The Lede

CNBC, Feb. 21, 2018--Diana OlickMortgage interest rates jumped again last week, causing mortgage application volume to fall 6.6 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from the previous week. Volume was just 3.5 percent higher than a year ago, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Reuters, Feb. 21, 2018--Lucia MutikaniU.S. home sales unexpectedly fell in January, leading to the biggest year-on-year decline in more than three years, as a chronic shortage of houses lifted prices and kept first-time buyers out of the market.

Wall Street Journal, Feb. 21, 2018--Keiko Morris, Cara Lombardo (subscription)JPMorgan Chase & Co. plans to build a new 2.5 million square-foot headquarters at 270 Park Ave. in New York City, the first major project under a city rezoning plan designed to rejuvenate the building stock in one of its biggest job centers.

National Mortgage News, Feb. 21, 2018--Elina Tarkazikis (subscription)Refinance mortgages accounted for 45% of mortgage volume, the highest share in a year, according to Ellie Mae's Origination Insights Report.

Bloomberg, Feb. 21, 2018--Craig TorresFederal Reserve officials grew more positive on the economic outlook, citing "substantial underlying economic momentum," and were increasingly optimistic about achieving their inflation target, according to minutes of last month's policy meeting.

Los Angeles Times, Feb. 21, 2018--David G. SavageThe Supreme Court sharply limited the legal protections for corporate whistleblowers on Wednesday, ruling they are not shielded from being fired under the Dodd-Frank Act unless they have reported a potential fraud to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Urban Institute, Feb. 21, 2018--Laurie Goodman, Christopher MayerThe authors state homeownership is not the universal panacea, but the financial returns on homeownership have been more beneficial than renting for most homeowners and will likely remain so if current patterns continue.

CNBC, Feb. 21, 2018 (video)On CNBC's Squawk Box, MBA Chief Economist Mike Fratantoni discusses why borrowing has slowed down because of interest rates that continue to rise.

Reuters, Feb. 21, 2018--Pete SchroederThe U.S. Treasury Department has recommended preserving powers created after the 2007-2009 financial crisis that allow regulators to step in and wind down a failing bank, in a win for big banks and overseas regulators who had lobbied for the United States to keep it.

Urban Institute, Feb. 21, 2018--Jim Parrott, Laurie GoodmanA draft bill to overhaul the housing finance system being considered in the Senate Banking Committee could provide a meaningful improvement of the way in which Americans support affordable homeownership. But the authors say it needs to overcome several critical design challenges that could undermine its effectiveness if mishandled.

Mortgage Daily, Feb. 21, 2018The Internal Revenue Service issued a clarification about the deductibility of interest that is paid on home-equity and junior-lien products.

National Mortgage News, Feb. 21, 2018--Kate Berry (subscription)The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is seeking comment on how to engage the public in field hearings and town hall meetings as part of a broad review of all of the bureau's processes under acting Director Mick Mulvaney.

HousingWire, Feb. 21, 2018--Caroline BasileCNN reported Tuesday there is an "open matter" according to HUD IG spokesman Darryl Madden, the news network reported. The investigation comes after HUD officials expressed ethics concerns about the extensive involvement that his family members--especially his son, Benjamin Jr.--played in official HUD business.