The Lede

Homeowners seeking to tackle home improvement projects appear undeterred by political and economic uncertainties and are spending nearly 60 percent more than a year ago on home improvement, reported HomeAdvisor.

NEW YORK--After years of sitting in limbo, can substantive, comprehensive reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac finally be possible?

Black Knight Financial Services, Jacksonville, Fla., said more than 1.5 million home equity lines of credit will see interest-only draw periods end in 2017, representing the final wave of pre-crisis home equity lines.

HousingWire, Apr. 27, 2017--Brena SwansonTax reform, including housing-related tax reform, still has a long road ahead despite Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief Economic Advisor Gary Cohn revealing the Trump administration's tax plan on Wednesday.

HousingWire, May 1, 2017--Ben LaneAmid some concerns that New Residential Investment may pull some of its mortgage subservicing from Ocwen Financial, the two companies are reportedly close to a massive mortgage servicing rights deal that would alleviate some of Ocwen's business concerns and make New Residential a significant investor in Ocwen itself.

Reuters, May 1, 2017--Richard LeongIf there is a "very radical" reform of the two government-sponsored enterprises, "we need more time" for the transition, Robert Ryan, special adviser and acting deputy director at the FHFA that regulates Fannie and Freddie, said at a conference sponsored by the Mortgage Bankers Association.

HousingWire, May 1, 2017--Kelsey RamirezThe Federal Housing Finance Agency gave an update on the state of the lending market at the Mortgage Bankers Association's Secondary conference in New York City, including its view that the credit box still holds room for expansion and its view on GSE reform.

National Mortgage News, May 1, 2017--Brad Finkelstein (subscription)Mortgage Bankers Association President and CEO David Stevens is confident that housing finance reform will move forward under the Trump administration, but criticized calls to simply let the government-sponsored enterprises recapitalize and be returned to shareholders without additional reforms.

National Mortgage News, Apr. 28, 2017--Bonnie Sinnock (subscription)Foreclosure activity continues to subside and most of the regulatory reforms created to protect distressed borrowers have been implemented. Yet mortgage servicers still haven't fully resolved the operational challenges facing their business.

National Mortgage News, Apr. 28, 2017--Brad Finkelstein (subscription)National foreclosure activity is at an 11-year low. There were more than 83,000 foreclosure filings nationwide in March, down 77% from a record 367,000 in September 2010. But some cities have yet to fully recover.

National Mortgage News, Apr. 28, 2017--Bonnie Sinnock (subscription)Years after the worst of the housing crisis, states still dealing with high foreclosure activity are weighing laws to speed the process on vacant or abandoned properties.

HousingWire, Apr. 30, 2017--Sarah WheelerThe economic and political stars have aligned to make GSE reform a real possibility, and the Mortgage Bankers Association is not letting the opportunity go to waste.

Mortgage Daily, Apr. 27, 2017Despite retreating new business at Radian Group Inc., earnings improved, the book of business expanded and loan performance was better.

HousingWire, Apr. 27, 2017--Brena SwansonThe company noted that all of the year's operating earnings improvement emanated from more profitable consolidated underwriting and related services operations.

National Mortgage News, Apr. 27, 2017--Brad Finkelstein (subscription)The Hamilton, Bermuda-based holding company had first-quarter net income of $241.9 million, compared with $149.3 million a year ago.

Bloomberg, Apr. 27, 2017--Joe LightFannie Mae and Freddie Mac have paid $266 billion to the U.S. Treasury. Investors say it's time for them to get paid.

Mortgage Professional America, Apr. 25, 2017--Anna SobrevinasThe Mortgage Bankers Association released a detailed plan for GSE reform, calling for more private capital, multiple guarantors and a new federally backed insurance fund.

National Mortgage News, Apr. 27, 2017--Ian McKendry (subscription)While lawmakers have grown increasingly pessimistic about the chances to significantly revamp the Dodd-Frank Act, they are hopeful that housing finance reform--which has bedeviled Congress for the past nine years--may finally have a shot at enactment.

Mortgage Daily, Apr. 27, 2017A new offering of mortgage servicing rights on as much as $600 million in government-sponsored enterprise loans has an East Coast concentration.

Bloomberg, Apr. 26, 2017--Elizabeth DexheimerThe roll-out of legislation this week that would rip up much of the Dodd-Frank Act marks a pivotal moment for Republicans' efforts to overhaul post-crisis financial rules. It's also an opportunity for Democrats to push an agenda that GOP lawmakers and finance executives are less keen to talk about: Breaking up Wall Street megabanks.

National Mortgage News, Apr. 26, 2017--Rob Blackwell, Joe Adler (subscription)Financial services companies and groups are increasingly willing to take the regulatory regime to court in an effort to fight back against enforcement orders and initiatives--and so far, they appear to be succeeding.

American Banker, Apr. 26, 2017--Kate Berry (subscription)With its business under threat, Ocwen Financial asked a federal judge on Wednesday to throw out a lawsuit filed against it last week by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, claiming the agency is "unconstitutionally structured."

National Mortgage Professional, Apr. 26, 2017--Phil HallMore than two dozen national and regional trade groups representing the mortgage and real estate industries [including the Mortgage Bankers Association] joined together to support new legislation that is designed to improve consumer protection requirements for Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) loans.

Mortgage Orb, Apr. 26, 2017--Patrick BarnardWith the Trump administration in the White House and a Republican-controlled Congress, it could be argued that the time has never been so ripe for GSE reform to finally happen.

HousingWire, Apr. 25, 2017--Ben LaneThe Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced Tuesday that it is ordering U.S. Bank National Association to pay a civil penalty of $15 million for what it calls "bankruptcy filing violations" that occurred between 2009 and 2014.

National Mortgage News, Apr. 25, 2017--Bonnie Sinnock (subscription)Fannie Mae has made three selling guide changes aimed at helping the growing number of borrowers with student debt qualify for home loans, and may begin testing similar proposals related to this goal.

Mortgage Daily, Apr. 25, 2017In March, 27,980 complaints were filed against U.S. financial service providers. Activity increased 7 percent from the previous month, the Consumer Financial Protection Burea said.

HousingWire, Apr. 25, 2017--Ben LaneOcwen said last week that it intended to fight back against the state regulators' accusations and business restrictions, and the company did just that on Tuesday, announcing that it is taking the regulators in Massachusests and Illinois to court to fight for its ability to operate within the states.