MOODY'S RATES SEQUOIA MORTGAGE TRUST 2003-3 JUMBO MORTGAGE SECURITIZATION
Approximately $550.0 Million of Mortgage Backed Securities Rated.
New York, July 16, 2003 -- Moody's Investors Service has assigned a rating of Aaa to the Class A-1,
A-2, X-1A, X-1B, X-2 and
X-B bonds issued in the Sequoia Mortgage Trust 2003-3 securitization
of jumbo A adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) loans. In addition,
Moody's has assigned a rating of Aa2 to the class B-1 Bonds,
A2 to the class B-2 Bonds, Baa2 to the class B-3 Bonds,
Ba2 to the class B-4 bonds and B2 to the class B-5 bonds.
The Aaa rating of the senior certificates is based primarily on the 3.75%
credit enhancement provided through subordination. Furthermore,
Redwood's overall selection process for the loans that it acquires is
better than average.
Kruti Muni, a Moody's analyst, said approximately 40%
of the loans, which are owned by Redwood Trust, Inc.
(Redwood), were originated by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Credit
Corporation (MSDWCC). MSDWCC originates its loans primarily through
referrals from Morgan Stanley Dean Witter's network of financial advisors.
As a result, MSDWCC loans benefit from MSDWCC's pre-existing
advisory relationship with the borrowers.
Positive features of the MSDWCC portion of the pool are a low weighted-average
loan-to-value ratio (LTV) of 67%. Approximately
7% of the loans backing the aggregate pool (pool 1 and 2 combined)
contain borrowers that pledge securities in a brokerage account in addition
to the down payment on the real estate property. The additional
financial collateral backing the loans effectively lowers the LTVs of
the loans, often resulting in lower frequencies of default and lower
loss severities upon default.
Some of the riskier aspects of the MSDWCC piece of the pool involve higher-than-average
property values and the presence of loans for second homes. Approximately
11% of the aggregate pool is backed by properties whose values
are $1,000,000 or higher. While typical of MSDWCC
collateral, these high and super-high value homes add to
the risk of the pool as these properties are less liquid, tend to
take longer to sell and have greater price volality. In addition,
second homes account for 8% of the pool.
Geenpoint Mortgage Funding, Inc. (Greenpoint) originated
60% of the mortgage loans. Redwood has arranged a "flow
agreement" with Greepoint. Greenpoint originates the loans in accordance
with Redwood guidelines.
Positive features of the Greenpoint portion of the pool are a low weighted-average
loan-to-value ratio (LTV) of 66% and a strong FICO
score of 736. Offsetting the positive features of the pool is the
absence of significant performance history.
The complete rating actions are as follows:
Depositor: Sequoia Mortgage Funding Corporation.
Servicers: Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Credit Corporation and Greenpoint
Mortgage Funding, Inc.
Seller: Redwood Trust, Inc.
Securities: Sequoia Mortgage Trust 2003-3
Collateralized Mortgage Bonds
$379,455,000 adjustable-rate Class A-1
Certificates, rated Aaa
$149,922,000 adjustable-rate Class A-2
Certificates, rated Aaa
Notional adjustable-rate Class X-1A Certificates,
rated Aaa
Notional adjustable-rate Class X-1B Certificates,
rated Aaa
Notional adjustable-rate Class X-2 Certificates, rated
Aaa
Notional adjustable-rate Class X-B Certificates, rated
Aaa
$9,075,000 adjustable-rate Class B-1
Bonds, rated Aa2
$4,675,000 adjustable-rate Class B-2
Bonds, rated A2
$2,475,000 adjustable-rate Class B-3
Bonds, rated Baa2
$1,650,000 adjustable-rate Class B-4
Bonds, rated Ba2
$825,000 adjustable-rate Class B-5 Bonds,
rated B2
Sequoia Mortgage Trust 2003-3 is a REMIC trust formed by Redwood.
Redwood is a real estate finance company. Its primary business
is owning and credit enhancing high-quality jumbo residential mortgages
nationwide, with a current portfolio of $66 billion.
The company is based in Mill Valley, California.
Additional research will be available on http://www.moodys.com.
New York
Pramila Gupta
Managing Director
Structured Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
New York
Kruti Muni
Associate Analyst
Structured Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653