Tag Archives: mortgage secondary market

Collaboration Between MCT and Fannie Mae Improves Pricing for Mortgage Sellers on Select Loans

Unique Bid Tape Pricing API to Deliver More Granular Pricing Alongside Cash Window

SAN DIEGO, Calif., March 13, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT®), the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology, announced their integration with Fannie Mae’s new Loan Pricing API. By combining various price factors and utilizing a broader set of data found in bid tapes, the new API provides greater price transparency on certain loans. This is the latest in a series of recent collaborations between MCT and Fannie Mae intended to provide additional benefit and value to mortgage secondary market participants. This new API will provide greater transparency into the granular level pricing Fannie Mae provides to sellers on MCT Marketplace – the largest mortgage asset exchange for the U.S. secondary market.

Image caption: MCT – Mortgage Capital Trading.

“As the needs of borrowers and those who serve them evolve, Fannie Mae remains committed to investing in and delivering value through the products and services it offers,” said Pete Skarnulis, Single-Family Business Account Management Solutions – Vice President at Fannie Mae. “The new Loan Pricing API offers comprehensive pricing and a more streamlined process for obtaining the most up-to-date pricing information that creates a better experience for our industry partners.”

For mutual clients, pricing from the new API is integrated seamlessly into execution analysis, commitment, and delivery processes in MCT Marketplace. Fannie Mae sellers will retain access to the other execution options they had previously, such as the Cash Window and Servicing Marketplace®.

“Through our strong collaboration with Fannie Mae over the years, we have made it a top priority to push the secondary market forward through technology for the benefit of mutual clients,” stated Phil Rasori, COO at MCT. “We’re proud to have jointly deployed Fannie Mae’s new Loan Pricing API.”

Learn more about the features, benefits, volume, and performance of MCT and Fannie Mae technology collaborations for mortgage lenders. MCT and Fannie Mae will be available and sharing more information about their efforts for mutual client benefit at the upcoming MCT Exchange conference in San Diego held March 27-28, 2025, including the keynote presentation by Olga Gorodetsky, Director of Capital Markets at Fannie Mae.

About MCT:

For over two decades, MCT has been a leading source of innovation for the mortgage secondary market. Melding deep subject matter expertise with a passion for emerging technologies and clients, MCT is the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology. From architecting modern best execution loan sales to launching the most successful and advanced marketplace for mortgage-related assets, lenders, investors, and network partners all benefit from MCT’s stewardship. MCT’s technology and know-how continues to revolutionize how mortgage assets are priced, locked, protected, valued, and exchanged – offering clients the tools to perform under any market condition.

For more information, visit https://mct-trading.com/ or call (619) 543-5111.

MCT Media Contact:
Ian Miller
Chief Marketing Officer
Mortgage Capital Trading
pr@mctrade.net
619-543-5111

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NEWS SOURCE: Mortgage Capital Trading Inc.

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Mortgage Capital Trading Inc.), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. Image, if any, was provided by the news source and not this website or the wire service. Information is believed accurate, as provided by the news source, but is not guaranteed.

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MCT Integrates with Fannie Mae’s Mission Score API and New Product Grids to Empower Originators to Take Advantage of Market Incentives for Mission-oriented Lending

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT®), the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology, announced the launch of new integrations with Fannie Mae's Mission Score application programming interface (API) and Mission Score 2 and 3 product grids that provide better transparency and pricing for mortgages aligned with Fannie Mae's mission objectives.

The Mission Score API and product grids provide a loan-level Mission Score and associated pricing to mortgage originators, who may improve margins or pass through better borrower pricing using MCT technology. MCT, the first to integrate with the API, has a long history of empowering mortgage market participants to optimize their business, and these latest integrations increase the granularity of pricing that Fannie Mae provides sellers on MCT Marketplace - the largest mortgage asset exchange for the U.S. secondary market.

"Fannie Mae changed the market back in 2016 by bringing spec programs to the cash window, putting lenders in a position where they could take the pay-ups and push them through as more competitive pricing for the borrower," said Phil Rasori, COO of MCT. "Now, Fannie Mae has done it again by pushing forward the Mission Score pay-ups available on the securitization side toward front-end borrower pricing."

For mutual clients, pricing from the new API and product grids are integrated seamlessly into the best execution analysis, commitment, and delivery processes in MCT Marketplace. Lenders using the new MCT Base Rate Generator can leverage the Mission Score products to directly inform and generate their front-end borrower pricing.

