MBA proposes new secondary market framework

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released a new paper outlining a proposed framework for a refined government role in the secondary mortgage market designed to ensure liquidity for mortgages without presenting unnecessary risks for the taxpayer. The paper, Recommendations for the Future Government Role in the Core Secondary Mortgage Market, is the result of work by MBA's Council on Ensuring Mortgage Liquidity, a 23-member task force representing MBA's diverse membership base.

"It's now been more than two years since the secondary mortgage market collapsed," said Michael D. Berman, MBA's Vice Chairman and Chair of the Council on Ensuring Mortgage Liquidity. "Rebuilding the secondary market is critical to restoring liquidity and confidence. The government has an important, limited role to play to ensure a stable flow of funds for mortgages."

The centerpiece of MBA's recommendation is the creation of a new line of mortgage-backed securities (MBS). Each security would have two components - a loan level guarantee provided by a privately-owned, government-chartered and regulated mortgage credit-guarantor entity (MCGE) and a security-level, federal government-guaranteed wrap.

The wrap would be an explicit government guarantee focused on the credit risk of these mortgage securities, similar to that on a Ginnie Mae security. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's infrastructure, including their technology, human capital, standard documents and relationships, could be used as the foundation for one or more MCGEs.

SOURCE: REAL ESTATE CHANNEL