As the name suggests, a mortgage bond is a type of bond that is dependent on a mortgage or a group of mortgages. These mortgages are usually backed by real estate holdings. The income generated in mortgage bonds is through the payments that house owners make on their mortgages.
In this article, we will learn everything you need to know about mortgage bonds including their types, the risks associated with them, the pros and cons of investing in them and the taxes associated.
What is Mortgage Bond in Finance
As previously stated, mortgage bonds are debt instruments that are dependent on mortgages backed by the real estate sector. Mortgage bonds are a comparatively secure way of investing as the investment is protected by a valuable security. If any defaulting occurs, bondholders also have the option of selling off the underlying property of the bond to offset the default. The one downside, however, of the bonds being so secure is that their rate of return is quite low compared to traditional bonds.
Potential homeowners looking to buy a home might use a mortgage to fund the home-buying process. Post-this, when they pay their mortgages, the interest payments on them are used to fund the mortgage bond yields. The more homeowners are punctual regarding their mortgage payments, the higher the chances of the mortgage bonds being able to make their payments.
Types of Mortgage Bonds
Though there are many types of mortgage bonds, there are some in particular that are more popular. Here is a list of some of them:
Agency Mortgage Bonds:
Agency mortgage bonds are usually issued by Government-Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs)
These types of mortgage bonds provide investors with more security since they are backed by the government in one way or another.
Non-Agency Mortgage Bonds:
Non-agency mortgage bonds are the opposite of agency mortgage bonds and are not backed by the government.
These bonds are backed by private financial institutions.
Due to the lack of governmental backing, the chances of higher credit risks exist in non-agency mortgage bonds.
Pass-Through Mortgage Bonds:
Pass-through mortgage bonds let investors earn through the cash that comes from the underlying mortgages.
This earning is on a pro-rata basis which means that the investors get equal portions of the interest and principal payments.
Collateralised Mortgage Obligations (CMOS):
CMOS splits cash flows into various tranches.
These tranches are divided according to their different risk and return levels.
As a result, investors can customize their investment strategy by keeping their risk appetite in mind.
Risks Associated with Mortgage Bonds
Like every other investment option, certain risks are associated with mortgage bonds. In mortgage bonds, there are two main risks. Here’s a look at both of them:
Liquidity risk:
Since, like most bonds, mortgage bonds have a lock-in period, liquidity risk comes with the territory
This can be particularly hard when the market is under stress, leading to challenges in buying or selling these bonds.
Extension risk:
When there is a decline in the interest rates, mortgage prepayments by borrowed can get delayed
This, as a result, can lead to the maturities of mortgage bonds extending
This might further result in making these bonds less attractive to investors.
How Mortgage Bonds Work
The basic working of mortgage bonds involves the grouping of individual mortgages and using the cash generated through them to issue mortgage bonds. When potential homeowners use mortgages to fund their home-buying process, cash is generated when they make monthly mortgage payments. This cash is then used to pay the mortgage bondholders back in the form of interest payments and principal repayments.
Here’s a brief step-by-step breakdown of a mortgage bond’s working:
First, borrowers obtain mortgages from lenders.
These mortgages are then sold to companies that are issuing the mortgage bonds.
Mortgage bonds are then created when issuers combine these mortgages along with the cash flow that they bring.
Pros and Cons of Mortgage Bonds
Below is a list of some of the main pros and cons of mortgage bonds:
Pros:
With mortgage bonds, investors can look forward to a steady and predictable cash flow which can be particularly attractive for income-oriented investors.
Mortgage bonds can be a part of a diverse portfolio that an investor is trying to build.
A mortgage bond like the agency-backed mortgage bond is either implicitly or explicitly backed by the government which undoubtedly increases its creditworthiness.
Cons:
If borrowers decide to pay off their mortgage earlier, then bondholders might have to deal with lower rates of interest.
If there are significant changes in interest rates, the value of mortgage bonds especially bonds that have a longer maturity, will be impacted.
Mortgage bonds like non-agency mortgage bonds are backed by private institutions, which can result in potential credit risks.
Taxes with Mortgage Bonds
Taxes with mortgage bonds depend on different elements like the bond type, the issuer as well as on an investor's jurisdiction. Interest income earned through mortgage bonds is usually taxable at the federal, state, and local levels. However, mortgage bonds that are backed or issued by the government might be exempt from state and local taxes.
If there is any confusion regarding taxes surrounding mortgage bonds, it is always advisable that investors consult a tax adviser before making any investment decision.
Additional Read: What is Demat Account: Importance, Features and Types
How to Invest in Mortgage Bonds?
There are a few ways of Investing in mortgage bonds and some of them are listed below:
Purchase Directly:
If investors are looking to buy mortgage bonds directly from the issuing authority, they can do it via primary offerings or the secondary market.
Mutual funds:
Another way of investing in mortgage bonds is through mutual funds. Certain mutual funds specialize in mortgage bonds, helping investors manage them more professionally.
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs):
With the help of ETFs, investors can experience more liquidity and transparency when they invest in a mortgage bond.
Brokerage accounts:
The last method that investors can use to invest in mortgage bonds is through brokerage accounts.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that mortgage bonds provide a safer way to invest in bonds when compared to corporate bonds. The one major drawback, however, of mortgage bonds is that they might not be the best investment option for investors looking for high returns. This is why, before investing in mortgage bonds, inventors must do their research and understand all the intricacies involved in the working of a mortgage bond.