The Lede

Mortgage Media, May 15, 2019The Mortgage Bankers Association's Jamie Woodwell sees a robust demand for housing over the next decade.

CNBC, May 15, 2019--Diana OlickMortgage hunters were not particularly impressed with the latest drop in interest rates. Mortgage application volume dropped 0.6% last week from the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index.

MarketWatch, May 15, 2019--Jacob PassyThe U.S.-China trade dispute has sent the Chinese yuan to new lows relative to the dollar. "It's already making U.S. real estate more expensive" for Chinese buyers, said Michael Fratantoni, chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Wall Street Journal, May 15, 2019--Ryan Tracy, Sarah Krouse (subscription)Responding to widespread consumer complaints, the Federal Communications Commission says it will take steps to give phone companies permission to block unwanted robocalls.

National Mortgage News, May 15, 2019--Kate Berry (subscription)Eric Blankenstein, the CFPB's policy director for supervision, enforcement and fair lending, said in an email Wednesday to agency employees that he had decided to "take another position" after working at the bureau for 18 months. Blankenstein wrote that details of his next job "are still being finalized." His last day at the CFPB will be May 31.

MReport, May 15, 2019--Seth Wellborn"Guarantee fees are a critical risk management tool used by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to protect against losses," said MBA President and CEO Robert Broeksmit, CMB. "Any increase of these fees that is not related to housing is effectively a tax on home ownership."

Bloomberg, May 15, 2019--Austin WeinsteinDraft legislation that would make annual testimony mandatory for the chief executive officers of systemically important banks was added to the agenda for a separate Thursday hearing before the House Financial Services Committee. As it stands, bank chiefs aren't required to appear before Congress unless they're subpoenaed, though they usually agree to testify voluntarily.

National Mortgage News, May 15, 2019--Brad Finkelstein (subscription)The potential for longer homeowner recovery times from hurricanes could hurt mortgage companies that need to advance funds to investors from missed payments.

American Banker, May 15, 2019--Neil Haggerty (subscription)Nearly nine years after the passage of the Dodd-Frank Act, Republican and Democratic lawmakers still live in alternative universes when it comes to financial regulatory policy.