The Lede

Wall Street Journal, Feb. 16, 2017--Josh Zumbrun (subscription)The total amount of debt held by American households climbed in 2016 by the most in a decade, driven by broad and steady increases in credit card debt, auto and student loans, and a fourth-quarter surge to the highest amount of mortgage originations since before the financial crisis.

Mortgage Daily, Feb. 16, 2017--Sam GarciaMortgage rates have hardly moved over the past three weeks, and at least one forecast suggests that fixed rates might continue to stay frozen.

Mortgage Daily, Feb. 16, 2017A new application enables mortgage servicers to offer their borrowers access to their accounts from their phones and tablets.

Reuters, Feb. 16, 2017--Lucia MutikaniAmericans filing for unemployment benefits increased less than expected last week, a sign that the labor market was continuing to tighten.

HousingWire, Feb. 16, 2017--Kelsey RamirezThe Mortgage Bankers Association said the economy will see steady, modest growth as the Federal Reserve begins to see some of its economic targets hit. Lynn Fisher, MBA vice president of research and economics explains these targets being reached could lead to a change in economic policy.

HousingWire, Feb. 16, 2017--Ben LaneIf President Donald Trump wants to fire Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray, he's going to have to wait a little longer to do it, as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled Thursday in favor of the CFPB. The ruling allows the embattled agency to defend the constitutionality of its leadership structure.

National Mortgage News, Feb. 16, 2017--Kate Berry (subscription)The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is seeking feedback on the benefits and risks of using alternative data sources, such as rent or utility payments, that would allow lenders to build a credit history for unbanked consumers.

National Mortgage News, Feb. 16, 2017--Brian Collins (subscription)Freddie Mac's net income increased to $4.8 billion in the fourth quarter, more than double what it earned a quarter earlier, the government-sponsored enterprise announced Thursday.

Wall Street Journal, Feb. 16, 2017--Laura Kusisto (subscription)U.S. housing starts slid in the first month of 2017, an indication that softness in apartment construction could offset a continued recovery in the single-family construction market this year.

Reuters, Feb. 16, 2017--David HenryJPMorgan Chase & Co. is gradually introducing a digital mortgage platform where customers can apply online and track applications by mobile phone.

National Mortgage News, Feb. 16, 2017--Brad Finkelstein (subscription)Developers of new loan-modification programs need to streamline application processes and stop making borrowers chase down useless documents.

National Mortgage Professional, Feb. 16, 2017--Phil HallWhat is the true cost of homeownership? According a new data analysis from Zillow, today's typical monthly mortgage payment requires more of the average household income than it has anytime in the previous six years.

HousingWire, Feb. 15, 2017--Ben LaneOver the last few years, technological advancements took mortgage originations from the fax machine to the smartphone and from months of waiting to approval in minutes. Could the same thing be coming for mortgage modifications?

MarketWatch, Feb. 16, 2017--Steve GoldsteinFreddie Mac Chief Economist Sean Becketti said something unusual is going on: the 30-year mortgage is not moving in line with the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury, as it has for the past 46 years.

Miami Herald, Feb. 16, 2017--Ana Veciana-SuarezA new survey of Americans 55 years and over shows that almost half worry about where they will live in retirement and almost two-thirds of baby boomer parents fret about their adult children's ability to afford desirable housing.

HousingWire, Feb.16, 2017--Ben LaneEarlier this week, PHH announced it will exit its joint mortgage venture with Realogy Holdings, ceding the business to Guaranteed Rate as PHH continues to shift its business focus. But that's far from the only change for the company.

Washington Post, Feb. 16, 2017--Sarah HalzackGerman grocery juggernaut Lidl, with 10,000 stores in 27 countries, made its name offering a limited assortment of goods, many of them private label, at ultra-low prices. Now it is ready to descend on America, potentially disrupting the grocery retail category.

Washington Post, Feb. 16, 2017--Kathy OrtonMortgage rates have defied conventional wisdom this past month by holding steady for the fourth week in a row. "Mortgage applications fell last week as mortgage rates were little changed," Mortgage Bankers Association Chief Economist Mike Fratantoni said.

MBA Education presents a webinar, Consumer Direct Origination: Best Practices for Driving Purchase Money, on Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. ET.

MBA Education presents a new webinar, Tax Reform: The Potential Impact on Residential Lending Webinar, on Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 3:30-5:00 p.m. ET.