The Lede

Los Angeles Times, Dec. 12, 2017--Jim Puzzanghera Westfield Corp., operator of upscale shopping malls in Los Angeles and dozens of other U.S. locations, is being sold to French commercial real estate giant Unibail-Rodamco in a $16 billion deal, the two companies announced Tuesday.

Mortgage News Daily, Dec. 12, 2017--Jann SwansonMBA's Builder Applications Survey, conducted among mortgage subsidiaries of home construction companies, indicates that sales during the month were down 6 percent from October, but were a healthy 12.2 percent higher than in November 2016.

Scotsman Guide, Dec. 12, 2017--Victor WhitmanCommercial mortgage debt rose across all major investor classes to $3.11 trillion in the third quarter, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported.

Associated Press, Dec. 12, 2017Congressional aides say negotiators have agreed to scale back the mortgage interest deduction, which would allow homeowners to deduct interest on the first $750,000 of a new mortgage.

HousingWire, Dec. 12, 2017--David StevensMBA President and CEO outlines the Association's strategy for comprehensive secondary mortgage market reform.

Wall Street Journal, Dec. 12, 2017--Nicole Friedman (subscription)Insurers and reinsurers are already on track for one of the largest ever industrywide losses from natural catastrophes.

National Mortgage News, Dec. 12, 2017--Kate Berry (subscription)Past statements by Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney about the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau should disqualify him from leading the agency, according to New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and 16 other state attorneys general.

Reuters, Dec. 12, 2017--Lucia MutikaniU.S. producer prices rose in November as gasoline prices surged and the cost of other goods increased, leading to the largest annual gain in nearly six years.

National Real Estate Investor, Dec. 12, 2017--Bendix AndersonApartment property owners still look to the lending programs of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac when they need permanent financing.

Mortgage Daily, Dec. 12, 2017--Sam GarciaAs developers of mortgage product and pricing engines improve their technology and integrate with other service providers, they are gaining new clients.

Mortgage Daily, Dec. 12, 2017Wintrust Financial Corp. said it reached a tentative agreement to acquire iFreedom Direct Corp., which does business as Veterans First Mortgage.

The MISMO Winter 2018 Summit takes place Jan. 8-12 in New Orleans.

The Mortgage Bankers Association's Mortgage Action Alliance Quarterly Advocacy Update takes place today, Dec. 13 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET.