The Lede

MReport, Feb. 8, 2019--Rachel Williams, Krista Franks BrockIntegrity, decisiveness and empowerment. These are the three core qualities of an effective leader, according to Marcia Davies, COO of the Mortgage Bankers Association and creator of mPower, a networking group for women in housing finance, sponsored by MBA.

Fox Business, Feb. 8, 2-19--Brittany De LeaThe Mortgage Bankers Association attributes the drop in demand to affordability challenges--as home prices continued to appreciate between 7 percent and 9 percent--and weakening demand for higher-priced homes.

National Mortgage News, Feb. 8, 2019--Bonnie Sinnock (free article)A lawsuit alleging Wells Fargo improperly compensated its California-based mortgage loan officers could have broader ramifications now that it has been granted class certification.

National Mortgage News, Feb. 8, 2019--Elina Tarkazikis (subscription)The share of home shoppers planning on buying a house within a year tanked in the fourth quarter, and those who are searching blame affordability struggles for their setbacks, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

HousingWire, Feb. 8, 2019--Jacob GaffneyThe office furniture is sold. The website is down. No one answers the phone. Everyone stateside is now laid off. The chief executive officer is currently focused on a new line of work. For all intents and purposes, CoesterVMS, one of the nation's largest appraisal management companies, is now out of business.

Washington Post, Feb. 8, 2019--Robert McCartney, Jonathan O'Connell, Patricia SullivanAmazon.com is reconsidering its plan to bring 25,000 jobs to a new campus in New York City following a wave of opposition from local politicians.

Wall Street Journal, Feb. 10, 2019--Nicole Friedman (subscription)Californians who want to insure their homes against the next wildfire are paying a price for two years of record-breaking blazes. Home-insurance companies in the Golden State are canceling some policies, refusing to sell new ones in certain areas and applying for rate increases as they look to cut back on wildfire risk.

UExpress, Feb. 8, 2019--Lew SichelmanFraud isn't exactly rampant in the mortgage field. But it does happen, perhaps more frequently than you'd think.

The Mortgage Bankers Association's National Secondary Market Conference & Expo returns to the New York Marriott Marquis May 19-22.