The Lede

UExpress, Apr. 21, 2017--Lew SichelmanThe one thing lenders seem to have the most trouble with at closing is estimating the borrower's property taxes. They invariably get it wrong, and borrowers pay the price.

Commercial Property Executive, Apr. 21, 2017--Sanyu KyeyunePGIM Real Estate Finance CIO and Senior Portfolio Manager Paige Hood shares his views on market volatility, discipline and potential opportunities and challenges that will affect commercial real estate finance and investment.

National Real Estate Investor, Apr. 21, 2017--Diana Bell Swamped by retail bankruptcies, restructurings and re-sizings over the past two years and experts contending that the U.S. is over-retailed, retail development remains at a pace well below historic highs.

CNBC, Apr 21, 2017--John W. SchoenMBA President and CEO David Stevens said in event of shutdown, work on FHA mortgage paperwork would stop. "There's no 'wink-wink, keep your laptops and we'll call you," he said.

NJ.com, Apr. 21, 2017--Matt GrayA group of fired Wells Fargo Home Mortgage employees are suing the company, saying they were made the scapegoats for an illegal practice encouraged by higher-ups.

MarketWatch, Apr. 21, 2017--Jacob PassyHomeowners whose mortgage payments dropped when their adjustable-rate mortgage reset to a lower rate increased their spending, according to a report released this week from the JPMorgan Chase Institute.

Wall Street Journal, Apr. 21, 2017--Ryan Tracy (subscription)The Trump administration will put on hold two of its powers under the Dodd-Frank financial overhaul law, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Friday.

HousingWire, Apr. 21, 2017--Ben LaneOcwen released a lengthy statement Thursday stating that it intends to fight the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's lawsuit, claiming that the bureau's charges are "inaccurate" and "unfounded." And early Friday morning, Ocwen released another lengthy statement, but this one is in response the state banking regulators allegations.

HousingWire, Apr. 21, 2017--Kelsey RamirezThe National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals issued a statement of support for the Mortgage Bankers Association's proposal for GSE reform.

Politico, Apr. 23, 2017--Lorraine WoellertLess than two months into the job, Carson still holds forth on God and neurosurgery, but his views on housing policy remain largely a mystery.

OC Register (Calif.), Apr. 23, 2017--Jonathan LansnerTwo indexes that track the nation's ability to get a mortgage suggest lenders remain more generous than risk-averse days after housing's bubble burst, but still there are no wild lending practices. That means you still need steady income and a pretty good payment history to close a home loan.

Wall Street Journal, Apr. 23, 2017--Laura Kusisto (subscription)Mortgage rates dropped below 4% for the first time since November, providing more kindling to an already hot housing market as the crucial spring selling season gets under way.

New York Times, Apr. 22, 2017--James B. StewartPresident Trump has promised a sweeping tax plan, arriving in the days ahead, that will be "bigger, I believe, than any tax cut ever." It will aim to bring down individual and corporate rates, simplify the overall tax code and unleash economic growth. But there is a major roadblock to that fundamental change, and it comes from a sector well known to the president: the real estate industry.

Mortgage Daily, Apr. 24, 2017A modest weekly increase in the U.S. Mortgage Market Index was led by loans to finance a home purchase. As rates retreated, adjustable-rate activity turned sharply lower.

Mortgage Daily, Apr. 21, 2017A new offering has hit the market for mortgage servicing rights on more than $2 billion in Ginnie Mae loans.

Mortgage Daily, Apr. 21, 2017David Chubak has been named head of global retail banking and mortgage.

In this week's issue of MBA Insights: Burton Embry of Primary Residential Mortgage says in a period of declining volume, secondary market strategy becomes vitally important to ensuring adequate liquidity, and nothing can derail a sale to the secondary market faster than loan defects.