The Lede

National Mortgage News, Dec. 7, 2016--Bode, Jeff  For the entrepreneurial-minded mortgage broker, there has never been a better time to make the transition to mortgage banking.

Wall Street Journal, Dec. 7, 2016--Chaudhuri, Saabira IKEA plans to incorporate more of its stores into larger developments containing hotels, homes and offices as it works to adapt to growing urban populations by locating its stores more centrally, its chief executive said Wednesday.

CNBC, Dec. 7, 2016--Olick, Diana The mortgage business bleeding appears to have slowed following a sharp rise in mortgage rates postelection. "Over the last month, going back to the week prior to the election, mortgage rates on 30-year loans have increased 50 basis points and refinance application volume has dropped by 28 percent," said Mortgage Bankers Association Chief Economist Michael Fratantoni.

Housing Wire, Dec. 7, 2016--Lane, Ben New report shows regulatory/compliance defects falling in second quarter.

National Mortgage News, Dec. 7, 2016--Passy, Jacob Loan volume and balances increased in the third quarter as costs stabilized, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association.

HousingWire, Dec. 7, 2016--Swanson, Brena American Advisors Group, Reverse Mortgage Solutions and Aegean Financial are the latest names to face the wrath of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau due to deceptive advertisements in reverse mortgage lending.

Washington Post, Dec. 7, 2016--Harney, Kenneth R. Michigan-based United Wholesale Mortgage, which has a network of 7,000 participating brokerage firms nationwide, has begun offering mortgages with no requirement for escrow accounts--and no penalty for the privilege.

American Banker, Dec. 7, 2016--Broughton, Kristin U.S. Bancorp in Minneapolis has raised its expectations for its net interest margin in the fourth quarter, citing the recent increase in benchmark rates.

HousingWire, Dec. 7, 2016--Lane, Ben The market mortgage interest rates aren't the only ones on the way up, as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced Wednesday that they are increasing the benchmark interest rate for standard mortgage modifications to a level not seen in 10 months.

Bloomberg, Dec. 7, 2016--Scully, Matt Fitch Ratings and DBRS Inc. are giving ratings to more than $210 million of bonds backed by loans made by Caliber Home Loans, a unit of Lone Star Funds, and by mortgages from Sterling Bank & Trust and LendSure Mortgage Corp.

Wall Street Journal, Dec. 7, 2016--Friedman, Robyn A. Home sellers in Chicago set asking prices that are very close to the final sale price, but sellers in the suburbs miss the mark.

HousingWire, Dec. 7, 2016--Wheeler, Sarah The HUD secretary, like many other Cabinet positions, is the public face of the department--meeting with housing leaders around the country, listening to local concerns and celebrating milestones. Most of the day-to-day operations are handled by the deputy secretary.

Politico, Dec. 7, 2016--Shafer, Jack The White House has been home to lawyers, generals, professors and career politicians, but never a real estate sharpie like Donald Trump.