Mortgage Forbearance rate finally hits pre-pandemic levels The total number of loans in forbearance declined by 4 bps to 2.96%, according to the MBA

Didier Malagies • September 28, 2021


Servicers’ forbearance portfolio volume dropped last week to a level below 3.00% for the first time in 18 months. The total number of loans in forbearance decreased by four basis points to 2.96% as of Sept. 19, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).     


The most notable decline was in the portfolio loans and private-label securities (PLS) category, dipping by four basis points to 6.91%, after a drop of 32 bps in the prior week.


For depository servicers, the percentage also declined four basis points, but to 3.06%. The share of independent mortgage bank loans in forbearance fell one basis point to 3.24%. 


Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans dropped by three basis points to 1.44%. Meanwhile, Ginnie Mae loans in forbearance increased 3 bps, at 3.42% of servicers‘ portfolio volume. 


Per the MBA’s estimate, 1.5 million homeowners are still in active forbearance plans. The survey included data on 36.8 million loans serviced as of Sept. 19, 74% of the first-mortgage servicing market.


Natural disasters and forbearance: What borrowers and mortgage servicers need to know

The United States is grappling with a sharp rise in natural disasters, including wildfires, an active hurricane season, floods, tornadoes and mudslides. The mortgage industry needs to be proactive in examining programs to help borrowers recover.


Presented by: Mr. Cooper

Mike Fratantoni, senior vice president and chief economist at the MBA, said in a statement that the share of loans in forbearance dropped below 3% for the first time since March 2020, but Ginnie Mae loans rose slightly.


“New forbearance requests and re-entries continue to run at a higher rate for Ginnie Mae loans as well as for portfolio and PLS loans, which include many delinquent FHA, VA, and USDA loans that have been bought out of Ginnie Mae pools.”


The survey shows that 12.0% of total loans were in the initial stage last week, and 79.3% were in a forbearance extension. The remaining 8.7% were re-entries.


Servicer call volume increased to 7.9%, up from 6.3% the week prior. The average call length slightly decreased, from 8.3 minutes to 8.2 minutes.


Total requests remained at 0.05% of servicing portfolio volume, while exits represented 0.10% of the total – in the previous week, the share was 0,16%, the report said.



During the last 15 months, MBA’s data revealed that 28.7% of exits resulted in a loan deferral or partial claim. Also, 21.8% represented borrowers who continued to pay during the forbearance period.

However, 16.3% were borrowers who did not make their monthly payments and did not have a loss mitigation plan.



Start Your Loan with DDA today
Your local Mortgage Broker

Mortgage Broker Largo
See our Reviews

Looking for more details? Listen to our extended podcast! 

Check out our other helpful videos to learn more about credit and residential mortgages.

By Didier Malagies June 16, 2025
Buying a condo is different from purchasing a single-family home, and it's important to understand the unique consid Here’s a simple and clear breakdown of how AI is making second mortgages easier for homeowners and lenders alike: 🔍 What Is a Second Mortgage? A second mortgage lets homeowners borrow against their home's equity, without replacing their existing mortgage. Common types: Home Equity Loan (lump sum) HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit) 🤖 How AI Makes Second Mortgages Easier 1. Faster Approval Times AI streamlines credit, income, and property evaluations. Cuts days or weeks off traditional underwriting. 2. Smarter Risk Assessment Machine learning analyzes borrower profiles more accurately than standard models. Lenders can offer better rates to lower-risk borrowers. 3. Better Property Valuations AI-powered AVMs (automated valuation models) assess home value using up-to-date market data, photos, and even satellite imagery. 4. Chatbots & Virtual Assistants Available 24/7 to answer questions, guide users through the process, and gather documents. Reduces human error and friction for borrowers. 5. Fraud Detection AI systems detect unusual patterns in applications to flag potential fraud before approval. 6. Personalized Loan Offers Based on data from credit, home value, and income, AI can recommend the right loan product—tailored to the borrower’s needs. 🏡 Why It Matters for You Quicker access to cash Less paperwork More competitive offers Lower costs thanks to automation If you want, I can help you compare second mortgage options, estimate your equity, or show AI-powered lenders making waves in 2025. Just let me know! tune in and learn at https://www.ddamortgage.com/blog didier malagies nmls#212566 dda mortgage nmls#324329
By Didier Malagies June 12, 2025
The federal bill that seeks to eliminate abusive trigger leads took a major step forward this week, advancing in the U.S. House of Representatives and reigniting hopes across the mortgage industry that it could soon become law. Yes, that's an important development for the mortgage and consumer protection landscape. The federal bill to eliminate abusive trigger leads recently advanced in the U.S. House of Representatives , which is a significant step toward potentially becoming law. Here’s what this means: 🔍 What Are Trigger Leads? When a consumer applies for a mortgage and a credit inquiry is made, credit bureaus can sell that information to other lenders. These are known as trigger leads . While legal, they often result in a flood of unsolicited calls or offers from competing lenders — many of which may be misleading or aggressive. 🏛️ About the Bill The legislation seeks to ban or strictly limit the use of trigger leads unless the consumer explicitly consents. It aims to: Protect consumers from confusing or predatory offers . Curb misleading solicitations that impersonate the original lender. Improve privacy and control over a borrower’s financial data. 🏠 Industry Reaction The mortgage industry and consumer advocacy groups have largely welcomed the move, arguing that trigger leads: Cause consumer confusion. Undermine trust in legitimate lenders. Lead to identity theft or fraud in some cases. 📅 What’s Next? The bill now moves to the Senate , where it will need to pass before reaching the President’s desk. Industry stakeholders are pushing for bipartisan support, noting the broad agreement on consumer protection. 
By Didier Malagies June 9, 2025
We offer 2nd mortgages on primary, secondary, and investment properties we do purchases or refinances on Conventional, FHA, VA, and Non- Qm mortgages, We do Reverse Mortgages, Construction Permanent loans, FHA203k, and Conventional Renovation loans. Let me know how we can help you or someone you know tune in and learn at https://www.ddamortgage.com/blog Didier Malagies nmls#212566 dda mortgage nmls#324329
Show More