The Lede

Reuters, May 14, 2019--Richard LeongThe number of U.S. homeowners who fell behind on their mortgage payments climbed in the first quarter from an 18-year low at the end of 2018, while the share of mortgages at the start of foreclosure actions slipped, the Mortgage Bankers Association said on Tuesday.

National Mortgage Professional, May 14, 2019--Phil HallCommercial and multifamily mortgage loan originations during the first quarter were up by 12 percent on a year-over-year basis but were down 34 percent from the previous quarter, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association.

MarketWatch, May 14, 2019--Jacob PassyLow interest rates and the continually strong labor market are boons to American consumers and therefore positive headwinds for the country's housing market, said Mike Fratantoni, chief economist for the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Bloomberg, May 14, 2019--Matthew BoeslerAmericans continued to take on debt in the first quarter, though new mortgage borrowing slowed to the weakest level since late 2014, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of New York report.

American Banker, May 14, 2019--Neil Haggerty (subscription)The bill by Sens. David Perdue, R-Ga., and Bob Menendez, D-N.J., both members of the Banking Committee, would establish a "scorekeeping rule" to ensure that any increases in guarantee fees, or g-fees, cannot be used to offset provisions that increase the deficit, as has been done in the past. Lenders typically pay g-fees to the government-sponsored enterprises to back loans. (MBA mention)

National Mortgage Professional, May 14, 2019--Phil HallRedfin said the issue that abruptly concluded the partnership was the new Redfin Direct service that the Seattle-based brokerage was testing. The service, now in a pilot program in Boston, is designed to help Redfin's listing customers get offers from unrepresented buyers.

National Mortgage News, May 14, 2019--Hannah Lang (subscription)In his first public policy discussion as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Mark Calabria stressed that a strong capital position will determine the future for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, eventually helping to lead them out of conservatorship.

HousingWire, May 14, 2019--Jessica GuerinThe long and winding saga of Ditech's bankruptcy continues, as the U.S. Trustee grants a request to create a committee to protect consumer interests in the proceedings. But not long after the petition was granted, Ditech filed a motion objecting to such a committee, asking that it be disbanded or, alternatively, that the scope of its involvement be limited.