Milliman launches new index to measure the risk of default for government-backed mortgages
Milliman Mortgage Default Index shows U.S. mortgage default risk rose in Q1 2019 as a result of increased economic risk and borrower risk
SEATTLE, Aug. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Milliman, Inc., a premier global consulting and actuarial firm, today is launching the first-ever Milliman Mortgage Default Index (MMDI), a quarterly publication that shows the latest monthly estimate of the lifetime default risk of U.S.-backed mortgages. The goal of the MMDI is to provide a benchmark to understand trends in U.S. mortgage risk.
After the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008, the financial services industry instituted various risk mitigation efforts to help guard against a similar rise in mortgage credit risk and its associated effects on the global economy. As part of this effort, Milliman is launching the MMDI, a lifetime default rate estimate calculated at the loan level for a portfolio of single-family mortgages delivered to Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and Ginnie Mae. The MMDI rate is an index benchmarking the probability that mortgages in a given portfolio will become 180 days delinquent or worse over the lifetime of the loan, with historical data dating back to 2014.
As of March 31, 2019, the MMDI for government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) acquisitions (purchased and refinanced loans backed by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae) increased to an estimated average default rate of 2.19%, up from 1.83% the year prior. For Ginnie Mae loans, the Q1 2019 MMDI rate stands at 8.77%, up from 7.09% the year prior.
For comparison, the actual to-date default rate of GSE mortgages originated in 2007 (shortly before the financial crisis) was 13.8%, according to Freddie Mac data. The actual to-date default rate for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans (which are the majority of Ginnie Mae loans) originated in 2007 was approximately 26.5%, according to FHA's Single Family Loan Performance Trends report as of February 2019. While this data is not directly comparable, these numbers provide an equivalent comparison of the magnitude of defaults during the crisis relative to the current expected mortgage default risk for new originations in 2019.
"Default risk is driven by various factors including the risk of a borrower taking on too much debt, underwriting risk such as certain mortgage features, and economic risk such as a recession, which can put pressure on home prices," says Jonathan Glowacki, principal and consulting actuary at Milliman and author of the MMDI. "In the first quarter of 2019, we've seen default risk creep up for both GSE and Ginnie loans as a result of an increase in borrower debt-to-income ratios, credit score drift, and the anticipated increased risk of an economic downturn."
For more information on the MMDI and to view detailed, granular data, go to http://www.milliman.com/mmdi/.
About Milliman
Milliman is among the world's largest providers of actuarial and related products and services. The firm has consulting practices in healthcare, property & casualty insurance, life insurance and financial services, and employee benefits. Founded in 1947, Milliman is an independent firm with offices in major cities around the globe. For further information, visit milliman.com.
SOURCE Milliman, Inc.
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