The Lede

Washington Post, Aug. 24, 2017--Kathy Orton (MBA mention)A terrorist attack in Spain and political drama in Washington continued to put downward pressure on mortgage rates this week.

Bloomberg, Aug. 24, 2017--Claire BostonPacific Investment Management Co., Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Columbia Threadneedle and others are snatching up bonds tied to subprime mortgages and other home loans made before the housing crisis, while selling speculative-grade company debt.

HousingWire, Aug. 24, 2017--Ben LaneAccording to the CFPB, some number of "financial professionals" are "increasingly promoting" a strategy involving seniors taking out a reverse mortgage as a way to bridge the financial gap until they are able to claim their full Social Security benefits.

National Mortgage News, Aug. 24, 2017--Bonnie Sinnock (subscription)Fannie Mae has begun allowing property inspection waivers for certain purchase loans that have prior appraisals in its Collateral Underwriter system.

HousingWire, Aug. 24, 2017--Brena SwansonSan Francisco-based, mortgage-tech provider Blend announced it raised $100 million in Series D funding, marking its second round of funding for the year. The new round of funding brings Blend's total funding to $166 million.

Bloomberg, Aug. 24, 2017--Patrick ClarkAccording to a new report, the most active metropolitan areas include Chicago, where an inventory logjam appears to be loosening. Also, Colorado Springs, Washington, D.C., and Reno, Nevada, near Tesla's massive battery factory, which is attracting workers and driving housing demand.

Associated Press, Aug. 24, 2017Sears continued to struggle in its second quarter with declining sales amid heightened competition. It now says it will close even more stores.

Mortgage Daily, Aug. 24, 2017Freddie Mac managed a total mortgage portfolio that had a balance of $2.0439 trillion as of July 31, according to data provided in its Monthly Volume Summary: July 2017.

Mortgage Daily, Aug. 24, 2017Single-family mortgages that were at least 30 days past due or in the foreclosure process numbered 2.384 million as of the end of July, said Black Knight Financial Services.

HousingWire, Aug. 24, 2017--Ben LaneA new report from the Mortgage Bankers Association shows that the delinquency rate for mortgages on one-to-four-unit residential properties fell to a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.24% of all loans at the end of the second quarter.

Bloomberg, Aug. 25, 2017--Vince GolleSigns are mounting that rising home values are starting to close the door for more Americans, threatening to temper the momentum in residential real estate.

DSNews, Aug. 25, 2017--Whitney BlessingThe author, with Churchill Mortgage, says more single women are buying homes, which is as important a trend as the emergence of Millennials.

National Mortgage News, Aug. 24, 2017--Brian Collins (subscription)Lenders will not have to report data on open-ended home equity lines of credit in 2018 or 2019 if they originated fewer than 500 HELOCs in the preceding year, the bureau said Thursday.

HousingWire, Aug. 24, 2017--Ben LaneAmerican Pacific Mortgage filed a lawsuit in federal court this week against Aspen Specialty Insurance Company, claiming that the insurance company is refusing to cover a claim filed after a hacker impersonated the mortgage company's former CEO and stole more than $75,000 from the company.

MBA Education presents a the first in a two-webinar series, Preparing for the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac UCD, on Tuesday, Aug. 29 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. ET.

MBA Education presents a three-part webinar series, Recruit, Interview & Hire the Right Originators, on Monday, Sept. 11; Tuesday, Sept. 12; and Wednesday, Sept. 13 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. ET.