The Lede

Washington Post, Sept. 12, 2019--Kathy Orton After sinking to their lowest levels in nearly three years, mortgage rates popped back up this week. Meanwhile, mortgage applications rebounded slightly on the strength of purchasers, Mortgage Bankers Association data said.

National Mortgage Professional, Sept. 12, 2019--Phil HallThe MBA Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI) dropped by 3.9 percent to 181.7 in August. The Conventional MCAI decreased 3.6 percent, and its component indices also fell: the Jumbo MCAI was 3.2 percent lower and the Conforming MCAI was 4.3 percent lower. The Government MCAI took a 4.1 percent slide.

MarketWatch, Sept. 12, 2019--Jacob PassyMortgage rates rose on a weekly basis, even as President Trump called for the Federal Reserve to take its target interest rates negative.

Wall Street Journal, Sept. 12, 2019--AnnaMaria Andriotis (subscription)For decades, banks and other financiers have relied primarily on consumers' borrowing history to make lending decisions. Now revenue-hungry companies are considering metrics both mundane and peculiar, like whether applicants shop at discount stores, subscribe to magazines or pay their phone bills on time.

Wall Street Journal, Sept. 12, 2019--Harriet Torry (subscription)The Trump administration's goal of achieving economic growth of 3% or better is looking increasingly remote this year, according to forecasters surveyed by the Wall Street Journal.

National Mortgage News, Sept. 12, 2019--Kate Berry (subscription) Republicans have long tried to defang the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, but a Democratic victor in the presidential race could actually be the first to mount a constitutional challenge to the agency's leadership.

Washington Post, Sept. 12, 2019--Tracy JanThe Inspector General for the Department of Housing and Urban Development found no evidence of misconduct against Secretary Ben Carson in a $31,000 furniture order to replace a dining room set in his secretarial suite.

Riverside Press-Enterprise (Calif.), Sept. 12, 2019--Jeff LazersonNow there is a bright line lifting consumer protections against unlimited points, high rates, balloon payments and prepayment penalties for every financially desperate borrower who can't get a mortgage through institutional channels. Such loans now are possible so long as he or she provides a business purpose.

HousingWire, Sept. 12, 2019--Kelsey RamirezDepartment of the Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the administration is currently looking to end the profit sweep of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

MBA Education presents a free webinar, Mortgage Accounting II: Loan Level Accounting Register Now, on Wednesday, Sept. 18 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. ET.