The Lede

OurBroker.com, Apr. 10, 2017--Peter G. MillerAccording to the Mortgage Bankers Association the average purchase mortgage is now $318,200, the highest level on record since the Association began tracking such data in 1990.

GoRion, Apr. 10, 2017--Sam BourgiThe U.S. housing market held firm in February, as unseasonably warm weather and regulatory reform translated into higher industry morale at the end of the first quarter.

The Denver Channel (Colo.), Apr. 10, 2017--Blair MillerGreenwood Village-based home loan lender Bellco Credit Union faces accusations it broke federal fair housing laws by not giving mortgage loans to women while they were on or about to go on maternity leave.

Wall Street Journal, Apr. 10, 2017--Emily Glazer (subscription)According to a 113-page report by a board committee released Monday, directors of the bank decided to hold back more pay than disclosed last year from former Chief Executive John Stumpf and former retail bank leader Carrie Tolstedt.

National Mortgage News, Apr. 10, 2017--Brian Collins (subscription)The Federal Housing Administration needs additional funds to replace a 1960s-era computer operating system and make other necessary tech updates, according to Richard Green, a former senior adviser to HUD.

HousingWire, Apr. 10, 2017--Brena SwansonSimpleLoan.com, FBC's online mortgage application that takes 8 to 10 minutes to pre-approve a potential borrower, expanded past its retail version and is now functional for the wholesale and correspondent division.

American Banker, Apr. 10, 2017--Kate Berry (subscription)Banks may be hoping for a friendlier enforcement environment under the Trump administration, but legal experts suggest a lighter touch will probably not extend to Wells Fargo for the ongoing scandal tied to the bank's sales practices.

Mortgage Daily, Apr. 10, 2017For the second time since late last year, the parent of United Wholesale Mortgage has reached a settlement with government authorities. The latest action was due to interest overcharges.

Mortgage Daily, Apr. 10, 2017--Sam GarciaThe fastest-growing companies are seeing better sales results from purchasing leads in greater volume at higher prices, according to the Leads Trends Report.

MortgageOrb, Apr. 10, 2017--Dana FortinIt takes a highly customized, personal, relevant and customer-centric approach to grab anyone's attention today, which can become cumbersome for loan officers when trying to get in front of both prospective borrowers and realtors.

Wall Street Journal, Apr. 11, 2017--Peter Grant (subscription)Lenders closed $491 billion of mortgage loans in 2016, down 3% from 2015, according to new statistics from the Mortgage Bankers Association. Most of the decline occurred in the fourth quarter, when volume was 7% lower than the same quarter in 2015.

HousingWire, Apr. 10, 2017--Ben LanePreviously, the company focused on the refinance market, but now the company is continuing its push into purchase mortgages by rolling out a "verified" pre-approval letter for borrowers.

National Mortgage News, Apr. 10, 2017--Brad Finkelstein (subscription)United Shore Financial Services has agreed to pay a total of $1.4 million to consumers and California regulators to settle allegations it collected interest payments it was not entitled to.

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