The Lede

Wall Street Journal, Feb. 17, 2016--Dulaney, Chelsea Fannie Mae said economic growth could remain "unspectacular" this year despite a healthier labor market, according to a new report from the mortgage-finance company.

National Real Estate Investor, Feb. 17, 2016--Beth Mattson-Teig Although life companies are known for playing it safe when it comes to lending on commercial real estate, that narrow box hasn't stopped them from doing big business in the space lately.

MarketWatch, Feb 17, 2016--Goldstein, Daniel The Flint real-estate market had long been depressed after the loss of many jobs in the nearby auto industry. The water poisoning crisis at the end of December dropped selling prices to $30,700, according to Zillow.com.  "The difficult issues raised in Flint go beyond just Fannie and Freddie, but essentially they revolve around the balance between protecting the health of borrowers without decimating home values in an area that is already facing serious struggles," said David Stevens, president of the Mortgage Bankers Association.

CNBC, Feb. 17, 2016--Olick, Diana Total mortgage applications jumped 8.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis last week from the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Refinances were entirely behind the gains, increasing 16 percent for the week.

Wall Street Journal, Feb. 17, 2016--Mitchell, Josh U. S. industries ramped up production in January as strong car sales helped buffer factories against a global economic slowdown, but the outlook remains muddied.

Reuters, Feb. 17, 2016--Mutikani, Lucia U.S. producer prices unexpectedly rose in January as margins for wholesale machinery and equipment increased, but lower energy prices and a strong dollar continue to keep inflation in check.

Bloomberg, Feb. 17, 2016--Mulholland, Sarah Wall Street firms are readying themselves for new rules aimed at requiring them to eat what they cook. A provision of the 2010 Dodd-Frank law that takes effect in December forces banks to keep a stake in the commercial-property loans they package into securities and sell off to investors.

National Mortgage Professional, Feb. 17, 2016--Grant, RickMortgage Bankers Association Vice-Chairman J. David Motley, CMB., president of Colonial Savings F.A., focused on the high cost of loan servicing and its correlation to increased regulatory oversight at the MBA National Mortgage Servicing Conference and Expo 2016.

Associated Press, Feb. 18, 2016 A new program is expected to allow qualified buyers to receive separate mortgages to purchase and do repairs on homes in Detroit.

The Mortgage Bankers Association presents a new three-part webinar series discussing the new Federal Housing Finance Agency/Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac representation and warranty policies. The first webinar, Rep and Warrant Reform Part I: Overview takes place Thursday, Feb. 18 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET. 

The Mortgage Bankers Association's National Technology in Mortgage Banking Conference & Expo returns to Los Angeles, taking place Apr. 3-6 at the J.W. Marriott L.A. Live.