The Lede

National Mortgage News, May 22, 2018--Brad Finkelstein (subscription)The mortgage industry has been looking for Ginnie Mae to speak about its plans for digital mortgages, said Michael Drayne, senior vice president, issuer and portfolio management at the Mortgage Bankers Association National Secondary Market Conference in New York.

HousingWire, May 22, 2018--Ben LaneThe Federal Housing Administration could have an official, Senate-approved leader by the end of this week, a senior advisor at the Department of Housing and Urban Development said Tuesday at the Mortgage Bankers Association's Commercial/Multifamily Servicing and Technology Conference.

The Real Deal New York, May 22, 2018--Konrad PutzierNot too long ago, it seemed like the real estate business was about to enter a new era. To some observers, websites like Zillow and Trulia or office equivalents 42Floors and LoopNet threatened to put brokers out of business. Fast forward a few years, and the opposite seems to be taking place: well-funded startups are currently in a quest to add more and more intermediaries to real estate deals.

National Mortgage Professional, May 22, 2018--Phil HallIn his final trade conference appearance as President and Chief Executive of the Mortgage Bankers Association, David H. Stevens warned that potential changes in the political landscape could bring a reshuffling of how Washington views the housing and mortgage markets.

National Mortgage News, May 22, 2018--Bonnie Sinnock (Free Content)Originations and margins are thinning, and there will be mortgage banking firms that don't make it through this year, but after that, the numbers may look better. "What a tough business this is right now. Margins are just incredibly tight," Mortgage Bankers Association Chief Economist Mike Fratantoni said at the group's secondary market conference in New York.

Mortgage Daily, May 22, 2018RoundPoint said it is moving its headquarters to Fort Mill, S.C. The servicer is investing $34 million in the new location.

Mortgage Daily, May 22, 2018Joseph DiValli, a New Jersey mortgage loan originator, has been sentenced to hard time because of his role in a scheme involving $6 million in fraudulent residential loans.

HousingWire, May 22, 2018--Kelsey RamirezPanelists at the MBA National Secondary Market Conference said the key to expanding access to credit is focusing on first-time homebuyers. Currently, the homeownership rate among younger families is not only below 2007 levels but also below the 2001 to 2006 levels, according to Tian Liu, Genworth Mortgage Insurance chief economist.

Wall Street Journal, May 22, 2018--Laura Kusisto (subscription)Soon it may be nearly as easy to trade in an old home for a new one as it is to dispense with a used car. Open Door Labs Inc., a San Francisco startup that buys homes in cash and turns around and flips them, is getting into business with home builders.

Commercial Property Executive, May 22, 2018--Paul FiorillaForged out of crisis and sharpened during a cycle of frenetic activity, the commercial mortgage-backed securities market is struggling to adjust to a period of relative calm.