The Lede

National Mortgage News, Apr. 18, 2017--Laura Alix (subscription)Regions Financial in Birmingham, Ala., reported an increase in its first-quarter profit, as higher market interest rates and investment securities balances offset lower average loan balances.

Wall Street Journal, Apr. 18, 2017--Kate Davidson, Ryan Tracy (subscription)President Donald Trump's expected choice to be vice chairman at the Federal Reserve, Randal Quarles, has called for setting interest rates using a formula, setting up a clash with current officials who have warned such an approach could undermine the central bank's effectiveness.

National Mortgage News, Apr. 18, 2017--Brian Collins (subscription)Homebuilders looking for single-family construction loans may have better luck with small and midsize banks than larger ones, according to a recent report by the National Association of Home Builders.

Los Angeles Times, Apr. 18, 2017--Jim PuzzangheraThe Trump Administration is unlikely to meet its self-declared August deadline for enacting tax reform, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said, which will make it more difficult for companies to factor any changes into their spending decisions.

HousingWire, Apr. 18, 2017--Brena SwansonThe megabank missed earnings expectations in both earnings per share and revenue, causing its stock to fall to its lowest level in nearly five months.

HousingWire, Apr. 18, 2017--Brena SwansonMortgageHippo, a Chicago based mortgage technology company, raised $2.25 million in seed capital, led by CMFG Ventures, the venture capital entity of CUNA Mutual Group, triple what it originally expected.

Reuters, Apr. 18, 2017--Dan Freed, Nikhil SubbaBank of America Corp's quarterly profit rose 44 percent as its investment banking and trading units produced hefty gains, and higher long term interest rates also underpinned results for the second-largest U.S. bank.

Mortgage Daily, Apr. 18, 2017Secondary market giant Freddie Mac expects industry-wide mortgage production to come in at $443 billion in the second quarter then dip to $432 billion three months later.

Mortgage Daily, Apr. 18, 2017A new high-tech operations facility being built by Regions Bank in Mississippi is expected to create dozens of new jobs mostly in its mortgage business.

National Real Estate Investor, Apr. 18, 2017--Elaine MisonzhnikAs suburban office markets come back into fashion, some have experienced greater demand from tenants than others.

Wall Street Journal, Apr. 18, 2017--Peter Grant (subscription)The U.S. office market became more tenant-friendly in the first quarter in many big cities as a seven-year expansion slowed, said Cushman & Wakefield.

National Mortgage News, Apr. 18, 2017--Brian Collins (subscription)Lawmakers from both political parties are showing an interest in improving disclosures for loans used to upgrade home heating and cooling systems, including the installation of solar panels, an idea that has some in the industry increasingly nervous.

HousingWire, Apr. 18, 2017--Kelsey RamirezCredit availability remained steady in the fourth quarter of 2016, well below pre-recession levels, according to the Credit Availability Index from the Urban Institute's Housing Finance Policy Center.

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