"The Mission Score API and Mission Score product girds are Fannie Mae's latest solutions intended to support affordable homeownership opportunities and promote mission-based financing to qualified borrowers," said Pete Skarnulis, Single-Family Business Account Management Solutions - Vice President at Fannie Mae. "Through close partnership and collaboration with our industry partners, we're able to introduce innovative solutions to the market at scale, helping to promote positive change across the mortgage industry."

Lenders are encouraged to register for the upcoming industry webinar hosted by MCT, and featuring Fannie Mae, to learn more about the features and benefits of the Mission Score API and product grids for mortgage originators and their borrowers. Learn more: https://mct-trading.com/webinar/mct-fannie-mae-mission-score-webinar/.

About MCT:

For over two decades, MCT has been a leading source of innovation for the mortgage secondary market. Melding deep subject matter expertise with a passion for emerging technologies and clients, MCT is the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology. From architecting modern best execution loan sales to launching the most successful and advanced marketplace for mortgage-related assets, lenders, investors, and network partners all benefit from MCT's stewardship. MCT's technology and know-how continues to revolutionize how mortgage assets are priced, locked, protected, valued, and exchanged - offering clients the tools to perform under any market condition.

For more information, visit https://mct-trading.com/ or call (619) 543-5111.

Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT®), the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology, announced the launch of new integrations with Fannie Mae's Mission Score application programming interface (API) and Mission Score 2 and 3 product grids that provide better transparency and pricing for mortgages aligned with Fannie Mae's mission objectives.

Related link: https://mct-trading.com/

Optimal Blue Announces ‘Optimize Your Advantage’ to Showcase How Its Capital Markets Platform Puts Lenders in Control of Their Margins

PLANO, Texas /ScoopCloud/ -- Optimal Blue announced the launch of its Optimize Your Advantage campaign in advance of the MBA Secondary and Capital Markets Conference. This comprehensive brand initiative highlights the value and innovation the company delivers to clients. Through Optimal Blue's position as the housing industry's only end-to-end capital markets platform, lenders and other market participants have greater control of their profit margins, giving them distinct advantages, regardless of market conditions. In turn, they are better positioned to make housing finance accessible to more American borrowers.

"'Optimize Your Advantage' illustrates how Optimal Blue helps lenders effectively manage and significantly improve their return on investment," said Sara Holtz, chief marketing officer of Optimal Blue. "There are benefits to working with a nimble partner like Optimal Blue that can anticipate and quickly deliver the innovations clients need to operate efficiently and profitably. In turn, these lenders can help more borrowers fulfill the dream of homeownership - a momentous purpose that requires a proven partner with the technology, network, data, and expertise necessary to succeed in dynamic markets. We're incredibly proud of the fact that Optimal Blue is the only provider that delivers on these needs from pricing accuracy to pipeline risk management, and every step in between."

The campaign showcases the interconnectedness of Optimal Blue's ever-growing network. Through an API-first approach, the company bridges critical connections between the primary and secondary mortgage markets to the benefit of the larger industry. This network brings together hundreds of thousands of individual lenders, investors, brokers, and vendors to yield constant value by way of knowledge-sharing and real-time, competitive benchmarking.

Further, Optimal Blue's technology and data offerings form a critical, complete, and scalable capital markets infrastructure - from the time an American borrower looks into homes they can afford in terms of accurate product and pricing options, to when a lender considers originating a mortgage, through rate locking, counterparty oversight, pipeline hedging, securitization and trading, and on through the valuation of mortgage servicing rights and portfolio monitoring for additional lead generation opportunities.

The company was acquired by Constellation Software in September 2023, and this new campaign marks Optimal Blue's continued commitment to the future of mortgage lending and secondary marketing. Through Constellation's independent ownership model, Optimal Blue operates as a distinct entity with access to resources and best practice sharing from its parent company.

"Optimal Blue has been setting the pace of innovation and product delivery in the capital markets space for decades, and a key to that long-term success is our company's ability to continuously innovate and evolve for the market's needs," said Scott Smith, interim CEO of Optimal Blue and president of Andromeda, Constellation Software. "Our clients are the driving motivation behind everything we do, and we're pleased to shine a light on the unique value Optimal Blue brings to their success."

The campaign will include efforts to further enhance Optimal Blue's existing client advocacy program, through which the company solicits client feedback that is used to directly inform innovation. Enhancements to the advocacy program will include additional value-add forums for clients, as well as new brand initiatives to showcase Optimal Blue's value in action through client spotlights.

About Optimal Blue

Optimal Blue effectively bridges the primary and secondary mortgage markets to deliver the industry's only end-to-end capital markets platform. The company helps lenders of all sizes and scopes operate profitably and efficiently so they can fulfill the momentous role of helping American borrowers achieve the dream of homeownership, regardless of market dynamics. Through innovative technology, a network of interconnectivity, rich data insights, and expertise gathered over more than 20 years, Optimal Blue is an experienced partner that allows lenders to optimize their advantage from pricing accuracy to margin protection, and every step in between.

To learn more, visit https://www2.optimalblue.com/.

Optimal Blue announced the launch of its Optimize Your Advantage campaign in advance of the MBA Secondary and Capital Markets Conference. This comprehensive brand initiative highlights the value and innovation the company delivers to clients. Through Optimal Blue's position as the housing industry's only end-to-end capital markets platform, lenders and other market participants have greater control of their profit margins, giving them distinct advantages, regardless of market conditions.

Related link: https://www2.optimalblue.com/

MCT Awarded HW Tech100 Mortgage Award for the 5th Consecutive Year

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT®), the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology, was announced as a 2024 HousingWire Tech100 Mortgage Winner for the 5th consecutive year. For more than a decade, HousingWire's Tech100 program has identified and recognized the most innovative technology companies serving the mortgage and real estate industries.

The Tech100 Mortgage Award spotlights the most innovative and impactful organizations that are making the housing economy better and more sustainable by increasing efficiency, improving borrower experience, and bringing elasticity to mortgage origination and servicing processes.

MCT has redefined secondary marketing through MCT Marketplace, where buyers and sellers can connect regardless of counterparty approval status. It facilitates optimal execution in every scenario by removing barriers across various execution types and counterparties. MCT Marketplace also offers a greater variety of execution types with enhanced transparency and superior automation compared to alternative exchanges. Distinguishing itself as the sole platform featuring live bids from unapproved counterparties, MCT introduces its patent-pending Security Spread Commitment, converting shadow bidding into real-time executions.

"At MCT, we strive for innovation to simplify capital markets. The MCT Marketplace is reshaping the buy/sell process, and we are proud that its technological advancements are acknowledged for their significant market impact," said Curtis Richins, President and CEO of MCT. "This recognition reflects the dedication of our entire team, highlighting their hard work and invaluable contributions. We are grateful for HousingWire's recognition of innovation within the capital markets sector and are privileged to be among such esteemed organizations on this prestigious list."

Since it's inception, MCT Marketplace has averaged around 4,300 commitments per month for $3b a month in cash window commitments and facilitated an average of 1.5B+ in AOT's every month. Those interested in learning more about the features and benefits of MCT's award-winning technology and services are encouraged to contact MCT for more information.

About MCT:

For over two decades, MCT has been a leading source of innovation for the mortgage secondary market. Melding deep subject matter expertise with a passion for emerging technologies and clients, MCT is the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology. From architecting modern best execution loan sales to launching the most successful and advanced marketplace for mortgage-related assets, lenders, investors, and network partners all benefit from MCT's stewardship. MCT's technology and know-how continues to revolutionize how mortgage assets are priced, locked, protected, valued, and exchanged - offering clients the tools to thrive under any market condition.

For more information, visit https://mct-trading.com/ or call (619) 543-5111.

RELATED LINKS:
https://mct-trading.com/software/marketplace/

Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT®), the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology, was announced as a 2024 HousingWire Tech100 Mortgage Winner for the 5th consecutive year. For more than a decade, HousingWire's Tech100 program has identified and recognized the most innovative technology companies serving the mortgage and real estate industries.

Related link: https://mct-trading.com/

Seasonal Lows Contribute to 13.71% Drop In Mortgage Volume

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT®), a leading mortgage hedge advisory and secondary marketing software firm, revealed today a 13.71% decline in mortgage lock volume compared to the previous month. To gain comprehensive insights into the market dynamics, industry professionals and enthusiasts are invited to download the complete report at: https://mct-trading.com/press-release/seasonal-lows-contribute-to-13-71-drop-in-mortgage-volume/.

Despite a recent drop in mortgage rates, refinances have witnessed only a modest uptick, falling short of making a significant impact on overall mortgage volume. Seasonal trends, coupled with challenges in the purchase market, have eclipsed the potential benefits of a full percentage point decrease in rates.

Phil Rasori, Chief Operating Officer at MCT, commented on the current landscape, stating, "Softening purchase prices, paired with a further drop in rates, could boost purchases and refinances. However, we anticipate that seasonal lows in the purchase market will persist through Q1."

MCT's Lock Volume Indices present a snapshot of rate lock volume activity in the residential mortgage industry broken out by lock type (purchase, rate/term refinance, and cash out refinance) across a broad diversity of lenders (e.g., sizes, products/services offered, business models) from MCT's national footprint.

