The Lede

Commercial mortgage-backed securities finished 2018 on a positive note as December's delinquency rate dropped to another post-crisis low, but lower delinquencies could conceal a darker picture in the broader market, analysts said.

The Internal Revenue Service, responding to pressure from the Mortgage Bankers Association and other industry trade groups, said it would resume processing tax transcript information requests it originally said it had to suspend during the partial government shutdown.

TransUnion, Chicago, said low unemployment rates and continued positive growth in both GDP and real disposable income are among the key drivers that will propel the U.S. consumer credit market in 2019.

The Mortgage Bankers Association has begun enrollment for its 2019 Servicing Operations Study and Forum (covering 2018 data). Sign-up deadline is Jan. 15, 2019.

Chicago Tribune, Jan. 7, 2019--Kenneth HarneyWhen the government shuts its doors because of a funding brouhaha that pits the White House against Capitol Hill, who gets hit hardest among people needing a home mortgage? The latest version of federal breakdown made one fact painfully clear: It all depends on the type of loan you seek and where you're located.

HousingWire, Jan. 7, 2019--Ben LaneGoing forward, the Federal Housing Finance Agency will be led by Comptroller of the Currency Joseph Otting, who was picked by President Donald Trump to serve as acting director of the FHFA while Mark Calabria is awaiting Senate confirmation to replace Watt on a permanent basis.

American Banker, Jan. 7, 2019--Neil Haggerty (subscription)A new House subcommittee planned by Democrats to focus on diversity in banking and financial inclusion is getting high marks not just from public interest groups but also industry groups that say it could foster regulatory reforms needed to reach more customers.

CNBC, Jan. 7, 2019--Tucker HigginsIn a brief, an array of business groups including the Chamber of Commerce and the Mortgage Bankers Association wrote that applying Fair Debt Collections Practices Act protections to the foreclosure process would add "an additional, unwarranted layer of complexity in the foreclosure process, thereby harming both lenders and borrowers."

Bloomberg, Jan. 7, 2019--Prashant GopalJames Stack, who predicted the 2008 real estate crash and nailed last year's housing slowdown with uncanny timing, is back with some bad news for 2019.

American Banker, Jan. 6, 2019--Kevin Wack (subscription)Before the financial crisis, federal and state regulators unabashedly pitched their charters to banks as the better choice. Now regulatory competition is back, despite warnings that such jousting might result in lax oversight.

National Mortgage News, Jan. 4, 2019--Paul Centopani (free story)As the government shutdown enters its third week, mortgage servicers are activating the response plans they normally use during hurricanes and wildfires to assist federal workers who may have trouble paying their mortgages.

American Banker, Jan. 4, 2019--Hannah Lang (subscription)Although the partial government shutdown has not yet been long enough to significantly hamper the mortgage market, lenders and borrowers may already be feeling the strain.

HousingWire, Jan. 3, 2019--Jessica GuerinWhile some market analysts predict an uptick in 2019 home equity lending, Bank of America's David Doyle thinks otherwise.

Dallas News, Jan. 4, 2019--Paul O'DonnellMr. Cooper Group Inc. is continuing to expand its mortgage servicing business with Thursday's purchase of IBM's Seterus platform.

Orange County Register (Calif.), Jan. 3, 2019--Jeff LazersonLet's take a peek at the changing of the guard - that being the leadership at the Federal Housing Finance Agency or FHFA (Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's conservator and regulator), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (your mortgage police), Fannie and Freddie.

National Mortgage News, Jan. 3, 2019--Kate Berry (subscription)Kathy Kraninger, the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, said in an email to staff that the bureau will "vigorously enforce the law," but also must weigh the "costs and benefits to consumers" of enforcement activities and rulemakings.

Bloomberg, Jan. 4, 2019--Jennifer A Dlouhy, Ari Natter, Alan LevinDecember and January are quiet months in the real estate industry, but "if this goes beyond another week, it's going to delay closings," said Pete Mills, senior vice president of policy at the Mortgage Bankers Association.

The Mortgage Reports, Jan. 2, 2018--Peter MillerThere has never been a better time for the self-employed to obtain real estate financing. That's not just an idle observation. There are several reasons to support such thinking.

HousingWire, Jan. 2, 2019--Jessica GuerinCelink settled a federal lawsuit regarding allegations that it violated the False Claims Act in relation to its servicing of reverse mortgage loans. The Michigan-based servicer agreed to shell out $4.25 million to resolve the matter.

Mortgage Orb, Dec. 28, 2018--Patrick BarnardFaced with fierce criticism for its decision, including from the Mortgage Bankers Association, FEMA on Friday reversed course, saying in a statement that "all NFIP insurers have been directed to resume normal operations immediately and advised that the program will be considered operational since December 21, 2018 without interruption."

Urban Institute, Dec. 27, 2018--Sheryl PardoKey issues being monitored by Urban Institute include affordable housing, government regulation under the Trump Administration, the new Congress and alternative credit scoring methodologies.

Wall Street Journal, Jan. 1, 2019--Yuka Hayashi (subscription)The credit-reporting industry has largely escaped new oversight from Washington following the 2017 hack of Equifax Inc. that exposed the personal information of millions of Americans. That could change in 2019 when Democrats take over the House.