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Journal of Financial Economics Vol. 105 No. 3 2012

Adverse selection in mortgage securitization

Sumit Agarwal1; Yan Chang2; Abdullah Yavaş

1 National University of Singapore · 2 Freddie Mac (United States)

Abstract

Using several large data sets of mortgage loans originated between 2004 and 2007, we find that in the prime mortgage market, banks generally sold low-default-risk loans into the secondary market while retaining higher-default-risk loans in their portfolios. In contrast, these lenders retained loans with lower prepayment risk relative to loans they sold. Securitization strategy of lenders changed dramatically in 2007 as the crisis set in with most unwilling to retain higher-default-risk loans in return for lower prepayment risk. Contrary to the prime market, the subprime market does not exhibit any clear pattern of adverse selection.

DOI
10.1016/j.jfineco.2012.05.004
Volume
105
Issue
3
Pages
640-660
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

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