About MCT:

For over two decades, MCT has been a leading source of innovation for the mortgage secondary market. Melding deep subject matter expertise with a passion for emerging technologies and clients, MCT is the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology. From architecting modern best execution loan sales to launching the most successful and advanced marketplace for mortgage-related assets, lenders, investors, and network partners all benefit from MCT's stewardship. MCT's technology and know-how continues to revolutionize how mortgage assets are priced, locked, protected, valued, and exchanged - offering clients the tools to thrive under any market condition.

For more information, visit https://mct-trading.com/ or call (619) 543-5111.

Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT®), a leading mortgage hedge advisory and secondary marketing software firm, revealed today a 13.71% decline in mortgage lock volume compared to the previous month. To gain comprehensive insights into the market dynamics, industry professionals and enthusiasts are invited to download the complete report.

Related link: https://mct-trading.com/

MCT Appoints Steve Pawlowski Head of Technology Solutions to Continue Industry-Changing Innovation

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT®), the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology, today announced the appointment of Steve Pawlowski as Managing Director, Head of Technology Solutions. Mr. Pawlowski will be responsible for expanding upon MCT's proven record of driving efficiency and liquidity in the secondary market. He will report directly to MCT's COO, Phil Rasori.

"Steve's technology leadership while at Fannie Mae heralded a new era of capital markets transparency to the lender," said Phil Rasori. "MCT is building on that effort in numerous ways, including initiatives to bring back-end pricing closer to the front-end pricing that mortgage borrowers receive. We're proud Steve will be applying his vision and expertise to MCT Marketplace and other best-in-class software solutions."

MCT Marketplace users include 30% of all correspondent sellers and over 90% of active correspondent buyers, making it the largest whole loan exchange by number of participants in the U.S. market. In addition to whole loans, MCT's software solutions are leading venues for flow servicing, bulk MSR, and TBA transactions.

"MCT was the fastest and most comprehensive technology partner I worked with on API development while at Fannie Mae," said Steve Pawlowski, Managing Director, Head of Technology Solutions at MCT. "I couldn't be more excited to apply my institutional expertise to this agile and committed technology development team."

Mr. Pawlowski will provide leadership on all MCT technology development. He brings extensive industry experience to MCT, including 30+ years with Fannie Mae's Capital Markets and Single-Family Digital Products and Services organizations. Mr. Pawlowski and his team were instrumental in developing Fannie Mae's Servicing Marketplace and the original, first-of-their-kind pricing and commitment APIs.

Contact MCT to learn more about improving profitability and efficiency, whether you are a mortgage lender or buy-side mortgage asset investor: https://mct-trading.com/contact/.

About MCT:

For over two decades, MCT has been a leading source of innovation for the mortgage secondary market. Melding deep subject matter expertise with a passion for emerging technologies and clients, MCT is the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology. From architecting modern best execution loan sales to launching the most successful and advanced marketplace for mortgage-related assets, lenders, investors, and network partners all benefit from MCT's stewardship. MCT's technology and know-how continues to revolutionize how mortgage assets are priced, locked, protected, valued, and exchanged - offering clients the tools to thrive under any market condition.

For more information, visit https://mct-trading.com/ or call (619) 543-5111.

Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT®), the de facto leader in innovative mortgage capital markets technology, today announced the appointment of Steve Pawlowski as Managing Director, Head of Technology Solutions. Mr. Pawlowski will be responsible for expanding upon MCT's proven record of driving efficiency and liquidity in the secondary market. He will report directly to MCT's COO, Phil Rasori.

Related link: https://mct-trading.com/

New MBS Fintech Agile Revolutionizes Trading with the Launch of RFQ Platform

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. /ScoopCloud/ -- Agile, a new fintech bringing mortgage lenders and broker dealers on to a single electronic platform, has formally announced the launch of its flagship RFQ (request for quote) platform. All MBS market participants can now participate on an electronic platform that expedites the exchange of To-Be-Announced Mortgage-Backed Securities (TBAs).

Despite the rise of electronic trading and digitization of financial services, MBS trading has largely been conducted over the phone. Phone-based trading is slow and impractical in generating numerous competitive bids. Agile is introducing a new, electronic way to quote MBS through a browser-based platform that digitizes the process of buying and selling TBAs. As a result, Agile enables the user to efficiently generate more competitive bids compared to legacy phone-based processes. (*See note 1.)

"Our mission is to bring the mortgage capital markets into a new digital era," comments Curtis Richins, President & CEO of Agile. "We're democratizing the TBA Market for lenders and dealers both big and small. We created Agile because we believe that a transparent market is a better market and because every counterparty deserves access to a fair, efficient and transparent marketplace."

