The Lede

Washington Post, Aug. 1, 2019--Kathy OrtonWhile waiting to see what the Federal Reserve would do at its meeting this week, mortgage rates held steady. According to the latest data released Thursday by Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate average was unchanged at 3.75 percent with an average 0.6 point. (MBA mention)

Wall Street Journal, Aug. 1, 2019--Will Parker (subscription)HUD is close to finalizing a major reform of its extensive senior housing portfolio, allowing nonprofit owners of 125,000 apartments to tap private sources of financing for the first time.

New York Times, Aug. 1, 2019--Matt PhillipsDespite a drop in mortgage rates, sales of existing homes in the first half of 2019 were down 2 percent from a year earlier.

Wall Street Journal, Aug. 1, 2019--AnnaMaria Andriotis, Ken Brown, Shane Shifflett (subscription)Wages stalled but costs haven't, so people increasingly rent or finance what their parents might have owned outright.

National Mortgage Professional, Aug. 1, 2019--Phil HallThe government-sponsored enterprises released their respective second quarter earnings reports this morning, with both recording increased revenue from the previous quarter.

National Mortgage News, Aug. 1, 2019--Brad Finkelstein (subscription)Mr. Cooper Group reported a second-quarter net loss of $87 million as the company took a $231 million fair value hit to its mortgage servicing rights portfolio.

National Mortgage News, Aug. 1, 2019--Bonnie Sinnock (subscription)Fannie Mae's current tack could help it weather some of the new challenges confronting it, including the planned expiration of its qualified mortgage rule exemption and rate-driven earnings volatility.

Scotsman Guide, August 1, 2019--Victor WhitmanLisa J. Haynes is Chief financial officer and diversity and inclusion officer with the Mortgage Bankers Association.

HousingWIre, Aug. 1, 2019--Jessica GuerinGinnie Mae is taking yet another step to squash abuses, announcing Thursday it is moving forward with a proposal to remove VA-backed cash-out refinances with high loan-to-value ratios from its flagship securities.

San Bernardino Sun, Aug. 1, 2019--Jeff LazersonTax credits would be new for mortgage victims, but it's not unprecedented.  CPA Jeff Hipshman of HMWC CPA's and Advisors points to employment-related tax credits.

Keith Urban, 2018 Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year and four-time Grammy Award winner, highlights Concert MBA at Annual19, the Mortgage Bankers Association's Annual Convention & Expo, Oct. 27-30 in Austin, Texas.

The Path to Diversity Scholarship Program recognizes existing industry professionals who are seeking to advance their careers through continuing education. Recipients receive a voucher to cover course registration fees, up to a maximum of $2,000, for popular MBA Education courses and designation programs.

MBA Education presents its School of Mortgage Banking Course III Aug. 13-16 at MBA headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Keith Urban, 2018 Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year and four-time Grammy Award winner, highlights Concert MBA at Annual19, the Mortgage Bankers Association's Annual Convention & Expo, Oct. 27-30 in Austin, Texas.

Keith Urban, 2018 Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year and four-time Grammy Award winner, highlights Concert MBA at Annual19, the Mortgage Bankers Association's Annual Convention & Expo, Oct. 27-30 in Austin, Texas.