Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch, Apr. 16, 2017–Jim WeikerWith President Donald Trump’s pledge for comprehensive tax reform, voices from across the political spectrum are saying it’s time to examine the mortgage interest deduction.
Category: Top National News

Fed Puts Together Plan to Unwind Securities Portfolio
Wall Street Journal, Apr. 16, 2017–Nick Timiraos (subscription)The Federal Reserve is moving quickly to fill in the details of how it will wind down its securities holdings in the years ahead, a process that could start this year and become the next big challenge for investors grown accustomed to easy money from the world’s most important central bank.

Builders Bet Tiny Apartments Will Lure Renters
Wall Street Journal, Apr. 15, 2017–Laura Kusisto (subscription)Since Hannah Toth set out a few months ago to move out of her parents’ home in suburban Pittsburgh, she has seen plenty of airy apartments of up to 900 square feet. What caught her eye is a 360-square-foot studio roughly the size of her childhood bedroom.

Lennar Ordered to Pay More than $100 Million to iStar in 2005 Land Row
HousingWire, Apr. 14, 2017–Ben LaneAccording to details published Friday by iStar, a real estate investment trust, the Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s decision in the lawsuit that stemmed from a soured land deal from more than a decade ago.

Jared Kushner in Talks to Sell Stake in Real Estate Technology Company
Wall Street Journal, Apr. 16, 2017–Peter Grant (subscription)Sale of stake in WiredScore is part of effort to divest himself of many business ties.

JPMorgan Wants to Be Middle America’s Mortgage Lender
Reuters, Apr. 14, 2017–David HenryAfter having to stomach $31 billion worth of bitter mortgage settlements with government agencies a few years ago, JPMorgan Chase swore off a huge swath of the home loan market. Now, the bank’s management team, led by Chief Executive Jamie Dimon, is working fiercely to change course–hoping to not only bring back customers, but influence what could be a reshaping of U.S. mortgage finance policy for the first time in a generation.

Over $1.6 Billion in GSE Loans Auctioned Off
Mortgage Daily, Apr. 14, 2017An investment banking firm has won its bid to acquire more than $1.6 billion in reperforming government-sponsored enterprise mortgages.

GSE Refinances Sink to 12-Month Low
Mortgage Daily, Apr. 14, 2017Refinances of mortgages backed by the government-sponsored enterprises plummeted to the lowest level during the past 12 months.

VA Considering Mortgage Fee Changes
Mortgage Daily, Apr. 14, 2017VA’s Loan Guaranty Service is reviewing its regulations governing the allowable expenses that a veteran can pay or be charged in connection with obtaining a VA-guaranteed mortgage.

The Fed Raised Interest Rates. Why are Mortgages Getting Cheaper?
CNN Money, Apr. 14, 2017–Kathryn VaselHome mortgage rates tend to move more in line with the 10-year Treasury note, issued by the U.S. government and viewed as one of the safest investments in the world.