Agile was developed with direct feedback from mortgage lenders and broker-dealers, resulting in a powerful platform that integrates smoothly with existing processes. With the browser-based platform, lenders can request trades from any device, anywhere. Agile's three step process for digital TBA trading communication can help lenders improve efficiency, while expanding the number of quotes they receive and their network of counterparties. For the first time, all mortgage lenders can trade with regional and primary dealers electronically.

Agile's initial roll-out began January 1, 2021 and demonstrated rapid adoption across the mortgage secondary market. Agile has supported 261 financial institutions who have exchanged 95.6 thousand quotes. (*See note 2.) Lenders have been quick to welcome the benefits of the new platform.

Early adopter Andrew Stringer (Director of Secondary/Capital Markets at First Bank), said, "After a busy conference day, I found myself with moments left to optimize coverage before market close. A few taps in Agile and I was done! No calls, no computer, no manual calculations - just a quick TBA trade and back to unwinding after a long day."

Agile has already received strong participation from the broker-dealer community, thanks to new opportunities for growth and operational improvement. Agile provides access to an ever-growing network of lenders, facilitates increased quote requests from approved counterparties, and delivers the efficiencies of a digital trade desk. Broker-dealers also have the benefit of straight-through processing with leading trade order management systems. Featured broker-dealers currently on the platform include, but are not limited to, the following: BMO Financial, BOK Financial Securities, CMG Securities, Daiwa Capital Markets, ED&F Man, Huntington Securities, Janney Montgomery Scott, JVB Financial, Performance Trust, Raymond James, South Street Securities, Stifel, Nicolaus & Co, and StoneX.

Brent Giese, Executive Director of Fixed Income at Daiwa Capital Markets America, said: "Working with Agile has been very productive and beneficial to Daiwa's growing mortgage banking sales franchise. With access to many qualified mortgage originators, the platform provides an efficient means to reach significant volumes. The technology is advanced and allows for effective performance feedback while their straight though processing capability eliminates costly trade errors. Simply put, I have been very impressed and am thankful to have this valued partnership."

About Agile

The industry's first MBS fintech, Agile brings together lenders and dealers of all sizes onto a single platform. Agile facilitates the exchange of TBA MBS by securing and automating communication between mortgage lenders and broker-dealers. Agile digitizes the historically phone-based process to an electronic platform which may improve profitability and efficiency, while reducing administrative errors. Through its competitive TBA RFQ digital platform, mortgage lenders gain access to national and regional broker-dealers previously inaccessible on digital platforms, while broker-dealers gain access to an ever-growing network of lenders. Based in Philadelphia, Agile Trading Technologies supports a national network of clients with a team of capital markets professionals who have deep trading experience at financial organizations of every size.

For more information, visit https://trade-agile.com/ or call (619) 332-6205.

Media Contact:
Vested
Agile@fullyvested.com

NOTES:

[1] MCT Study of Digital RFQ Implementation, see Works Cited for details.

[2] Agile RFQ Platform Usage Data 2021 YTD Summary Report.

WORKS CITED

Testimonials may not be representative of the experience of other clients, and past results are not a guarantee of future performance or success.

Benefits and metrics listed in this document were sourced from the MCT Study of Digital RFQ Implementation, July 2021 found at https://mct-trading.com/study-of-digital-rfq-implementation/. Mortgage Capital Trading (MCT) is a client of Agile Trading Technologies and active user of the Agile RFQ platform.

This study measured the change in phone use, productivity, and TBA execution associated with the implementation of Agile Trading Technology's RFQ platform (Agile RFQ), as well as the experiences of platform users. The study encompassed over 250 mortgage lender clients of MCT who either used Agile RFQ to support their own TBA trading, or Agile RFQ was used by MCT traders to support TBA trading on their behalf. The study measured the month of January 2021 (after implementation) against the month of January 2020 (before implementation). Data was collected through MCT reports on TBA trading activity and surveys of platform users. Possible limitations of the study include the relatively narrow time period of measurement and the combination of qualitative and quantitative data used for measurement.

MULTIMEDIA:

*LOGO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/21-0909s2p-agile-logo-300dpi.jpg

Agile, a new fintech bringing mortgage lenders and broker dealers on to a single electronic platform, has formally announced the launch of its flagship RFQ (request for quote) platform. All MBS market participants can now participate on an electronic platform that expedites the exchange of To-Be-Announced Mortgage-Backed Securities (TBAs).

Related link: https://trade-agile.com/