The Lede

Reuters Nov. 13, 2015 Blackstone Group LP, the world's largest alternative asset manager, has agreed to buy about $3 billion worth of stakes in real estate funds from Californian public pension fund Calpers, a boost to its so-called secondaries business.

Houston Chronicle, Nov. 13, 2015--Sarnoff, Nancy Properties next to premier public green spaces often command a more than 20-plus percent value premium. Even parcels 1,000 feet away from a park see 5 to 10 percent preimums, said a Houston-based real estate services firm that specializes in property valuation.

Los Angeles Times, Nov. 13, 2015--Koren, James Rufus Orange County mortgage lender LoanDepot is the latest company to delay an initial public offering, pulling its IPO Thursday afternoon.

Arizona Republic, Nov. 13, 2015--Reagor, Catherine For sale signs are disappearing all over metro Phoenix. And not just because the houses have sold.

Crain's Detroit Business, Nov. 14, 2015--Pinho, Kirk From Capitol Park to Merchants Row, from Paradise Valley to the financial district, downtown Detroit's roster of vacant and neglected historic buildings is dwindling.

Barron's, Nov. 13, 2015--Levisohn, Ben Wellington Shields' Frank Gretz noted that the last time the Fed raised rates the iPhone didn't exist and offered his thoughts on a potential hike.

New York Times, Nov. 13, 2015--Prevost, Lisa Rising home prices are raising equity levels, and homeowners are cashing in on these gains.

National Mortgage News, Nov. 13, 2015--Lindorff, David In the wake of the financial crisis, only one bank is believed to have faced a criminal trial on charges of mortgage fraud. A Jury in New York state court acquitted the bank of all charges this summer.

HousingWire, Nov. 13, 2015--Messerli, Kristin The "real opportunity" may be passing us by, as Millennials already hold a significant share of the market and trends suggest a significant increase in purchases over the next year.

Wall Street Journal, Nov. 15, 2015--Tracy, Ryan As Congress scrambles to wrap up its budget for this year, banks and their political allies are angling to insert rule-reduction measures-and bracing for a new fight.

Wall Street Journal, Nov. 15, 2015--Timiraos, Nick Democrats and Republicans, based on their recent presidential debates, are set to offer voters a stark choice in 2016 about how the economy should be managed, with both sides moving toward the outer flanks of their parties.

Washington Post, Nov. 15, 2015--Samuelson, Robert The safest course for the White House and Congress has been to save the GSEs and enlist them in the housing recovery. So that's what they did--and that's how Fannie and Freddie survived.

The Mortgage Bankers Association presents two new webinars in its popular Compliance Essentials Series on Nov. 16 and 18.