The Lede

Mortgage Professional America, Sept. 4, 2019--Steve RandallThe Mortgage Bankers Association's 2019 Home Equity Lending Study reveals that closed-end Home Equity loans are set for gains this year and next while open-ended HELOCs will decline this year before rising in 2020.

CNBC, Sept. 4, 2019--Diana OlickMortgage application volume decreased 3.1% for the week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index. Volume was 62% higher compared with the same week a year ago, when interest rates were substantially higher and refinance activity was extremely low.

National Mortgage Professional, Sept. 4, 2019--Phil HallMISMO released the Industry Loan Application Dataset, a compendium of data points included in the new Uniform Residential Loan Application, the government-sponsored enterprises' new Automated Underwriting System interfaces and in the existing Fannie Mae 3.2 file.

National Mortgage News, Sept. 4, 2019--Bonnie Sinnock (subscription)Syracuse Securities Inc., a family-run lender and servicer in New York, is planning to wind down and transfer its outstanding pipeline to Premium Mortgage Corp.

Wall Street Journal, Sept. 4, 2019--Paul Kiernan, Likhitha Butchireddygari (suscription)Most U.S. businesses remain optimistic about their prospects despite concerns about tariffs and trade policy, as the economy continues to grow, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday in its "beige book" report of anecdotes from business contacts.

American Banker, Sept. 4, 2019--Hannah Land (subscription)HUD officially pulled a letter last month sent to mortgage lenders that had imposed jurisdictional limits on housing funds, but the industry and housing advocacy groups are anticipating the department may attempt the same restrictions through a formal rulemaking.

Houston Business Journal, Sept. 4, 2019--Chase CribbsAs we move through the third quarter with expectations growing for another rate cut in September, it will be interesting to see how much further cap rates may compress and if commercial real estate asset prices increase, understanding that interest rates are only one of the variables that determine asset pricing.

American Banker, Sept. 4, 2019--Brendan Peterson (subscription)Judge Dabney Friedrich, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, dismissed the Conference of State Bank Supervisors' claims because no fintech firm has yet applied with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Commercial Property Executive, Sept. 4, 2019--Jamie WoodwellDespite predictions for a more tempered lending environment this year, second-quarter commercial and multifamily originations rose above the same period last year and the momentum is building. (MBA mention)