The Lede

Top National News

Home Free … Or Not So Fast?
MortgageOrb, Dec. 5, 2016--Steele, Natalia As the housing market crisis winds down, an unanticipated yet pernicious issue has reared its head across the country - expiring statutes of limitations that threaten to reward the most delinquent borrowers with "free" houses.
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2017 Mortgage Loan Limits–With Charts
OurBroker.com, Dec. 5, 2016--Miller, Peter G. For the first time in 10 years mortgage loan limits will increase, a step that will help borrowers and sellers in high-cost areas nationwide.
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Credit Risk Transfer–Front and Back End Execution. Why Does It Matter?
GoRion, Dec. 2, 2016--Schwartz, Faith There is firm interest in this new and growing execution for risk transfer by investors who have confidence in the underwriting and servicing of mortgage loans through new and improved GSE standards.
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Donald Trump Picks Ben Carson to Head Housing Agency
Wall Street Journal, Dec. 5, 2016--Paletta, Damian; Timiraos, Nick "There is a real intersection between health and housing, which he could leverage," said David Stevens, a former federal housing commissioner who is now chief executive of the Mortgage Bankers Association. With the right technical experts to shape policy, Stevens said Carson's national political profile could be an asset for the agency. "He's more of a household name than any housing secretary we can remember," he said.
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Analysis: Carson Joins Tradition of Non-Housing Experts Running HUD
National Mortgage Professional, Dec. 5, 2016--Hall, Phil An analysis of the careers of previous HUD secretaries shows that very few of them came to their jobs from a housing policy career.
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Mortgage Credit Availability Continues Upward Climb: MBA
National Mortgage News, Dec. 5, 2016--Passy, Jacob Mortgage credit availability expanded for the third consecutive month in November, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
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Potential Refi Market Cut in Half After Post-Election Rate Surge
National Mortgage News, Dec. 5, 2016--Passy, Jacob The number of borrowers able to refinance a loan has been cut by more than half as a result of the post-election rise in interest rates, according to Black Knight Financial Services' monthly Mortgage Monitor report.
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U.S. Services Sector Activity Scales One-Year High
Reuters, Dec. 5, 2016--Mutikani, Lucia U.S. services sector activity hit a one-year high in November, with a surge in production boosting hiring, further evidence of strength in the economy that clears the way for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates next week.
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Trump Win Creates ‘Considerable’ Uncertainty, Fed’s Dudley Says
Reuters, Dec. 5, 2016--Spicer, Jonathan In a speech that stepped well into fiscal policy, including a nod to rising debt levels and a prescription for more predictable actions from Washington, New York Fed President William Dudley painted a fairly benign picture of the current U.S. economy.
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What Just Happened and What Lies Ahead in 2017
Colorado Real Estate Journal, Dec. 5, 2016--Fain, Baxter One thing is for sure, our days of easy money and ultra-low rates are over.
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The Doctor Is In…at HUD: What Carson Pick Means for Lenders
National Mortgage News, Dec. 5, 2016--Collins, Brian Carson " "brings leadership skills along with his political sense and his persuasive and communication skills to HUD," said David Stevens, the president and chief executive of MBA and a former FHA commissioner.
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How Will U.S. Home Prices Fare in 2017?
MarketWatch, Dec. 6, 2016--Berr, Jonathan Rates last month were 3.51 percent. That compares with an average of 6.41 percent since 1990, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
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Mortgage Events Taking Place on East Coast
Mortgage Daily, Dec. 5, 2016--Garcia, Sam Mortgage-related events being held over the next few months on the East Coast will cover mortgage-backed securities, compliance and regulation-related topics.
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Hensarling, Waters Chosen to Lead House Financial Services Committee Again
HousingWire, Dec. 5, 2016 Hensarling currently serves as chairman of the committee, and will serve his third term in that role beginning in January.
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Here’s the Real Impact of the Post-Trump Interest Rate Spike
HousingWire, Dec. 5, 2016--Lane, Ben Far fewer borrowers with incentive to refinance; homes are less affordable.
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