The Lede

CNBC, Nov. 25, 2015--Olick, Diana A definitive rise in mortgage interest rates over the last month is keeping borrowers at bay. Loan application volume fell 3.2 percent last week from the previous week on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Reuters, Nov. 25, 2015--Mutikani, Lucia The Commerce Department said on Wednesday non-defense capital goods orders excluding aircraft, a closely watched proxy for business spending plans, increased 1.3 percent last month after an upwardly revised 0.4 percent rise in September.

Business Insider, Nov. 25, 2015--Udland, Myles The latest report on personal income and outlays showed that income rose as expected in October while spending rose less than expected.

Detroit Free Press, Nov. 28, 2015--Reindl, J.C. Detroit-based Quicken Loans has unveiled a new self-service website aimed at speeding up the mortgage approval process and cutting down the need to talk with a human loan officer.

OC Register (Calif.)., Nov. 29, 2015--Lasner, Jonathan Local homebuyers who took out a mortgage chose an adjustable-rate loan just 15 percent of the time on average in the first 10 months of this year, CoreLogic statistics show. That compares with 19.8 percent in 2014.

Washington Post, Nov. 25, 2015--Harney, Kenneth R. How are home closings going nearly two months after the new federal real-estate disclosure rules took effect? Are they being knocked off schedule and taking much longer from date of sale to final settlement, as some mortgage industry executives predicted? It depends on whom you ask.

New York Times, Nov. 27, 2015--Prevost, Lisa A little-known program allows police officers, teachers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians to buy certain homes for half price. But financing comes with some strings attached.

New York Times, Nov. 28, 2015--Searcey, Dionne; Bradsher, Keith A luxury development 35 miles northwest of Dallas is the latest frontier in a global buying phenomenon as Chinese money becomes a major force in real estate around the world.

Hartford Business.com, Nov. 30, 2015--Seay, Gregory Connecticut's mortgage lending market to buy or refinance a home slowed noticeably in recent years, even as interest rates - pegged to increase soon--have remained among the lowest in a generation. But, "we've been seeing a lot more first-time homebuyers,'' said David Zamary, president of the Connecticut Mortgage Bankers Association. "A lot of people were on the fence. But they're getting off the fence."

Wall Street Journal, Nov. 30, 2015--Pfau, Wade As the government continues to strengthen the rules and regulations for reverse mortgages, and as new research continues to pave the way with an agnostic approach about their role, we may be at a tipping point in which reverse mortgages become much more predominant in the years ahead.

The Mortgage Bankers Association's second annual Mergers and Acquisitions Workshop takes place Jan. 20-21 at the Hilton Phoenix Airport. 

Be among the first to explore our new and easy-to-use MBA Advocacy Action Center platform by joining us this Monday, November 30 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. for a free webinar.