The Lede

National Real Estate Investor, Jun 23, 2016--Mitchell,  Donna Commercial real estate professionals have been wondering how the market would deal with the wave of commercial mortgage debt maturing in the next year and a half, particularly at a time when lending standards are considerably more conservative than they were 10 years ago.

Washington Post, June 23, 2016--Badger, Emily Expensive housing is a problem not simply because it gobbles up a lot of money, but also because it eats into the things we would buy if we weren't shelling out so much for shelter.

Politico, June 23, 2016--Nelson, LouisThe U.S. economy is safer and more stable now than it was seven and a half years ago, President Obama said this week in an interview with Bloomberg published on Thursday--and one of the reasons is that the financial industry is smaller, with less "froth." 

Washington Post, June 23, 2016--Orton, Kathy  Although long-term U.S. Treasury notes rebounded this week after falling to nearly four-year lows, mortgage rates lagged in response. "Driven by 'Brexit'-related uncertainty and volatility, rates dropped 3 basis points last week to their lowest level since May 2013," said Mortgage Bankers Association Chief Economist Mike Fratantoni. 

Associated Press, June 23, 2016 The law signed Thursday by Gov. Andrew Cuomo threatens banks with civil penalties up to $500 a day for failing to maintain residential properties once they're aware of vacancies.

Wall Street Journal, June 23, 2016--Gamerman, Amy Boston--a city with a Puritan back story and an ingrained suspicion of glitz, where a well-preserved Back Bay townhouse has long been the gold standard of top-tier real estate--is embracing the designer high rise. Shiny residential towers are sprouting up across Beantown's once drab and neglected precincts, emblems of Boston's boom and its growth as a bigger, more international city.

Wall Street Journal, June 23, 2016--Sussman, Anna Louie Americans filing fresh applications for jobless benefits fell last week to the lowest level since April, a sign the job market may be showing some resilience after May's slowdown in hiring.

National Mortgage Professional, June 23, 2016--Hall, Phil If the latest industry developments offer any indication, the housing market is moving in a series of fits and starts, where every forward-reaching development is mirrored with troubling news. And while industry optimism remains solid, it is becoming increasingly obvious that too many problems are blocking any significant progress. 

National Mortgage News, June 23, 2016--Passy, Jacob Ocwen Financial Corp. agreed to a $30 million settlement in two lawsuits alleging that the West Palm Beach, Fla.-based company violated the False Claims Act. The company will not admit any liability or wrongdoing as part of the settlement.

HousingWire, June 23, 2016--Ramirez, Kelsey Cash sales made up 33% of total home sales in March , a decrease of 2.4 percentage points annually, according to CoreLogic.

Washington Post, June 24, 2016--Mui, Ylan Q. Mortgage rates have plunged to the lowest level in three years in recent weeks as the Federal Reserve has begun to fear that Brexit might become a reality. The latest data from housing giant Freddie Mac shows the average interest rate on a 30-year conventional loan at 3.54 percent, compared with more than 4 percent a year ago. The Mortgage Bankers Association reported loan applications have increased 17 percent from the first quarter, while refinancing is up 10 percent.

MarketWatch, June 23, 2016--Ouyang, Xuanyan U.S. bank officials said Thursday the Basel III reforms are too complex and do not align with reality in the United States. The complaints about the international regulatory framework came before the Senate Banking Committee.

Scotsman Guide, June 23, 2016--Whitman, Victor MBA Chief Economist Mike Fratantoni discussed factors that influence loan profits, and what falling profits and rising costs have meant to the mortgage industry.

Wall Street Journal, June 23, 2016--Tracy, Ryan; Borak, Donna The largest U.S. banks have significantly bolstered their defenses against an economic downturn, and could continue lending even during a deep recession, the Federal Reserve said.

HousingWire, June 23, 2016--Swanson, Brena Mat Ishbia, CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage, explained why these mortgages are growing in popularity, especially among Millennial buyers. Are 3% down mortgages going to be the new normal? His response: "Absolutely."

Join MBA Education and industry experts from Mortgage Banking Solutions for the second in a two-part webinar series covering the fundamentals and complexities of mortgage technology ROI on Tuesday, June 28.

MBA Education presents a webinar, CE HMDA Resource Guide Overview and Survey of Rule, on Thursday, June 30 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. ET.

The Mortgage Bankers Association's 2016 Human Resources Symposium takes place Sept. 13-14 at the Embassy Suites at the Chevy Chase Pavilion in Washington, D.C.