DBRS Morningstar Assigns Provisional Ratings to RMF Buyout Issuance Trust 2022-HB2

DBRS, Inc. (DBRS Morningstar) assigned provisional ratings to the following Asset-Backed Notes, Series 2022-HB2 (the Notes) to be issued by RMF Buyout Issuance Trust 2022-HB2:

-- $211.1 million Class A at AAA (sf)
-- $18.1 million Class M1 at AA (low) (sf)
-- $14.0 million Class M2 at A (low) (sf)
-- $13.6 million Class M3 at BBB (low) (sf)
-- $13.9 million Class M4 at BB (low) (sf)
-- $9.3 million Class M5 at B (sf)

The AAA (sf) rating reflects 78.6% of the cumulative advance rate. The AA (low) (sf), A (low) (sf), BBB (low) (sf), BB (low) (sf), and B (sf) ratings reflect 85.4%, 90.6%, 95.7%, 100.8%, and 104.3% of the cumulative advance rates, respectively.

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

Lenders typically offer reverse mortgage loans to people who are at least 62 years old. Through reverse mortgage loans, borrowers have access to home equity through a lump sum amount or a stream of payments without periodically repaying principal or interest, allowing the loan balance to accumulate over a period of time until a maturity event occurs. Loan repayment is required (1) if the borrower dies, (2) if the borrower sells the related residence, (3) if the borrower no longer occupies the related residence for a period (usually a year), (4) if it is no longer the borrower’s primary residence, (5) if a tax or insurance default occurs, or (6) if the borrower fails to properly maintain the related residence. In addition, borrowers must be current on any homeowner’s association dues if applicable. Reverse mortgages are typically nonrecourse; borrowers don’t have to provide additional assets in cases where the outstanding loan amount exceeds the property’s value (the crossover point). As a result, liquidation proceeds will fall below the loan amount in cases where the outstanding balance reaches the crossover point, contributing to higher loss severities for these loans.

As of the Cut-Off Date (August 31, 2022), the collateral had approximately $268.5 million in unpaid principal balance from 1,147 performing and nonperforming home equity conversion mortgage reverse mortgage assets secured by first liens typically on single-family residential properties, condominiums, multifamily (two- to four-family) properties, manufactured homes, and planned unit developments. The assets were originated between April 2006 and August 2020. Of the total loans, 378 have a fixed interest rate (37.3% of the balance), with a 5.00% weighted-average coupon (WAC). The remaining 769 loans have floating-rate interest (62.7% of the balance) with a 4.32% WAC, bringing the entire collateral pool to a 4.57% WAC.

The transaction uses a sequential structure. No subordinate note shall receive any principal payments until the senior note has been reduced to zero. This structure provides credit enhancement in the form of subordinate classes and reduces the effect of realized losses. These features increase the likelihood that holders of the most senior classes of notes will receive regular distributions of interest and/or principal. All note classes except M6 pay current interest and have available fund caps.

The Class M notes have principal lockout terms as they are not entitled to principal payments until the senior notes have been paid off.

The Notes are subject to a mandatory call date in October 2025. Failure of the deal to be called by this date will be considered an event of default. If there is an event of default, the subordinate bonds will cease to receive interest, and the interest will be directed to the senior notes. Note that at the time of issuance, DBRS Morningstar does not expect these rules to affect the natural cash flow waterfall.

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND GOVERNANCE CONSIDERATIONS
There were no environmental, social, or governance factors that had a significant or relevant effect on the credit analysis.

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/396929 (May 17, 2022).

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

The principal methodology is U.S. Reverse Mortgage Securitization Ratings Methodology (May 8, 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.

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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