From Mortgage servicing is thriving due to homeowners deciding not to sell, says Mr. Cooper Group CEO · · CNBC Television
“The servicing business is crushing it right now. Existing homeowners are staying in their home and that is great for the servicing business, so it is doing incredibly well.”
On , Kurt Johnson, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer at MR COOPER GROUP INC, spoke about mortgage servicing during Mortgage servicing is thriving due to homeowners deciding not to sell, says Mr. Cooper Group CEO on CNBC Television.
In a September 2023 interview, Mr. Cooper Group CEO Jay Bray stated that the company's mortgage servicing business is "crushing it right now" and "doing incredibly well," attributing this to existing homeowners choosing not to sell their homes. Bray noted that the origination side of the business "has slowed down dramatically" due to interest rates, though the company is investing in its origination platform in preparation for the next cycle. He said Mr. Cooper has acquired over $100 billion in servicing in 2023, benefiting from servicing being sold in the marketplace. Bray expressed the personal view that mortgage rates will not decline until the second quarter of 2024 and will "stay higher for longer." He stated that home prices are unlikely to come down significantly due to a supply imbalance, as many homeowners with low interest rates have no incentive to sell. Regarding potential market distress, Bray said the company is not seeing anything concerning currently, as homeowners have substantial equity, but he predicted some stress could emerge within a year to 18 months. He also discussed the company's home auction business, suggesting a future marketplace for retail home sales through competitive bidding.