The agency’s Innovation Lab will conduct a preliminary analysis of how blockchain could be used to reduce cost and risk and improve liquidity.

The changes would allow state regulators to share information and eliminate duplicative work, while retaining authority over licensing in their state.

Federal Reserve Bank of New York economists look for ways to improve the market-making capacity of prime dealers for agency MBS.

The Mortgage Bankers Association said updating state licensing laws to reflect the evolution in work location wouldn’t weaken state laws and rules necessary to protect borrowers.

Leading the improvement pack: the Ginnie Mae category, where the reading dropped a whopping 45 basis points to 6.33% of outstandings for the week ending April 4.

Rates are rising and that means fewer applications. Yet, mortgage bankers and brokers are still hiring.

With refi business expected to decline later this year, a number of shops are rethinking their hiring plans. Lenders are set to face margin compression, excess capacity and consolidation.

Subservicing has been a growth business the past several years but now some mortgage bankers, flush with cash from the refi boom, are bringing the task inhouse.

Venture capital investors remain optimistic about the prospects for mortgage digitization, funneling $31 million to two technology vendors.

Some industry watchers believe the tax credit is on hold because it could drive up prices in an already tight housing market.