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How Many Loans are Still in Forbearance?

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBS) [1]'s Forbearance and Call Volume Survey reported that the total number of loans now in forbearance decreased to 6.87% from 6.93% the previous week. The MBA estimates 3.4 million homeowners are in forbearance plans. Its Forbearance and Call Volume Survey covers the period from September 14 through September 20 and represents 74% of the first-mortgage servicing market, which is 37.1 million loans.

For the 16th week in a row, the share of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans in forbearance dropped. This week showed a 9-basis-point improvement, as it dropped to to 4.46%.

Ginnie Mae loans in forbearance remained the same as the previous week at 9.15%.

The forbearance share for portfolio loans and private-label securities (PLS) also remained flat, at 10.52%. The percentage of loans in forbearance for depository servicers decreased 7 basis points to 7.11%, and the percentage of loans in forbearance for independent mortgage bank (IMB) servicers decreased 3 basis points to 7.23%.

Mike Fratantoni, MBA's SVP and Chief Economist said the share of loans in forbearance is at levels unseen since mid-April.

"Many homeowners with GSE loans are exiting forbearance into a deferral plan and resuming their original mortgage payment, but waiting to pay the forborne amount until the end of the loan," Fratantoni said.  "However, the overall picture is still somewhat of a mixed bag. The recent uptick in forbearance requests, particularly for those with FHA or VA loans, is leaving the Ginnie Mae share elevated, as the pace of new requests meets or exceeds the pace of exits."

Added Fratantoni, "The continued churn in the job market is likely keeping many homeowners who have been in forbearance reluctant to exit, given the level of economic uncertainty."

Here, MBA breaks down the numbers from the Forbearance and Call Volume Survey for the week of September 14 to September 20: