The Lede

Mortgage Orb, July 12, 2017--Jason NadeauThere's a reason that so few people have a firm grasp on what blockchain technology is and does. It's because it is not just one thing, and understanding its different uses can be complicated.

National Mortgage News, July 12, 2017--Kevin Wack (subscription)U.S. banks are paying a sizable price for failing to modernize their mortgage application processes in the internet age, according to a study from researchers at some of the nation's top business schools.

Wall Street Journal, July 13, 2017--Josh Barbanel (subscription)Manhattan renters preparing to sign an apartment lease might want to ask the landlord to cut a deal first. Although the market usually tightens during the peak spring and summer seasons, landlords are offering more concessions even as rents remain high.

Financial Times, July 12, 2017--Joe Rennison (subscription) Wells Fargo has been sued by Pimco for withholding money allegedly owed to bond investors, in a dispute that could have implications for billions of dollars still locked up in US mortgage securities created before the financial crisis.

HousingWire, July 12, 2017--Ben LaneFor the second time in 2017, Fannie Mae is lowering the benchmark interest rate for standard mortgage modifications.

CNBC, July 12, 2017--Diana OlickAngel Oak is one of very few firms offering these private-label mortgage-backed securities - the ones that were so very popular during the last housing boom and which were later blamed for the financial crisis.

Mortgage Daily, July 12, 2017Monthly business turned lower at the Federal Housing Administration, and a further decline is likely. Meanwhile, delinquency deteriorated.

Mortgage Daily, July 12, 2017The co-issue flow offering is for MSRs on between $60 million and $90 million per month in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac residential loans.

Housing Wire, July 12, 2017--Brena Swanson As shoppers scoured Amazon's website on Tuesday for its annual Prime day deals, the online shopping giant quietly disclosed a new service coming soon to its users, which would embark into the world of real estate and turn it into a competitor with Zillow and Redfin.

GoRion, July 12, 2017--Sam BourgiAmerica's largest banks originated less residential mortgages in the first quarter, but their share of the overall pie increased--the latest sign that the origination market is shrinking.

HousingWire, July 12, 2017--Kelsey RamirezMillennials are entering the housing market, many for the first time, and fighting over the limited housing inventory available, according to May's Millennial Tracker report from Ellie Mae. However, the reasons they are buying homes are not from the usual motivation: Starting a family.

National Mortgage News, July 12, 2017--Brian Collins (subscription)New data shows large commercial banks are increasing their originations of single-family construction loans, but these loans still represent a small percentage of their total assets.

Wall Street Journal, July 12, 2017--Nick Timiraos (subscription)Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen, seeking to address a recent puzzling slowdown in global inflation, said she expects forces holding down consumer prices to fade in the months ahead, allowing the central bank to stick to its plans for gradual interest-rate increases.

U.S. News & World Report, July 12, 2017--Devon ThorsbyLenders are beginning to embrace more new technology, and new lenders are even entering the game based around an automated platform.

Reuters, July 12, 2017--Andrew MacAskill, Jonathan StempelThe Edinburgh-based lender on Wednesday said it agreed to settle the lawsuit with the Federal Housing Finance Agency that accuses it of mis-selling $32 billion of mortgage-backed securities before the global financial crisis.

HousingWire, July 12, 2017--Kelsey RamirezThe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau asked earlier this year for comments from the real estate finance industry on the effectiveness of its 2013 Mortgage Servicing Rule. This week, the Mortgage Bankers Association responded to the request.

CNBC, July 12, 2017--Diana OlickMortgage rates just saw their biggest jump since the presidential election, and that took a heavy toll on demand for home loans, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

National Real Estate Investor, July 12, 2017--Eli RazinOn the heels of Amazon's recently announced acquisition of Whole Foods for $13.7 billion, owners and lenders of Whole Foods-anchored properties are waiting to see what Amazon will do with the latest purchase the e-commerce giant has placed in its shopping cart.

New in today's issue of MBA Insights: It's only July, but changes to the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act go into effect in less than six months--and if you're a lender who makes loans covered by HMDA, you need to be ready well before then.