The Lede

National Mortgage News, Sept. 10, 2019--Bonnie Sinnock (subscription)Lower interest rates are expected to drive financing secured by income-producing properties to new heights by year-end, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Associated Press, Sept. 10, 2019--Marcy GordonTrump administration officials on Tuesday defended their plan to Congress for ending government control of mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, clashing with Democratic senators on whether the change would raise home borrowing costs and neglect lower-income homeowners.

Wall Street Journal, Sept. 10, 2019--Janet Adamy, Paul Overberg (subscription)American incomes remained essentially flat in 2018 after three straight years of growth, according to Census Bureau figures released Tuesday that offer a broad look at U.S. households' financial well-being.

National Mortgage Professional, Sept. 10, 2019--Phil HallThe average college graduate in 2018 carried a student loan debt of $28,565, according to new data from LendEDU, which noted this debt load can have a serious impact of the young borrowers' debt-to-income ratios.

HousingWire, Sept. 10, 2019--Ben LaneJust days after the Federal Trade Commission tapped the brakes on the $1.2 billion merger of Fidelity National Financial and Stewart Information Services, the deal that would have combined two of the country's largest title insurance providers is now dead.

National Mortgage News, Sept. 10, 2019--Hannah Lang (subscription)Senators' examination Tuesday of the Trump administration's housing finance reform plan made two things clear: Lawmakers feel urgency to move legislation, but addressing obstacles that have stalled congressional action for years still eludes them.

Washington Post, Sept. 10, 2019-Michelle SingletarySince reaching a bottom of 686 in October 2009 during the Great Recession, the national average FICO score has been steadily increasing. Key drivers of the improvement in scores have been the U.S. economic recovery, consumer credit educational efforts and an initiative by the credit bureaus that has led to certain accounts in collections being removed from people's credit files.

Wall Street Journal, Sept. 10, 2019--Esther Fung (subscription)A nearly decade-long rally for the hotel business is showing signs of petering out. Hotel owners in large cities say they are getting squeezed by weaker business-traveler demand, higher labor costs and a crush of new hotel projects that is weighing on room rates.

Financial Regulation News, Sept. 10, 2019--Dave KovaleskiThe Mortgage Bankers Association commended the Treasury Department on its plan to reform the housing finance system. "The reports recognize the need to better coordinate the roles of FHA and the GSEs," said MBA President and CEO Robert Broeksmit, CMB.