The Lede

Washington Post, May 25, 2017--Kathy OrtonFreddie Mac said the 30-year fixed-rate average dropped to 3.95 percent with an average 0.5 point. (MBA mention)

Associated Press, May 25, 2017--Christopher S. RugaberHome prices have recovered and housing equity now equals 58 percent of home values--the highest point since 2006. Yet borrowing against that equity has barely budged from post-recession lows, which helps explain why consumer spending remains weak eight years after the Great Recession ended. (MBA mention)

MarketWatch, May 25, 2017--Jeff ReevesThe housing market has nowhere to go but up. Here are some reasons why. (MBA mention)

Wall Street Journal, May 25, 2017--Candace Jackson (subscription)The once-sleepy government town is attracting a rush of buyers and flurry of development near its Golden 1 Center, a new NBA arena.

National Mortgage News, May 25, 2017--Brian Collins (subscription)President Trump has nominated Paul Compton, an Alabama attorney with affordable housing experience, to serve as general counsel for HUD.

Mortgage Daily, May 25, 2017--Sam GarciaInterest rates on residential loans were solidly lower over the past seven days. Rates are likely to refrain from moving much over the next seven days.

Mortgage Daily, May 25, 2017Mortgage servicing rights on more than $1 billion in Ginnie Mae loans with a Texas concentration are being marketed for sale.

Mortgage Daily, May 25, 2017MSRs are being offered on 2,316 Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae loans with an aggregate unpaid principal balance of $439 million as of April 30.

Scotsman Guide, May 25, 2017--Victor WhitmanAs the midpoint of 2017 approaches, the mortgage market is unfolding much as forecasted, with home-purchase volume rising and refinancing falling, said Mortgage Bankers Association Chief Economist Michael Fratantoni.

National Mortgage News, May 25, 2017--Ian McKendry (subscription)A bill to overhaul the Dodd-Frank Act could get a vote in the full House as early as June 7.

HousingWire, May 25, 2017--Ben LaneSunTrust Bank will pay a fine of more than $1.5 million for the bank's "pattern or practice of violations" of a portion of the National Flood Insurance Act, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve announced on Thursday.

New in today's issue of MBA Insights: in a new series, MBA President and CEO Dave Stevens, CMB, outlines not only why reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac must take place now, but also why some suggested alternative approaches are simply unacceptable.