The Lede

DS News, Jan. 2, 2017--Brown, Mirasha New Jersey homeowners who were victims of Hurricane Sandy will no longer have to fear about facing foreclosure thanks to the latest bill that is waiting for approval from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on December 19.

Mortgage Daily, Dec. 29, 2016 After falling to the lowest level in over eight years, delinquencies rose for the first time in almost seven years at Fannie Mae.

Mortgage Daily, Dec. 30, 2016 Just a month after declining to the lowest level on record, the 11th District Cost of Funds Index took a turn for the worse.

Mortgage Daily, Jan. 3, 2017 Fixed-rate mortgage-backed securities issued on behalf of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae came to $156.852 billion during the final month of 2016.

Tribune News Service, Dec. 31, 2016 After three years of almost single-handedly juicing up the slow-growing economy, Janet Yellen and the Federal Reserve should be looking at easier days ahead.

American Banker, Dec. 30, 2016--McKendry, Ian The new year is shaping up to be the one in which sizable changes to the Dodd-Frank Act are finally enacted, thanks to Republican victories in the White House, Senate and House.

HousingWire, Dec. 30, 2016--Lane, Ben TransUnion, one of the nation's largest credit reporting agencies, will pay just shy of $17 million as part of a settlement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau over the company's advertising and marketing practices.

National Mortgage News, Dec. 29, 2016--Sinnock, Bonnie From selling servicing rights along with the loans to issuing private-label securities, a host of strategies from the past could return to the market as a result of the new political climate and interest rate environment.

National Mortgage Professional, Dec. 30, 2016--Hall, Phil Four of the nation's 10 most competitive residential markets for 2016 are based in the Seattle metro area, according to a new data report from Redfin.

Wall Street Journal, Jan. 2, 2017--Kusisto, Laura Landlords of upscale properties in cities across the U.S. are bracing for rough conditions in 2017 that will likely force them to slash rents and offer deep concessions, including as many as three months of free rent, to attract tenants.

UExpress, Dec. 30, 2016--Sichelman, Lew There are numerous reasons why a homeowner would drop insurance coverage, but one stands out: insurance is required to keep a mortgage in good standing. When people pay off their loans, they forgo insurance to save even more money.

Detroit Free Press, Dec. 29, 2016--Reindl, J.C. Troy, Mich.-based mortgage business United Shore Financial Services has agreed to a $48-million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over claims that it failed to properly underwrite federally insured, low-down-payment mortgages.

The Mortgage Reports, Jan. 2, 2017--Miller, Peter G. By any standard, 2016 was a very good year for the FHA. It was so good that lower FHA mortgage insurance premiums are very much in play for 2017.

Washington Post, Jan. 1, 2016--Merle, Renae Nearly 1.6 million borrowers have seen their mortgage payments lowered through the Home Affordable Modification Program so far, but about a third of those people eventually fell behind on their payments again.

Politico, Dec. 31, 2016--Woellert, Lorraine Comments from incoming administration officials spark a scramble to save the mortgage interest deduction.

National Mortgage News, Dec. 28, 2016--Stevens, David MBA President and CEO says the real risk is the uncertainty of continued, long-term conservatorship.  Congressional reform before recapitalization is the proper path forward.

The Mortgage Reports, Dec. 29, 2016--Miller, Peter G. Most industry insiders aren't that concerned about a quarter percent here or there. But a serious increase could fundamentally lower home sales and slash real estate values.

Chicago Daily Herald, Jan. 2, 2016--Woodard, Jim Perhaps small investors are finally recognizing the risks involved in "flipping" homes or it may be the intense competition and lack of appropriate inventory. But whatever the reason, the flipping lure is headed downward.

Bloomberg, Dec. 27, 2016--Molla, Rani 2016 was supposed to be the year of the real estate investment trust--until it wasn't.