The Lede

The Mortgage Leader, Jan. 22, 2019Blend has hired Tim Mayopoulos, former CEO of Fannie Mae, as president of the company. Mayopoulos will lead Blend's go to market and corporate support functions, take a seat on the board and report to Nima Ghamsari, CEO of Blend.

HousingWire, Jan. 22, 2019--Jacob GaffneyFlagstar reported 2018 net income was $187 million, as compared to full year 2017 net income of $63 million, nearly triple the profit after taxes and other deductions are taken out. The bank also reported fourth-quarter net income of $54 million, after reporting a loss in the same period a year earlier.

National Mortgage Professional, Jan. 22, 2019--Phil HallIncreased competition, margin compression and rising rates are the greatest challenges facing mortgage professionals, according to the newly published "The State of the Originations Industry" from Altisource Portfolio Solutions.

National Mortgage News, Jan. 22, 2019--Bonnie Sinnock (subscription)In a slow mortgage market, construction loans are considered the most likely source of growth for lenders, according to Altisource's latest annual originations survey.

Chicago Tribune, Jan. 22, 2019--Brenda RichardsonThe process has not met expectations that using algorithms to analyze a consumer's financial picture would make a digital mortgage colorblind. A new study conducted by researchers at the University of California at Berkeley, raises questions about statistical discrimination and pricing disparities.

American Banker, Jan. 22, 2019--Hilary Burns (subscription)Smaller institutions are booking loans at a faster clip than bigger lenders, raising concerns that they are relaxing standards in order to win business.