Government-insured production increased by 11.0% compared with the fourth quarter while total first-lien originations were up 3.2% during that time.

The Mortgage Bankers Association and the National Association of Realtors applauded the news.

Ginnie will begin mixing eNotes and paper notes within the same pools.

The flow of purchase mortgages in Ginnie Mae MBS increased 15.0% from March levels, while securitization of refinance loans dropped 9.2%.

Lakeview/Bayview Loan Servicing remained the largest Ginnie servicer and increased its market share in the first quarter.

Denis McDonough, secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, said VA’s track record on mortgage financing is the best in the industry and that foreclosures among VA borrowers are extraordinarily rare.

The share of mortgages with primary MI increased by 2.1% in the first quarter, based on agency MBS issuance.

Refi volume delivered to Ginnie spiked in the first quarter while purchase-mortgage activity declined.

Servicers have until Oct. 1 to implement the program.

The high inflation reading for March is one factor that will keep interest rates higher for longer.