The Impact of Risk Retention Regulation on the Underwriting of Securitized Mortgages

Craig Furfine*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Dodd-Frank Act requires securitization sponsors to retain not less than a 5% share of the aggregate credit risk of the assets they securitize. This paper examines how the implementation of risk-retention requirements affected the market for securitized mortgage loans. Using a difference-in-difference empirical framework, I find that risk retention implementation is associated with mortgages being issued with markedly higher interest rates, yet notably lower loan-to-value ratios and higher income to debt-service ratios. In addition, after controlling for observable loan characteristics, loans subject to risk retention requirements appear to be less likely to become troubled. These findings suggest that the risk retention rules have made securitized loans safer in both observable and unobservable dimensions, yet are more expensive to borrowers. Further evidence suggests that the risk-retention rules are binding, with the amount of risk being retained following implementation roughly three times that of before, while lenders also seemed to accelerate the securitization of originated loans during the months immediately before the rules took effect.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)91-114
Number of pages24
JournalJournal of Financial Services Research
Volume58
Issue number2-3
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2020

Keywords

  • CMBS
  • Dodd-Frank
  • Mortgages
  • Risk retention
  • Securitization

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Accounting
  • Finance
  • Economics and Econometrics

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