Understanding the Debt Ceiling and Its Significance for the Mortgage Market
Why should a conventional mortgage professional like myself be concerned about the United States government hitting the debt ceiling once again? How does it impact the mortgage market?
The debt ceiling refers to the maximum amount of money that the U.S. government can borrow to meet its financial obligations. When this limit is reached, the government is unable to borrow any more funds until the ceiling is raised.
The Role of Treasury Securities in U.S. Government Debt
First, let's delve into the types of debt involved. The largest component of the U.S. government debt is Treasury securities, which include treasury bills, notes, and bonds.
These securities are issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to finance government spending and represent borrowed funds from investors. The current total federal government debt stands at $31.47 trillion. The United States owes money to various entities, including foreign governments, individuals, corporations, U.S. citizens, and American institutions such as pension funds and mutual funds that have invested in U.S. Treasury bonds and other forms of debt.
Historical Impacts: Debt Ceiling Battles and the Mortgage-Backed Securities Market
The impact of the debt ceiling on the mortgage-backed securities (MBS) market has been observed in several instances throughout history. In 2011, a notable battle ensued over raising the debt ceiling, resulting in a credit rating downgrade from AAA to AA+ by Standard and Poor's. This news severely affected the MBS market, as investors lost confidence in these securities. Consequently, the yields on MBS increased, negatively affecting their prices. This event sparked concerns about the safety of MBS and overall confidence in the U.S. economy.
Investor Confidence and Its Effects on Mortgage-Backed Securities
The erosion of investor confidence can lead to reduced demand for MBS and impact overall economic performance and market volatility. While the debt ceiling has been raised multiple times, the temporary increases and subsequent reductions have had severe consequences.
Even as recently as this past Memorial Day weekend, a new proposed agreement on the debt ceiling between the U.S. House of Representatives speaker and the current administration caused a reversal of direction in the declining mortgage-backed security market, pushing interest rates up to levels not seen in the past 15 years.
Mortgage-backed securities are popular investment vehicles for financial institutions and investors worldwide. These securities are created when banks or other financial institutions pool together a number of home loans to create a new investment. Investors can purchase a share of this investment and receive a stream of payments from the interest and principal payments made on the underlying mortgages. (To gain further historical context on MBS, check out the movie The Big Short.)
Global Perspectives: Foreign Investors in the U.S. Mortgage-Backed Securities Market
The United States is the largest market for MBS, with the Federal Reserve being a major investor for many years. Due to the size of the U.S. mortgage market, there are also numerous private investors. Japan is another significant investor in mortgage-backed securities. Following the collapse of the housing market in the early 1990s, the Japanese government began investing in U.S. mortgage-backed securities to diversify its investment portfolio.
Today, Japanese investors remain significant players in the U.S. MBS market, with insurance companies, banks, and pension funds holding substantial amounts of MBS. Other countries that invest in MBS include China, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and European countries, as well as emerging markets such as Brazil, Mexico, and Russia.
Conclusion
While I cannot predict future market outcomes, theoretically, if the U.S. government fails to control its excessive spending or does not raise the debt ceiling and defaults on its debt payments, it could lead to a significant increase in interest rates and a decrease in the value of mortgage-backed securities.
Investors would demand a higher risk premium, resulting in higher interest rates for these securities. This increased cost of funds would have a domino effect on other markets, with the housing market being particularly vulnerable to negative repercussions.
About the Author:
Aaron Chapman is a veteran in the finance industry with expertise in complex transactions since 1997. He is ranked in the top 1% of over 300,000 licensed loan originators and closes over 100 transactions per month. Learn more at aaronbchapman.com.
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this blog post are provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as an offer to buy or sell any securities or to make or consider any investment or course of action.
SecurityNational Mortgage Company, and its loan officers, unless individually licensed and specifically denoted in their credentials, are not qualified to, and are prohibited from representing themselves as accountants, attorneys, certified financial planners, estate planners, investment specialists, or tax experts, and will not advise you in those matters. Always seek the advice of a licensed professional. This article is for informational purposes only, contains the opinion of the author, not necessarily the opinion of SecurityNational Mortgage Company, and should not be construed as lending advice. Loans are subject to borrower qualifications, including income, property evaluation, sufficient equity in the home to meet LTV requirements and final credit approval. Approvals are subject to underwriting guidelines, interest rates, and program guidelines, and are subject to change without notice based on applicant’s eligibility and market conditions. Refinancing an existing loan may result in total finance charges being higher over life of loan. Reduction in payments may reflect longer loan term. Terms of the loan may be subject to payment of points and fees by the applicant. Aaron Chapman, NMLS#267844, SecurityNational Mortgage Company Inc., Co. NMLS# 3116, AZ Banker# 0904315, Equal Housing Lender. Any amounts, figures, payments, or loan terms stated are based on continually changing markets, rates, loan programs, and borrower-specific qualifications, and subject to change without notice. See loan officers featured for a personal consultation and accurate pricing.
