Fannie Mae has hired Morgan Stanley and Freddie Mac has hired J.P. Morgan Chase to advise the mortgage giants en route to their planned exits from federal conservatorship. So reports the Commercial Observer.

Mortgage applications to buy a home have climbed to their highest volume in more than 11 years, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association. So reports CNBC.com.

Long-term mortgage rates have touched another record low, already their fourth this year. So reports MarketWatch.