The Lede

SAN FRANCISCO--These are not quiet times for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Black Knight, Jacksonville, Fla., said all four major performance metrics in its Mortgage Monitor Report--delinquencies, serious delinquencies, active foreclosures and total non-current inventory--ended the year below 2000-2005 pre-recession averages for the first time since the financial crisis.

SAN FRANCISCO--These are not quiet times for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

SAN FRANCISCO--These are not quiet times for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The Mortgage Bankers Association, in a letter to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, said it supported the agency's proposed rule to amend existing Federal Home Loan Bank housing goals but urged agency to monitor the rule's impact on the FHLB Acquired Member Assets programs.

ATTOM Data Solutions, Irvine, Calif., said home sellers in 2018 realized an average home price gain since purchase of $61,000, up from $50,000 last year and up from $39,500 two years ago in 2016 to the highest level since 2006.

First American Financial Corp., Santa Ana, Calif., said its Loan Application Defect Index rose in December, the fourth consecutive monthly increase, but remains below historical levels.

SAN FRANCISCO--Independent mortgage banks represent more than three-fourths of Mortgage Bankers Association membership, a fact that MBA 2015 Chairman Bill Cosgrove, CMB, CEO of Union Home Mortgage Corp., Strongsville, Ohio, said is not lost on the association.

SAN FRANCISCO--Independent mortgage banks represent more than three-fourths of Mortgage Bankers Association membership, a fact that MBA 2015 Chairman Bill Cosgrove, CMB, CEO of Union Home Mortgage Corp., Strongsville, Ohio, said is not lost on the association.

SAN FRANCISCO--Independent mortgage banks represent more than three-fourths of Mortgage Bankers Association membership, a fact that MBA 2015 Chairman Bill Cosgrove, CMB, CEO of Union Home Mortgage Corp., Strongsville, Ohio, said is not lost on the association.

American Banker, Feb. 4, 2019--Kate Berry (subscription)The White House and Senate Banking Committee are pursuing parallel tracks to end the GSEs' federal conservatorships. Any resulting plan must deal with whether GSE-backed mortgages are still exempt from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Qualified Mortgage rule. "Not doing something to extend the patch would be highly disruptive," said Bob Broeksmit, the president and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association.

MarketWatch, Feb. 4, 2019--Andrea RiquierThat data point, courtesy of the Mortgage Bankers Association, is a reminder--perhaps an uncomfortable one--that the mortgage industry must still offer products that make it artificially affordable to get people in the door, with the intention of refinancing later.

National Real Estate Investor, Feb. 04, 2019--Beth Mattson-TeigOne of the big windfalls for real estate professionals in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is the opportunity to take up to a 20 percent deduction of income from pass-through entities. But some uncertainty clouding the picture may be taking some of the wind out of the sales of that enthusiasm.

National Mortgage News, Feb. 4, 2019--Paul Centopani (free article)Popular TV shows about house fixers and flippers have sparked consumer interest in remodeling, creating an opportunity for lenders to build a specialty in renovation loans while traditional mortgage lending is weak.

Washington Post, Feb. 1, 2019--Renae MerleA decade after Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were placed under government control, a key Senate Republican on Friday proposed allowing them to return to being private companies.

Journal for Structured Finance, Feb. 2019--Michael FratantoniMBA Chief Economist says lenders that can manage through today's challenges while continuing to attract customers will be best-position to compete in the years ahead.

Mortgage Professional America, Feb. 4, 2019--Steve RandallProposals to overhaul the US housing finance system set out by Senator Mike Crapo Friday have been welcomed by several industry stakeholders.Among those who have welcomed the proposals is the Mortgage Bankers Association's Robert D. Broeksmit, CMB, President and CEO.

Naional Mortgage News, Feb. 1, 2019--Brad Finkelstein (subscription)The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has published a new "frequently asked questions" tool to help mortgage lenders with TILA-RESPA integrated disclosures compliance.

The Hill, Jan. 31, 2019--Lisa Sitkin, Odette WilliamsonThe authors say one aspect of the recent government shutdown that has received too little attention is that it significantly increased the risk that thousands of struggling homeowners across the nation would lose their homes.

Financial Times, Jan. 31, 2019--Ed Crooks (subscription)General Electric‘s new boss took a first step towards ending years of upheaval that has drove the conglomerate from the top tier of American companies, announcing strong revenue growth and a $1.5 billion settlement in a longstanding probe into its role in the 2008 financial crisis.

HousingWire, Jan. 31, 2019--Jessica GuerinThe Federal Housing Finance Agency has named John Roscoe its new chief of staff. Roscoe currently serves as special assistant to the president in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel.

HousingWire, Jan. 30, 2019--Jessica GuerinOn Tuesday the White House issued a statement that appeared to walk back Federal Housing Finance Agency Acting Director Joseph Otting's comments about taking the GSEs out of conservatorship, dampening hopes for immediate action and causing shares of both GSEs to slip 12 percent.

Market Express, Jan. 30, 2019--Wolf RichterThe Chinese government is cracking down on capital flows from China to other countries, particularly to fund real estate projects. It is also cracking down on the "ballooning" debt of Chinese conglomerates, after their real estate buying spree.

National Mortgage News, Jan. 29 2019--Brad Finkelstein (subscription)The same TILA-RESPA integrated disclosure errors were made by mortgage lenders, though those documents have been required for over three years, a report from MetaSource said.

National Mortgage News, Jan. 29, 2019--Neil Haggerty (subscription)The Senate Banking Committee will examine proposals to "fix the flawed" housing finance system in the new Congress, according to a summary of Chairman Mike Crapo's legislative priorities unveiled Tuesday.

The Real Deal (New York), Jan. 29, 2019--Kevin SunFor the first time in years, the agency has asked a number of these lenders to improve financial metrics before receiving full approval to continue issuing Ginnie Mae-backed mortgage bonds.