Black Knight: Mortgage Delinquencies Hit Record Low in March, Driven by Both Seasonal and Broader Economic Improvements; Prepays Up Despite Rate Increases

Rhea-AI Summary

In March 2022, the national loan delinquency rate dropped to 2.84%, marking a significant decrease of 15.5% from the previous month and setting a record low. Factors contributing to this decline include strong employment figures, student loan deferrals, and refinancing at low interest rates. However, while serious delinquencies decreased by 12%, they still remain 70% above pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, foreclosure starts decreased by 3% month-over-month but saw a 386% yearly increase. Prepayment activity rose by 9% despite rising interest rates.

Positive

• National loan delinquency rate fell to 2.84%; a 15.5% month-over-month decrease.
• Strong employment and low interest rates contributed to improved delinquency rates.
• 30-day delinquencies recorded a 20% month-over-month decline.
• Serious delinquencies decreased by 12%, the best single-month performance in 20 years.
• Foreclosure starts decreased by 3% from the previous month.

Negative

• Serious delinquencies remain 70% above pre-pandemic levels.
• Active foreclosures increased year-over-year for the first time in nearly a decade.
• Monthly prepayment rate decreased by 63.54% year-over-year.

• The national delinquency rate dropped by more than half a percentage point in March, falling to 2.84% and shattering the previous record low of 3.22% in January 2020
• While March typically sees the strongest mortgage performance of any month – with delinquencies falling more than 10% on average over the past 20 years – this year's 15.5% reduction was exceptionally strong
• Robust employment, continued student loan deferrals, strong post-forbearance performance and millions of refinances into record-low interest rates have all helped put downward pressure on delinquency rates
• The strongest improvement was seen among borrowers who are a single payment past due, with 30-day delinquencies recording a 20% month-over-month decline
• Though serious delinquencies – those 90 or more days past due but not in foreclosure – fell 12% for the strongest single-month improvement in 20 years, they remain 70% above pre-pandemic levels
• Despite elevated serious delinquencies, foreclosure starts fell by 3% from the month prior and are holding well below pre-pandemic levels
• The number of active foreclosures edged slightly higher in March, marking the first year-over-year increase in almost 10 years, though inventories also remain well below pre-pandemic levels
• Prepayment activity bucked the recent trend of sharply rising interest rates driving falling prepay speeds, rising by 9% in March, likely driven at least in part by seasonal increases in home sales-related prepays

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Knight, Inc. (NYSE:BKI) reports the following "first look" at March 2022 month-end mortgage performance statistics derived from its loan-level database representing the majority of the national mortgage market.

Total U.S. loan delinquency rate (loans 30 or more days past due, but not in foreclosure): 2.84%
Month-over-month change: -15.46%
Year-over-year change: -43.46%

Total U.S. foreclosure pre-sale inventory rate: 0.32%
Month-over-month change: 3.70%
Year-over-year change: 3.94%

Total U.S. foreclosure starts: 24,300        
Month-over-month change: -2.80%
Year-over-year change: 386.00%

Monthly prepayment rate (SMM): 1.22%
Month-over-month change: 8.76%
Year-over-year change: -63.54%

Foreclosure sales as % of 90+: 0.42%
Month-over-month change: 39.01%
Year-over-year change: 172.90%

Number of properties that are 30 or more days past due, but not in foreclosure: 1,513,000
Month-over-month change: -270,000
Year-over-year change: -1,159,000

Number of properties that are 90 or more days past due, but not in foreclosure: 694,000
Month-over-month change: -93,000
Year-over-year change: -1,225,000

Number of properties in foreclosure pre-sale inventory: 169,000
Month-over-month change: 7,000
Year-over-year change: 7,000

Number of properties that are 30 or more days past due or in foreclosure: 1,682,000
Month-over-month change: -264,000
Year-over-year change: -1,152,000

Top 5 States by Non-Current* Percentage

Mississippi:	6.21%
Louisiana:	5.81%
Oklahoma:	4.58%
Alabama:	4.57%
West Virginia:	4.40%

 

Bottom 5 States by Non-Current* Percentage

Utah:	1.98%
California:	1.87%
Colorado:	1.80%
Idaho:	1.71%
Washington:	1.70%

 

Top 5 States by 90+ Days Delinquent Percentage

Mississippi:	2.70%
Louisiana:	2.69%
Alabama:	1.92%
Arkansas:	1.85%
Maryland:	1.85%

                                                                               

Top 5 States by 6-Month Improvement in Non-Current* Percentage

Hawaii:	-40.54%
Louisiana:	-34.93%
Nevada:	-32.64%
California:	-30.45%
New Jersey:	-30.12%

                                                                          

Top 5 States by 6-Month Deterioration in Non-Current* Percentage

Michigan:	-10.67%
North Dakota:	-12.69%
Iowa:	-14.77%
Maine:	-15.18%
New Hampshire:	-17.05%

                                                                                        

*Non-current totals combine foreclosures and delinquencies as a percent of active loans in that state.

Notes:

1. Totals are extrapolated based on Black Knight's loan-level database of mortgage assets.
2. All whole numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand, except foreclosure starts, which are rounded to the nearest hundred.

For a more detailed view of this month's "first look" data, please visit the Black Knight newsroom. The company will provide a more in-depth review of this data in its monthly Mortgage Monitor report, which includes an analysis of data supplemented by detailed charts and graphs that reflect trend and point-in-time observations. The Mortgage Monitor report will be available online by May 2, 2022. For more information about gaining access to Black Knight's loan-level database, please send an email to Mortgage.Monitor@bkfs.com.

About Black Knight

Black Knight, Inc. (NYSE:BKI) is an award-winning software, data and analytics company that drives innovation in the mortgage lending and servicing and real estate industries, as well as the capital and secondary markets. Businesses leverage our robust, integrated solutions across the entire homeownership life cycle to help retain existing customers, gain new customers, mitigate risk and operate more effectively.

Our clients rely on our proven, comprehensive, scalable products and our unwavering commitment to delivering superior client support to achieve their strategic goals and better serve their customers. For more information on Black Knight, please visit www.blackknightinc.com.

 

For more information:
Michelle Kersch							Mitch Cohen
904.854.5043							704.890.8158
michelle.kersch@bkfs.com							mitch.cohen@bkfs.com

 

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SOURCE Black Knight, Inc.

FAQ

What is the current loan delinquency rate for Black Knight (BKI)?

The current loan delinquency rate reported by Black Knight (BKI) is 2.84%.

How much did the loan delinquency rate drop in March 2022 for BKI?

In March 2022, the loan delinquency rate dropped by 15.5% compared to the previous month.

What are the trends in foreclosure starts reported by Black Knight (BKI)?

Foreclosure starts decreased by 3% month-over-month but increased by 386% year-over-year.

What factors contributed to the decline in delinquency rates for BKI?

Strong employment, student loan deferrals, and refinancing at low interest rates contributed to the decline.

What is the change in serious delinquencies reported by Black Knight (BKI)?

Serious delinquencies decreased by 12%, but they remain 70% above pre-pandemic levels.