The Lede

RealtyTrac, Irvine, Calif., reported a 9.3 percent drop in vacant residential properties since the third quarter, which could cause upward pressure on home prices and rents.

Just Released: MBA's most popular Resource Guide has just been updated to reflect new developments since the Know Before You Owe (TRID) rule took effect on October 3.

The Mortgage Action Alliance Inc. holds its next Quarterly MAA Advocacy Update on Thursday, Feb. 18 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET.

The Mortgage Bankers Association presents a new three-part webinar series discussing the new Federal Housing Finance Agency/Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac representation and warranty policies. The first webinar, Rep and Warrant Reform Part I: Overview takes place Thursday, Feb. 18 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET. 

National Mortgage News, Feb. 12, 2016--Finkelstein, Brad United Guaranty reported pretax operating income of $644 million for 2015 while its new insurance written increased by 21%.

HousingWire, Feb. 12, 2016--Swanson, Brena Another batch of mortgage rights hit the market, with a $2.8 billion Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae bulk MSR now for sale.

National Mortgage News, Feb. 11, 2016--Stevens, David MBA President and CEO says given the exclusivity of its members, the Federal Home Loan Bank system is failing to serve the marketplace as well as it could.

Bloomberg, Feb. 11, 2016--Smythe, ChristieMorgan Stanley agreed to pay $3.2 billion to end a joint federal-state investigation into its handling of mortgage-backed securities, the fourth deal to be struck in a probe of the big U.S. banks' role in the subprime mortgage meltdown and the financial crisis it spawned.

Buffalo News, Feb. 11, 2016--Glynn, Matt A newly launched website has some features of a conventional real estate website, but with a twist. But the descriptions take to task banks the site claims drag out the foreclosure process - sometimes for years--and prevent the properties from going back on the market.

HousingWire, Feb. 11, 2016--Lane, Ben Seeking to rid itself of two business segments that are dragging on the real estate investment trust's bottom line, Redwood Trust announced recently that it will be discontinuing the acquisition and aggregation of conforming loans for sale to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and will also discontinue commercial loan originations for distribution in commercial mortgage-backed securities.

Reuters, Feb. 11, 2016 The Federal Reserve bought $6.582 billion of agency mortgage-backed securities last week, but sold no securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae.

BISNOW, Feb. 9, 2016--Hoffmann, Michelle Story features Rodrigo Lopez, CMB, executive chairman of NorthMarq Capital and Mortgage Bankers Association vice chairman.

WTOP (Washington, D.C.), Feb. 10, 2016--Clabaugh, Jeff Mortgage rates show no signs of heading higher. Indeed, with 10-year Treasury yields falling, long-term mortgage rates have been moving lower in recent weeks.

HousingWire, Feb. 10, 2016--Lane, Ben MTGLQ Investors LP, a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs, will purchase four pools of loans from Fannie Mae totaling $1.32 billion in unpaid principal balance across 6,540 loans.

National Mortgage News, Feb. 10, 2016--Finkelstein, Brad Arch Capital Group's mortgage insurance segment, which covers both primary and reinsurance operations, had underwriting income of $64.8 million in 2015. This is an increase of more than 140% from the $26.4 million of underwriting income recorded in 2014.

Housing Wire, Feb. 9, 2016--Lane, Ben The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced Tuesday that it is terminating mortgage servicing-related consent orders against U.S. Bank National Association and Santander Bank, lifting the mortgage servicing restrictions placed on both banks last year due to failure to comply with requirements of the Independent Foreclosure Review.

HousingWire, Feb. 9, 2016--Lane, Ben According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's addendum, the supplementary information states that "property insurance premiums, property taxes, homeowner's association dues, condominium fees and cooperative fees" are "subject to tolerances," when it should read that those fees are "not subject to tolerances."

National Mortgage News, Feb. 9, 2016--Berry, Kate Many institutional investors are refusing to purchase mortgages loans until they get assurance from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that they won't have to pay for others' mistakes. Their pullback could further the slow the issuance of private-label mortgage bonds this year, a huge concern at a time when the majority of home loans are insured by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the FHA.

National Mortgage News, Feb. 12, 2016--Berry, Kate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been selling pools of delinquent mortgages at auction to the highest bidders. Community groups say the Federal Housing Finance Agency should be giving preferential treatment to nonprofits and community development financial institutions.