DBRS Morningstar Assigns Provisional Ratings to BRAVO Residential Funding Trust 2021-NQM1

DBRS, Inc. (DBRS Morningstar) assigned provisional ratings to the following Mortgage-Backed Notes, Series 2021-NQM1 (the Notes) to be issued by BRAVO Residential Funding Trust 2021-NQM1 (BRAVO 2021-NQM1):

-- $231.8 million Class A-1 at AAA (sf)
-- $20.1 million Class A-2 at AA (sf)
-- $31.4 million Class A-3 at A (sf)
-- $16.6 million Class M-1 at BBB (sf)
-- $7.2 million Class B-1 at BB (sf)
-- $6.1 million Class B-2 at B (sf)

Other than the specified classes above, DBRS Morningstar does not rate any other classes in this transaction.

The AAA (sf) rating on the Class A-1 Certificates reflects 27.25% of credit enhancement provided by subordinate certificates. The AA (sf), A (sf), BBB (sf), BB (sf), and B (sf) ratings reflect 20.95%, 11.10%, 5.90%, 3.65%, and 1.75% of credit enhancement, respectively.

This transaction is a securitization of a portfolio of fixed- and adjustable-rate prime and nonprime first-lien residential mortgages funded by the issuance of the Notes. The Notes are backed by 1,050 loans with a total principal balance of $318,667,480 as of the Cut-Off Date (April 30, 2021).

The mortgage loans were originated by Citadel Servicing Corporation doing business as Acra Lending (CSC; 100.0%). CSC will also service all of the loans. The initial aggregate servicing fee for the BRAVO 2021-NQM1 portfolio will be 0.50% per year. DBRS Morningstar performed an operational risk review on CSC and deems it an acceptable originator of mortgage loans. DBRS Morningstar understands that as of March 31, 2021, 100% of residential mortgage loans in the CSC servicing portfolio, including all loans in BRAVO 2021-NQM1, are subserviced by ServiceMac, LLC (ServiceMac). DBRS Morningstar performed an operational risk review on ServiceMac and deems it an acceptable servicer of mortgage loans.

Nationstar Mortgage LLC will act as a Master Servicer. Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB will act as the Indenture Trustee and Owner Trustee. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (rated AA with a Negative trend by DBRS Morningstar) will act as the Custodian. Citibank, N.A. (rated AA (low) with a Stable trend by DBRS Morningstar), an affiliate of Citigroup Inc., will serve as the Paying Agent and Note Registrar.

The proposed pool is about 44 months seasoned on a weighted-average basis, although seasoning may span from 28 to 79 months. Except for 29 loans (3.6% of the pool) that were 30 to 59 days delinquent as of the Cut-Off Date, the loans have been performing since origination. Of the 29 loans, 19 have cured the delinquency and become current as of May 24, 2021.

In accordance with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Qualified Mortgage (QM) rules, 72.3% of the loans by balance are designated as non-QM. Ability-to-Repay (ATR) exempt loans consist of loans made to investors for business purposes (27.7%).

There will be no advancing of delinquent principal or interest on any mortgage loan by the servicer or any other party to the transaction; however, the servicer is obligated to make advances in respect of taxes and insurance, the cost of preservation, restoration and protection of mortgaged properties, and any enforcement or judicial proceedings, including foreclosures and reasonable costs and expenses incurred in the course of servicing and disposing of properties.

The Sponsor or a majority-owned affiliate of the Sponsor will acquire and intends to retain an eligible horizontal residual interest in the Issuer in the amount of not less than 5.0% of the aggregate fair value of the Notes (other than the Class SA, Class FB, and Class R Notes) to satisfy the credit risk-retention requirements under Section 15G of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

The holder of the Trust Certificates may, at its option, on or after the earlier of (1) the payment date in May 2024 or (2) the date on which the total loans' and real estate owned (REO) properties' balance falls to or below 30% of the loan balance as of the Cut-Off Date (Optional Termination Date), purchase all of the loans and REO properties at the optional termination price described in the transaction documents.

The Depositor, at its option, may purchase any mortgage loan that is 90 days or more delinquent under the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) method (or in the case of any loan that has been subject to a Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic-related forbearance plan, on any date from and after the date on which such loan becomes 90 days MBA delinquent following the end of the forbearance period) at the repurchase price (Optional Purchase) described in the transaction documents. The total balance of such loans purchased by the Depositor will not exceed 10% of the Cut-Off Date balance.

The transaction's cash flow structure is similar to that of other non-QM securitizations. The transaction employs a sequential-pay cash flow structure with a pro rata principal distribution among the senior tranches subject to certain performance triggers related to cumulative losses or delinquencies exceeding a specified threshold (Credit Event). Principal proceeds can be used to cover interest shortfalls on the Class A-1 and Class A-2 Notes (IIPP) before being applied sequentially to amortize the balances of the senior and subordinated notes. For the Class A-3 Notes (only after a Credit Event) and for the mezzanine and subordinate classes of notes (both before and after a Credit Event), principal proceeds will be available to cover interest shortfalls only after the more senior notes have been paid off in full. Also, the excess spread can be used to cover realized losses first before being allocated to unpaid Cap Carryover Amounts due to Class A-1 down to Class B-2.

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 residential mortgage-backed securities (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 forebear 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, low loan-to-value ratios, 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 moderate scenario (see “Global Macroeconomic Scenarios: March 2021 Update,” published on March 17, 2021), DBRS Morningstar may assume higher loss expectations for pools with loans on forbearance plans.

For more information regarding rating methodologies and the coronavirus, please see the following DBRS Morningstar press releases and commentary: “DBRS Morningstar Provides Update on Rating Methodologies in Light of Measures to Contain Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19),” dated March 12, 2020; “DBRS Morningstar Global Structured Finance Rating Methodologies and Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19),” dated March 20, 2020; and “Global Macroeconomic Scenarios: March 2021 Update,” dated March 17, 2021.

The ratings reflect transactional strengths that include the following:

-- Robust loan attributes and pool composition,
-- Compliance with the ATR rules,
-- Current loan status, and
-- Improved underwriting standards.

The transaction also includes the following challenges:

-- Borrowers on deferral plans,
-- No servicer advances of delinquent principal and interest,
-- The representations and warranties standard,
-- Certain Nonprime, Non-QM, Foreign National, and Investor Loans, and
-- Limited Third-Party Due-Diligence Review.

The full description of the strengths, challenges, and mitigating factors is detailed in the related presale report.

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:
All figures are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.

The principal methodology is 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.

For more information regarding rating methodologies and Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), please see the following DBRS Morningstar press release: https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/357883.

For more information regarding structured finance rating methodologies and Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), please see the following DBRS Morningstar press release: https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/358308.

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.

Please see the related appendix for additional information regarding the sensitivity of assumptions used in the rating process.

The full report providing additional analytical detail is available by clicking on the link under Related Documents below or by contacting us at info@dbrsmorningstar.com.

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

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