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From deregulation to digital innovation, here's a look at the top storylines that defined the mortgage industry in 2017.

Shifting policy stances and a renewed focus on housing finance reform from the White House could make 2018 a breakout year for Congress to finally resolve the conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The largest residential mortgage servicers will get even larger in 2018, benefiting from consolidation and the outsourcing of servicing rights acquired by companies without their own platforms.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have new technology-driven initiatives planned for 2018 that are expected to help lenders improve the borrowing experience for home buyers and make full use of the government-sponsored enterprises' credit box.

Most housing finance companies are preparing to fight for a dwindling number of loans and operate on thinner margins.

Former top commercial mortgage-backed securities strategist Trevor Murray accused the Swiss lender of illegally firing him in 2012 for blowing the whistle on attempts by traders to influence his research reports.

DoubleLine Capital is embarking on a plan to originate and securitize mortgages, seeking to fill a niche that has traditionally belonged to banks and brokerage firms.

The announcement Thursday that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Mel Watt agreed to let Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac each build a $3 billion capital buffer avoided a potential crisis.

A lawyer for UBS Group AG urged a New York jury to reject the tale of a former senior commercial mortgage-backed securities strategist who claimed he was fired for refusing to let the Swiss bank's traders influence his research reports.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be allowed to build capital buffers to protect against losses under an agreement between the Treasury Department and the Federal Housing Finance Agency announced on Thursday.