The Lede

HousingWire, Feb. 18, 2016--Swanson, Brena Freddie Mac recorded fourth quarter net income of $2.2 billion, a jump after net loss of $475 million for the third quarter of 2015, which marked the first loss in four years. The government-sponsored enterprise also posted a comprehensive income of $1.6 billion, up $2.1 billion from a comprehensive loss of $501 million for the third quarter of 2015.

Realtor.com, Feb. 18, 2016--Trapasso, Clare Mortgage applications are up, up, up, as homeowners try to save some of their hard-earned cash through refinancing their loans. The number of mortgage loan applications surged 8.2% last week over the first week of the month, as interest rates fell on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages to lows between 3.74% and 3.83%, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Washington Post, Feb. 18, 2016--Orton, Kathy Two months ago, when the Federal Reserve announced it was raising its benchmark rate, most observers expected mortgage rates to start creeping higher. Instead, for the past six weeks, the average for the 30-year fixed-rate, the most popular home loan product, has fallen 36 basis points.

National Mortgage News, Feb. 18, 2016--Sinnock, Bonnie The mismatch between demand for new homes and the supply threatens to drive up prices and dampen lending.

Bloomberg, Feb. 18, 2016--Darie, Tatiana Americans' expectations for the economy declined in February to a three-month low as optimism propelled by job growth and cheaper gasoline at the start of the year faded.

Reuters, Feb. 18, 2016--Mutikani, Lucia Americans filing for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, pointing to labor market strength that could keep Federal Reserve interest rate hikes on the table this year. Other data on Thursday suggested the struggling manufacturing sector could be stabilizing, with factory activity in the mid-Atlantic region contracting at a slower pace in February.

Business Insider, Feb. 18, 2016--Oyedele, Akin The Philadelphia Federal Reserve's manufacturing index was better than expected for February. But details of the report showed that manufacturing activity in the region is still weak.

Forbes, Feb. 18, 2016--Razin, Ely Store closures by Macy's, Walmart, Sears and others are all over the news and, with these falling dominoes, what others are at risk? Certainly lenders, owners, investors and other co-located retailers may be...but the fabric of some local communities may also change as a result. Commercial real estate players and CMBS players alike, take note, to ensure that retailers' falling dominoes don't nick you.

Wall Street Journal, Feb. 18, 2016--Dulaney, Chelsey; Light, Joe Mortgage-finance company Freddie Mac said it would send a $1.7 billion payment to the Treasury in March as it reported a higher profit for the fourth quarter, driven by increased interest rates.

Housing Wire, Feb. 18, 2016--Wheeler, Sarah If there's one unofficial yet overriding theme of this year's National Mortgage Servicing Conference sponsored by the Mortgage Bankers Association, it has to be the pain of regulatory pressure on servicers.

Chicago Tribune, Feb. 18, 2016--Schlesinger, Jill  Quicken Loans said its Rocket Mortgage does not change loan underwriting criteria or guidelines; prospective borrowers will apply for a loan in a streamlined way and be able to qualify, subject to the outcome of the underwriting process.

The Mortgage Bankers Association presents the second in a three-part webinar series discussing new Federal Housing Finance Agency/Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac representation and warranty policies. Rep and Warrant Reform Part II: Enforcement takes place Thursday, Feb. 25 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET.