
Welcome to The S-Curve
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The name of the blog, the S-Curve, is a reflection of our logo and the central feature of our prepayment model. S-curves are seen in nature in many phenomenon, from population growth to prepayment and default models. Our first S-curve, in the early 1990s, used the arctangent function, then piece-wise linear functions, and evolved over time to be more complex and vary by FICO, loan size and LTV. This evolution encapsulates both the timeless nature of fundamental relationships and constant innovation to describe them better over time.
We hope you find the information useful and we look forward to your feedback.
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Introducing MARS+ as the Next Generation of Mortgage Analysis and Reporting SystemProducts
Andrew Davidson & Co., Inc (AD&Co) is pleased to announce the beta release of MARS+, the next generation of Mortgage Analysis & Reporting System (MARS), which has been in use since 2008 for performance reporting of AD&Co models. MARS+ aims to provide enhanced and advanced capabilities and features for mortgage analysis and reporting.
The new enhancements of MARS+ include:
- Simplified access to AD&Co models and data from a single page
- Enhanced filtering and stratification of back-testing data
- Distribution of data for key mortgage data analysis parameters
- Model performance visualization and tabular display for selected data of interest
- Customizable dashboards for effective reporting of actual and model results along with data characteristics
In what follows, we summarize how to use the various capabilities and features of MARS+.
Selecting, Filtering, and Stratifying Data of Interest
The initial screen of MARS+ labeled as ‘Model & Data’ provides user interface components that are grouped into three categories: (1) Model & Data Inputs, (2) Filters, and (3) Stratification.
For selected filter and stratification data parameters, the ‘Model & Data’ panel also provides a distribution icon to the right of each filter and the parameter selected for stratification. Upon clicking on a distribution icon, the distribution of the selected data parameter is displayed as a pie chart or a bar chart to the right of filters or stratification bucket definitions.
Any distribution chart shown in the ‘Filters’ and ‘Stratification’ panels can also be added to a dashboard to save it for future use, like re-using and continuing the analysis later or for reporting purposes.
Once the data of interest has been defined in ‘Model & Data Inputs,’ ‘Filters,’ and ‘Stratification,’ clicking the ‘Run Analysis’ button will start the retrieval of actual and pre-calculated model data, and display both actual, that is, historical back-testing data and model results for comparison.
Performance Results
The ‘Performance’ panel displays both actual and model results in an aggregated and stratified form in terms of an interactive chart and a data table as shown in the screenshot below.
While the default chart view typically displays a few parameters, like CPR and Balance, the view parameters can be selected or de-selected from the chart legend.
Any chart or data table viewed in the ‘Performance’ panel can also be added to an existing or a new dashboard to save it for later use.
Dashboard Views
MARS+ provides its users with the facilities to create several dashboards as needed and save them in their local browser’s storage. A dashboard can have up to four components, including user-selected charts and tables generated during the user’s MARS+ session. The following is a sample dashboard with four components that are generated from an analysis run based on selections, filtering, and stratification done in each of the sample screenshots above.
Each dashboard component can also be edited, deleted, or moved within the dashboard.
What is next?
MARS+ will evolve during the beta period in terms of its capabilities, features, and data coverage based on the feedback we receive from our clients and users as ideas, suggestions, questions, issues, and requests. There are also a few planned improvements that we would like to implement during the beta period, including but not limited to:
- Extending the data distributions covering all mortgage data used by our models
- Providing data distribution charts for user-selected dates
- Developing a persistent and secure server-side storage infrastructure enabling users to re-use saved filters, stratifications, and dashboards with original as well as updated data
- Providing additional chart types to display residuals as well as model forecasts beyond the historical back-testing data
Please contact us at support@ad-co.com with any feedback you may have, including your ideas, suggestions, questions, issues, and requests.
The S-Curve Archives
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Thoughts
According to a report by the Research Institute for Housing America, climate change risk is rapidly increasing in the housing industry and will continue to demand more attention and regulation in the near future.
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Thoughts
Mortgage market participants are keenly aware that the Federal Reserve has been scaling back its UST and MBS purchases and factoring the outcomes of its actions on stakeholders across markets.
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Thoughts
The growing prevalence of artificial intelligence in the mortgage industry is shining a new light on the human biases that have pervaded the industry since its inception. AI is meant to bring fairness and objectivity to mortgage decisions, but it can’t perform fairly if it was built on an unfair system.
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Products
The LDM v3.0.2 library adds AutoLDM to the v3.0.1 library.
Key benefits include:
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EventsWe at Andrew Davidson & Co., Inc. (AD&Co) are once again thrilled to celebrate Pride Month, especially the contributions of LGBTQ professionals in the field of finance including affordable housing policy and the GSEs. This year, in addition to celebrating, we are also paying increased attention to the challenges that LGBTQ individuals face, particularly around issues of housing. Our pride in our LGBTQ staff and community sits alongside our concern about discriminatory lending practices, including in mortgages. As of February 2021, for the first time, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) Americans will be protected from housing discrimination under the Fair Housing Act.
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News
For several years, AD&Co has tracked the total rate of return (TRR) performance of the GSE CAS and STACR CRT in its U.S. Mortgage High-Yield Indices. The AD&Co Mid-Tier index constitutes a broad market measure of the TRR performance of GSE CRT. The related sub-indices segregate the CRT market into 4 index Tiers by attachment point, reflective of the credit exposure of the various classes of underlying CRT ranging from B to M1.
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EventsWe at Andrew Davidson & Co., Inc. (AD&Co) stand in solidarity with the Asian community and speak out against the xenophobic ignorance that has led to increased racist attacks against Asians. We protest against these hate crimes. This is a time to celebrate the richness that we have gained from the diversity of the Asian culture. We pledge to support the heritage that is part of what makes us American.
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Events
What does it mean to be mentally healthy? The answer is different for everyone. With all the extra anxiety that many of us have experienced since 2020, whether from uncertainty about COVID-19 or from other experiences that may be new to us, it’s important to acknowledge that it’s alright to not feel alright. Fortunately, there are numerous resources that are available locally, nationally, and in some cases through your workplace or benefits package. We might start by finding out what makes us feel better.
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Products
Today marks the publication of Chris Widman's Quantitative Perspective, a comprehensive article on the newest member of our LoanDynamics suite, the Auto LoanDynamics Model. Auto LDM will be integrated into vendor systems and AD&Co tools, allowing users to perform analysis on auto loan and ABS positions.
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EventsSince 1970, April 22nd has been the annual day to appreciate our planet and recognize the importance of protecting it. But more and more, we realize that everyday needs to be Earth Day, and that we need to take better care of the place that gives us life.