We empirically examine the effect of appraisal quality on subsequent mortgage loan performance using data from the high volatility housing market of Alaska in the 1980s. We develop measures of appraisal quality by computing the residual between a hedonic estimate of house value using available...

We assess nonparametric kernel density regression as a technique for estimating mortgage loan prepayments - one of the key components in pricing highly volatile mortgage-backed securities and their derivatives. The highly non-linear and so-called quot;irrationalquot; behavior of the prepayment...

We assess nonparametric kernel density regression as a technique for estimating mortgage loan prepayments - one of the key components in pricing highly volatile mortgage-backed securities and their derivatives. The highly non-linear and so-called quot;irrationalquot; behavior of the prepayment...

This paper empirically examines several open questions regarding prepayment risk in adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), using loan-level data. Results support the teaser rate and adjustment date effects implied by the theoretical option pricing model of Kau, Keenan, Epperson and Muller (1993). In...

We focus on an agency problem encountered by mortgage lenders and investors in mortgage-backed securities when the underlying collateral is originated by third parties. Third parties, such as mortgage brokers, have economic incentives to encourage borrowers to refinance and, accordingly, their...

This paper uses hedonic regression to examine prices in the Christchurch housing market before, and after, the recent severe earthquakes. Prices were relatively stable prior to the earthquakes but increased rapidly thereafter, consistent with the contraction of supply and increased demand from...

We analyze Fannie Mae's experience with the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage product. From 1993-2010, Fannie Mae acquired 492,465 of these loans, representing 75% of the total market. During this period, prior to recent program changes, credit screening was not an element in the underwriting...

Securitization has been widely assigned blame for contributing to the recent mortgage market meltdown and ensuing financial crisis. In this paper, we employ the OCC Home Equity database to develop estimates of default and prepayment probabilities for home equity lines of credit originated during...

We develop a unique paired loan dataset containing information on multiple conventional conforming mortgage loans of households to examine home equity extraction decisions over the period 2000-2006. The main question addressed is how much households borrow when refinancing their current mortgage...

As recent hurricane seasons have made clear, flooding can cause a great deal of property damage and human suffering. Indeed, flooding causes the most damage of any natural disaster in the United States and worldwide and affects the greatest number of people. Yet today most households are...