Press Release

DBRS Morningstar Takes Rating Actions on 27 U.S. RMBS Transactions

RMBS
January 27, 2022

DBRS, Inc. (DBRS Morningstar) reviewed 337 classes from 27 U.S. ReREMIC and residential mortgage-backed security (RMBS) transactions. Of the 337 classes reviewed, DBRS Morningstar upgraded 12 ratings, confirmed 127 ratings, downgraded three ratings, and discontinued 195 ratings.

The rating upgrades reflect positive performance trends and increases in credit support sufficient to withstand stresses at their new rating levels. The rating confirmations reflect asset performance and credit-support levels that are consistent with the current ratings. The rating downgrades reflect the unlikely recovery of the bonds’ principal loss amount. The discontinued ratings reflect the transactions exercising their cleanup call option or the full repayment of principal to bondholders.

The pools backing the reviewed ReREMIC and RMBS transactions consist of subprime, ReREMIC, reperforming, non-Qualified Mortgage, prime, and single-family rental collateral.

The ratings assigned to the securities listed below differ from the ratings implied by the quantitative model. DBRS Morningstar considers these differences material deviations; however, in these cases, the ratings on the subject securities may reflect additional seasoning being warranted to substantiate a further upgrade or that the actual deal or tranche performance is not fully reflected in the projected cash flows/model output.

-- CIM Trust 2018-J1, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2018-J1, Class B-3
-- CIM Trust 2019-INV1, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2019-INV1, Class B-3
-- CIM Trust 2019-INV1, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2019-INV1, Class B-4
-- CIM Trust 2019-INV1, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2019-INV1, Class B-5
-- GS Mortgage-Backed Securities Trust 2021-PJ1, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2021-PJ1, Class B-5
-- GS Mortgage-Backed Securities Trust 2021-PJ2, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2021-PJ2, Class B-5
-- MFA 2021-INV1 Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2021-INV1, Class B-1
-- MFA 2021-INV1 Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2021-INV1, Class B-2
-- Verus Securitization Trust 2021-R1, Mortgage-Backed Notes, Series 2021-R1, Class A-3
-- Verus Securitization Trust 2021-R1, Mortgage-Backed Notes, Series 2021-R1, Class M-1
-- Verus Securitization Trust 2021-R1, Mortgage-Backed Notes, Series 2021-R1, Class B-1
-- Verus Securitization Trust 2021-R1, Mortgage-Backed Notes, Series 2021-R1, Class B-2
-- GS Mortgage-Backed Securities Trust 2021-RPL1, Mortgage-Backed Securities Trust 2021-RPL1, Class M-1
-- GS Mortgage-Backed Securities Trust 2021-RPL1, Mortgage-Backed Securities Trust 2021-RPL1, Class M-2
-- GS Mortgage-Backed Securities Trust 2021-RPL1, Mortgage-Backed Securities Trust 2021-RPL1, Class B-1
-- GS Mortgage-Backed Securities Trust 2021-RPL1, Mortgage-Backed Securities Trust 2021-RPL1, Class B-2
-- GS Mortgage-Backed Securities Trust 2021-RPL1, Mortgage-Backed Securities Trust 2021-RPL1, Class A-4
-- GS Mortgage-Backed Securities Trust 2021-RPL1, Mortgage-Backed Securities Trust 2021-RPL1, Class A-5
-- Mill City Mortgage Loan Trust 2021-NMR1, Mortgage-Backed Securities, Series 2021-NMR1, Class A3
-- Mill City Mortgage Loan Trust 2021-NMR1, Mortgage-Backed Securities, Series 2021-NMR1, Class A4
-- Mill City Mortgage Loan Trust 2021-NMR1, Mortgage-Backed Securities, Series 2021-NMR1, Class M2
-- Mill City Mortgage Loan Trust 2021-NMR1, Mortgage-Backed Securities, Series 2021-NMR1, Class M3A
-- Mill City Mortgage Loan Trust 2021-NMR1, Mortgage-Backed Securities, Series 2021-NMR1, Class M3B
-- Mill City Mortgage Loan Trust 2021-NMR1, Mortgage-Backed Securities, Series 2021-NMR1, Class M3
-- Mill City Mortgage Loan Trust 2021-NMR1, Mortgage-Backed Securities, Series 2021-NMR1, Class B1A
-- Mill City Mortgage Loan Trust 2021-NMR1, Mortgage-Backed Securities, Series 2021-NMR1, Class B1B
-- Mill City Mortgage Loan Trust 2021-NMR1, Mortgage-Backed Securities, Series 2021-NMR1, Class B1
-- Mill City Mortgage Loan Trust 2021-NMR1, Mortgage-Backed Securities, Series 2021-NMR1, Class B2A
-- Mill City Mortgage Loan Trust 2021-NMR1, Mortgage-Backed Securities, Series 2021-NMR1, Class B2B
-- Mill City Mortgage Loan Trust 2021-NMR1, Mortgage-Backed Securities, Series 2021-NMR1, Class B2

CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) IMPACT
The coronavirus pandemic and the resulting isolation measures have caused an immediate economic contraction, leading to sharp increases in unemployment rates and income reductions for many consumers. DBRS Morningstar saw increases in delinquencies for many RMBS asset classes shortly after the onset of coronavirus.

Such mortgage delinquencies were mostly in the form of forbearance, which are generally short-term payment reliefs that may perform very differently from traditional delinquencies. At the onset of coronavirus, because the option to forbear mortgage payments was so widely available, it drove forbearance to a very high level. When the dust settled, coronavirus-induced forbearance in 2020 performed better than expected, thanks to government aid and good underwriting in the mortgage market in general. Across nearly all RMBS asset classes, delinquencies have been gradually trending down in recent months as the forbearance period comes to an end for many borrowers.

In connection with the economic stress assumed under its baseline scenario (“Baseline Macroeconomic Scenarios For Rated Sovereigns December 2021 Update,” published on December 9, 2021), DBRS Morningstar may assume higher loss expectations for pools with loans on forbearance plans.

The rating actions are the result of DBRS Morningstar’s application of its “U.S. RMBS Surveillance Methodology,” published on February 21, 2020.

ESG CONSIDERATIONS
A description of how DBRS Morningstar considers ESG factors within the DBRS Morningstar analytical framework can be found in the DBRS Morningstar Criteria: Approach to Environmental, Social, and Governance Risk Factors in Credit Ratings at https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/373262.

Notes:
The principal methodologies are U.S. RMBS Surveillance Methodology (February 21, 2020) and RMBS Insight 1.3: U.S. Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities Model and Rating Methodology (April 1, 2020), which can be found on dbrsmorningstar.com under Methodologies & Criteria.

The DBRS Morningstar Sovereign group releases baseline macroeconomic scenarios for rated sovereigns. DBRS Morningstar analysis considered impacts consistent with the baseline scenarios as set forth in the following report: https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/384482/baseline-macroeconomic-scenarios-application-to-credit-ratings.

The rated entity or its related entities did participate in the rating process for this rating action. DBRS Morningstar had access to the accounts and other relevant internal documents of the rated entity or its related entities in connection with this rating action.

For more information on these credits or on this industry, visit www.dbrsmorningstar.com or contact us at info@dbrsmorningstar.com.

DBRS, Inc.
140 Broadway, 43rd Floor
New York, NY 10005 USA
Tel. +1 212 806-3277

ALL MORNINGSTAR DBRS RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO DISCLAIMERS AND CERTAIN LIMITATIONS. PLEASE READ THESE DISCLAIMERS AND LIMITATIONS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING MORNINGSTAR DBRS RATINGS, INCLUDING DEFINITIONS, POLICIES, RATING SCALES AND METHODOLOGIES.