The Lede

Reuters, Mar. 1, 2016--Leong, Richard The U.S. economy is likely growing at a pace below two percent in the first quarter due to modest growth in consumer spending, the Atlanta Federal Reserve said Tuesday.

National Real Estate Investor, Mar. 1, 2016--Anderson, Bendix Developers can still find financing to build new apartment properties, but lenders are becoming more cautious.

National Mortgage Professional, Mar. 1, 2016--Hall, Phil Yesterday, a group calling itself the National Legal and Policy Center sent a letter to the U.S. Attorney for District of Columbia and the Inspector General of HUD, demanding an investigation of David Stevens, president and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association, for possible violations of federal ethics laws. But for anyone even vaguely familiar with mortgage banking and federal housing policy, the most obvious question raised here is: Who is the NLPC and why are they suddenly so interested in Stevens and MBA?

Bloomberg, Mar. 1, 2016--Miller, Rich If the United States enters a recession this year, it may end up a lot like a boring conversation at a cocktail party: painfully long and shallow.

MarketWatch, Mar. 1, 2016--Goldstein, Daniel The housing market in Detroit is so weak that a new program has been created to help home buyers take out two mortgages when buying a home - one for the purchase price and one for renovations.

HousingWire, Mar. 1, 2016--Ishbia, Mat There's something very empowering about working for something beyond yourself or beyond your company, and realizing that you're working for the greater good of a community.

Wall Street Journal, Mar. 1, 2016--Morath, Eric U.S. factory activity slowed for the fifth straight month in February, but there is evidence that global headwinds for the manufacturing sector may be easing.

National Mortgage News, Mar. 1, 2016--Passy, Jacob Warehouse lenders dramatically expanded the amount of credit they were willing to extend in 2015, accommodating a noted increase in originator demand, according to The Reynolds Group's annual warehouse lending survey.

HousingWire, Mar. 1, 2016--Lane, Ben In a move that creates a giant in the single-family rental space, American Homes 4 Rent and American Residential Properties announced Tuesday that the companies finalized their merger, which was first announced in December.

Reuters, Mar. 1, 2016--Li, Zheng; Sun, Qizi; Ruwitch, John; Sweeney, Pete; Saphir, Ann New York Federal Reserve President William Dudley said he sees downside risks to his U.S. economic outlook, an assessment that could flag a longer pause before the Fed's next interest-rate hike than he and his colleagues had earlier signaled.

The Hill, Mar. 2, 2016--Needham, Vicki Housing industry experts are sounding the alarm over the increasingly dire financial situation of the federal mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. "I actually believe it's really incumbent on Congress to take this up as an issue, thoughtfully, while we have time," said David Stevens, head of the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Mortgage Professional America, Mar. 2, 2016--Kersgaard, Scot Inlanta Mortgage has announced that President Nicholas DelTorto will assume the role of CEO, while also remaining president. DelTorto was recently elected to the Mortgage Bankers Association Residential Board of Governors.

National Mortgage News, Mar. 1, 2016--Collins, Brian Bankers are still grappling with vendor software problems, longer processing times and delays in mortgage closings as a result of new disclosures that went into effect four months ago, according to a new survey.

HousingWire, Mar. 1, 2016--Barraza, Cynthia Colorado is the newest state to start using the nationwide SAFE mortgage loan originator test, bringing the total number to 51 state agencies.