Good Morning! Today is Tuesday, March 15. U.S. tech stocks and oil prices fell Monday as investors assessed new Covid-19 outbreaks in China. The police arrested a suspect in a series of shootings of homeless men in New York City and Washington, DC. Idaho passed an abortion bill similar to the one in Texas. The Mortgage Note Reports Funding Awarded To Help The Homeless: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced over $2.6 billion to fund roughly 7,000 local homeless housing and service programs throughout the country. CoreLogic: Single-family rents increased by 12.6% YOY in January to reach another historic high, with Miami seeing 40% growth YOY. Vacation Demand: Demand for vacation homes has cooled down after…
Good Morning! Today is Monday, March 14. Russian forces hit Kyiv with heavy artillery strikes this morning after days of fighting in the suburbs. Barack Obama tested positive for Covid-19. Less than two months after announcing his retirement, quarterback Tom Brady said he will return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and play again. The Mortgage Note Reports Help Us Highlight Those Who Are Supporting The People Of Ukraine: The people of the world are watching the horror unfolding in Ukraine, and we at The Mortgage Note want to highlight those in the housing industry who are stepping up to help. AIME Lobbying: AIME is teaming up with lobbying firm Forbes Tate Partners to represent brokers in government affairs. Cash Is…
Good Morning! Today is Friday, March 11. President Biden will call for suspending normal trade relations with Russia, which would raise tariffs for many Russian products. Baseball players and owners struck a deal on a new contract, ending a lockout. The federal government extended the mask mandate on airplanes and other public transportation through mid-April. The Mortgage Note Reports Rate Reversal: Mortgage rates rose to 3.85%, reversing a brief period of declines brought on by uncertainty surrounding Ukraine. Forbearances Down: Forbearance plans dropped to a post-pandemic low this week, falling by 49,800 (-6.5%), according to Black Knight. And in other mortgage and housing news… Inflation Wreaks Havoc: The consumer price index for February rose 7.9% YOY, the highest level since…
Good Morning! Today is Thursday, March 10. Democrats cut $15.6 billion in Covid-19 aid from the omnibus spending package. It includes $13.6 billion in aid for Ukraine. The Kremlin accused the U.S. of waging an “economic war” as Russia’s currency has lost about 40% of its value in a month. The Mortgage Note Reports Mortgage Fraud: A California man pled guilty to wire fraud related to a foreclosure rescue scheme that took in at least $5 million from thousands of distressed homeowners. Foreclosures In Full-Swing: February foreclosure rates were up 11% from January and 129% YOY as pre-pandemic activity returns And in other mortgage and housing news… Under The Microscope: President Biden ordered a study to assess the risks and…
Good Morning! Today is Wednesday, March 9. Major U.S. businesses pulled out of Russia and President Biden banned Russian oil imports. Intelligence officials said Vladimir Putin showed no signs of changing course. A jury found Guy Reffitt, the first Jan. 6 defendant to go on trial, guilty of leading a mob against the police. The Mortgage Note Reports $1M Or More: A record 8.2% of U.S. homes (6 million) were valued at $1 million or more in February, with California leading the pack in share. Rate Slide Pushes Refis Up: Refinances bounced up last week due to a brief drop in interest rates, while overall mortgage loan application volume rose 8.5%. And in other mortgage and housing news… Above Asking:…
Good Morning! Today is Tuesday, March 8. Ukrainians defended two crucial cities yesterday, shooting down three Russian fighter jets over Kyiv and preventing troops from entering Mykolaiv, on the Black Sea coast. Florida will recommend that healthy children not get a vaccine, contradicting the C.D.C. The Mortgage Note Reports Working With Professionals In Person Is Important When Buying Property: The CEO of Comey & Shepherd in Cincinnati says there is something to be said for working with realtors and mortgage lenders in person at a time when it seems like more and more of the home buying process can be done from a cell phone. Big City Glow Up: Gen Z is reviving urban hotspots assumed to be dying out …
Good Morning! Today is Monday, March 7. Ukrainian resistance stalled Russian forces this weekend, driving them from the port city of Mykolaiv. This morning, Russia launched an artillery barrage there. Tornadoes in Iowa killed seven people and destroyed dozens of homes. The Mortgage Note Reports America’s Most Expensive Home Sets Record At Auction, New Owner Revealed: A Bel Air megamansion that was listed on the market for $295 million has been purchased at auction by the 40-year-old CEO of Fashion Nova. Fannie HPSI: Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index rose this month despite consumers’ surly attitudes toward home prices and rising interest rates. loanDepot Promotion: Min Kim has been promoted to EVP, Marketing and Analytics at loanDepot. And in other…
Good Morning! Today is Friday, March 4. Russian troops have seized Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. Florida legislators voted to ban most abortions after 15 weeks. The Sackler family and Purdue Pharma reached a deal with states to settle thousands of opioid lawsuits. The Mortgage Note Reports Could Higher Interest Rates Actually HELP the Housing Market? That’s the theory of some economists who believe soaring housing prices are a bigger drag on the market than rising interest rates. Rates Dropping: Mortgage rates fell again last week, dropping to an average of 3.76% from 3.89%, Freddie Mac said. Originator Woes: Mortgage lending dropped at its fastest pace in almost three years in Q4 2021, down for the third quarter in a…
Good Morning! Today is Thursday, March 3. Russia has continued to attack major cities in Ukraine, creating a humanitarian crisis. The Jan. 6 committee said there was evidence to conclude that Donald Trump may have committed crimes to try to stay in office. Fitbit is recalling its Ionic smartwatch after reports of overheating batteries. The Mortgage Note Reports Loan Factory’s Nguyen Says UWM Ultimatum ‘Has Divided Our Community’: In a one-on-one interview with The Mortgage Note, Nguyen explains why he chose to stop doing business with Mat Ishbia’s company rather than agree to it’s ‘All In’ ultimatum. Weak App Activity: Mortgage loan application volume fell 0.7% last week, faring slightly better than the prior week’s 13.1% drop but continuing a trend…
Good Morning! Today is Wednesday, March 2. President Biden delivered a pro-democracy State of the Union speech that also touched on Covid-19 and his domestic agenda. At least 136 civilians and about 2,000 Russian soldiers have died in Ukraine. Major League Baseball postponed the start of the season because of a labor disagreement. The Mortgage Note Reports Hot Luxury Market: Demand for luxury housing rose 14.5% YOY in 2021 as the number of affluent individuals worldwide skyrocketed. NAHB HBGI: Single-family growth cooled in Q4 2021 while multifamily growth in high-density areas surged as apartment demand rises, according to NAHB’s HBGI. And in other mortgage and housing news… Labor Shortages: The construction industry needs 650,000 more workers to meet demand in 2022, according to an analysis…
