The Lede

CNBC, May 24, 2017--Diana OlickTotal mortgage application volume increased 4.4 percent last week on a seasonally adjusted basis from the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. The gain was driven entirely by refinancings.

The Street, May 24, 2017--Tony OwusuTreasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said the Trump administration is considering adding a government backstop to the mortgage market, allowing the government to guarantee certain mortgage securities, reducing the role of federal home loan financiers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

HousingWire, May 24, 2017--Brena SwansonGuild Mortgage announced a new, nationwide 1% down mortgage product to cater to the upcoming surge in Millennial homebuyers.

National Mortgage News, May 24, 2017--John Heltman (subscription)Appeals court justices appeared divided on whether the structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is constitutional during oral arguments Wednesday, with some judges suggesting the court had no power to decide otherwise while others said the current system was illogical and illegal.

HousingWire, May 24, 2017--Ben LaneFannie Mae this week rolled out a new program designed to boost the development of healthy living options for residents of affordable, multifamily rental properties.

Bloomberg, May 24, 2017--Prashant GopalSan Francisco, which in recent years had the biggest home-price gain in the U.S., was the country's weakest market in the first quarter, with values falling for the first time since 2011, the Federal Housing Finance Agency said.

Los Angeles Times, May 24, 2017--Andrew KhouriThe median home price in Los Angeles County has reached the record high set in 2007, a milestone that follows five years of steady recovery but comes amid renewed concerns over housing affordability.

Mortgage Orb, May 24, 2017--Patrick BarnardWorking with homeowners associations and condo owners associations often leads to confusion among servicers--and that confusion may lead to problems during the lien process.

Mortgage Daily, May 24, 2017Freddie Mac significantly upped its forecast for refinance production has been made by Freddie Mac thanks to falling rates. Even expected purchase lending increased.

Mortgage Daily, May 24, 2017The offering is for 44 non-performing single-family loans that have a collective unpaid principal balance of $4.3 million.

Dallas Morning News, May 24, 2017--Jill CowanFederal authorities have ordered a Frisco, Texas, mortgage lender to stop running what they call a fraudulent scheme that funneled investors' money to several people he shouldn't have -- including $1.4 million to a man who claimed to be a booking agent for singers Drake and Taylor Swift.

Los Angeles Times, May 25, 2017--James Rufus KorenA recent Supreme Court decision that will allow mortgage discrimination cases against Wells Fargo and other banks to proceed is more than just another bad headline for the San Francisco financial giant.

Forbes, May 25, 2017--Bernard MarrLarger datasets give a more accurate picture of whatever they represent, leaving less margin for error. This leads to analytics, simulations and insights which more closely reflect real-world outcomes--such as whether someone will repay a loan.

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.