The Lede

CNBC, Dec. 21, 2016--Olick, Diana  Homebuyers are taking baby steps back into the mortgage market. "Borrowers may have gotten applications into their lender in advance of the FOMC announcement, as most observers anticipated an increase in the Fed's rate target at the December meeting," said Mortgage Bankers Association Chief Economist Mike Fratantoni.

Forbes, Dec. 21, 2016--Diedrich,Sam The recent trend toward higher interest rates has raised concerns about the outlook for home prices going into 2017, eliciting a range of responses from sheer panic to resilient optimism.

National Real Estate Investor, Dec. 21, 2016--Bechtel, Gary The search for yield is leading to great growth in marketplace lending--nearly 700 percent over the past four years.

Reuters, Dec. 21, 2016--Mutikani, Lucia U.S. home resales unexpectedly rose in November, reaching their highest level in nearly 10 years, likely as buyers rushed into the market to lock in mortgage rates in anticipation of further increases in borrowing costs. A separate report from the Mortgage Bankers Association on Wednesday showed applications for loans to buy a home increased 3 percent last week from the previous week.

Wall Street Journal, Dec. 21, 2016--Kirkham, Chris Nearly 40% of young Americans were living with their parents, siblings or other relatives in 2015, the largest percentage since 1940, according to an analysis of census data by real estate tracker Trulia.

Wall Street Journal, Dec. 21, 2016--Sidel, Robin Credit Journey provides a VantageScore to customers as well as to those who don't bank with the company.

HousingWire, Dec. 21, 2016--Swanson, Brena Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, called on Treasury Secretary nominee Steven Mnuchin to answer a handful of in-depth questions to get clarity on where he truly stands on key housing issues. 

HousingWire, Dec. 21, 2016--Ramirez, Kelsey As mortgage interest rates rise further, it's likely that buyers in the nation's more expensive coastal markets will begin to feel the pinch sooner than their peers in more affordable areas in the middle of the country, said Zillow Chief Economist Svenja Gudell.

National Mortgage News, Dec. 21, 2016--Sinnock, Bonnie  Ginnie Mae, at the urging of the mortgage industry, has revised the wording of the acknowledgment agreements necessary to finance servicing rights. It hopes the move improves Ginnie MSRs' liquidity.

Mortgage Daily, Dec. 21, 2016 Monthly business was modestly higher at Freddie Mac, as was the government-sponsored enterprise's portfolio.

Mortgage Daily, Dec. 21, 2016 The share of mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that are originated or serviced by non-bank companies has risen sharply in the last five years.

Mortgage Daily, Dec. 21, 2016 Monthly metrics for mortgage originations have yet to reflect the impact from the presidential election -- with the closing rate deteriorating, turnaround slowing and refinance share holding.

National Mortgage News, Dec. 21, 2016--Collins, Brian Andrew Jetter is stepping down as the chief executive of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka after serving as the president and the chief executive for 14 years.

HousingWire, Dec. 21, 2016--Swanson, Brena One of the top GSE reform options on the table looks to the success of Ginnie Mae's model and was conceived by two industry stalwarts who have the respect and experience to give it a fighting chance. But in order to make the reform possible, says Michael Stegman of the Bipartisan Policy Center, there are key changes, especially financially, that would need to happen.