-17

Apr-17

$ Billions

Fed Absorption of Ginnie Mae MBS

Total Fed Purchases Gross Issuance

In October 2014, the Fed ended its purchase program, but continued buying at a significantly reduced level, 

reinvesting funds from pay downs on mortgages and agency debt into the mortgage market. Since then, the Fed’s 

absorption of gross issuance has been between 20 and 30 percent; it was 22.5 percent for April 2017. During this 

month, the Fed has been buying Ginnie Mae securities and GSE securities at similar rates. Over the past year, the 

Fed has absorbed an average of 25.9 percent of GSE issuance and 26.1 percent of Ginnie Mae issuance. The Fed 

announced at their June 2017 meeting that they will cut back on MBS monthly purchase volume.

47
All the information contained in this document is as of date Indicated unless otherwise noted. The

information provided does not constitute investment advice and it should not be relied on as such. All

information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but its accuracy is not guaranteed.

The views expressed in this material are the views of Urban Institute and State Street Global Advisors as

of June 15, 2017 and are subject to change based on market and other conditions. This document

contains certain statements that may be deemed forward‐looking statements. Please note that any such

statements are not guarantees of any future performance and actual results or developments may differ

materially from those projected.   

© 2017 State Street Corporation. All Rights Reserved.