The Lede

Wall Street Journal, June 23, 2017--Justin Lahart (subscription)Americans' finances are in the best shape they have been in years. As a group, U.S. households' debt-to-income and debt-to-asset ratios in the first quarter fell to their lowest levels since the early 2000s.

Bloomberg, June 23, 2017--Patrick ClarkIn a logical world, builders would rush to put up homes in the U.S. regions adding jobs at the fastest pace. In reality, it's not so simple.

Fortune, June 23, 2017--Phil WahbaYou can add another 20 Sears and Kmart stores to retail's graveyard.

Ozy.com, June 25, 2017--Daniel MalloyHousing talk in the Trump Administration has been conspicuously absent at a critical turning point. Dave Stevens, the head of the Mortgage Bankers Association, says his group will be "closely watching" the tax reform process and making the case that "the biggest beneficiaries of the mortgage interest deduction are the middle class."

UExpress, June 23, 2017--Lew SichelmanSelling a house is complicated enough. But when the house is being rented and occupied by a tenant, the degree of difficulty is compounded exponentially.

San Francisco Chronicle, June 24, 2017--Kathleen PenderMortgage-tech companies are attempting to save people time and money by letting them shop and apply online and either upload their documentation or give the mortgage company permission to pull it directly from employers, financial institutions and the IRS. But it's still a Herculean task.

Wall Street Journal, June 25, 2017--Ryan Tracy (subscription)The Federal Reserve on Wednesday will release the final results of this year's tests, which probe firms' ability to withstand a severe financial shock. Officials made the tests easier for some banks this year, and for the next time around they are preparing to further change the exams in fundamental ways.

HousingWire, June 23, 2017--Brena SwansonTestifying before the Senate Banking Committee, Keith Noreika focused on two issues. The first issue involved reducing regulatory redundancy that results in waste and hinders economic growth. The second related to tailoring regulation to fit the size, complexity and risk of regulated institutions to prevent over-regulating or under-regulating particular entities and activities.

Bloomberg, June 23, 2017--Oshrat CarmielAnother luxury condo at Manhattan's One57 is scheduled for a foreclosure auction--the second time in a month that a property seizure is being sought at the Billionaires' Row tower following a mortgage default. And it might be the biggest in New York City residential history.

Mortgage Daily, June 23, 2017NAHREP President Leo Pareja noted in the announcement that Hispanics accounted for nearly 75 percent of growth in U.S. homeownership last year.

Mortgage Daily, June 23, 2017Freddie Mac said after peaking during the current quarterly period, single-family loan production is projected to retreat for the foreseeable future.

HousingWire, June 26, 2017--Brena SwansonFannie Mae's second-quarter 2017 Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey said the share of lenders reporting they have eased mortgage credit standards over the prior three months has ticked up gradually since the fourth quarter.

The Mortgage Bankers Association's Small Balance and Portfolio Lending Summit takes place June 28-29 at the Grand Hyatt DFW in Dallas.