Good morning! Today is Monday, April 26. The United States is providing vaccine and medical supplies to India as it battles a Covid spike. Vaccination sites in the United States are gearing up to start giving the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine again after a pause to look into blood clot reactions. NASA reported that the SPACEX starship had a near miss with a UFO. Astronauts on board were told to buckle up and prepare for a crash. And in mortgage and housing news … UNAUTHORIZED WITHDRAWALS: Payments to the Texas-based mortgage servicing company known as Mr. Cooper left checking accounts overdrawn and people unexpectedly without access to their money. FLIPPING PROFITS: Red hot real estate markets have turned surprising profits for unintentional property…
Good morning! Today is Friday, April 23. The U.S. Senate passed a bill to combat hate crimes against Asian Americans. The University of California and Cal State systems plan to require Covid-19 vaccinations this fall. The U.S. House approved a bill that would admit Washington, D.C., as the 51st state. And in mortgage and housing news … BELOW THREE: The Mortgage Note reports that mortgage rates fell below 3 percent again this week for the first time since April. FORBEARANCE: More homeowners are leaving mortgage forbearance, but they still need help. ESTATE PLANNING: What happens to your mortgage when you die? STILL AFFORDABLE: Most buyers can still afford to buy a home despite the red-hot market. 2021 FORECAST: Nervous buyers…
Good morning! Today is Thursday, April 22. Two-hundred million Covid-19 vaccines have been given in 200 days. The Justice Department will investigate whether the Minneapolis Police Department has engaged in a pattern of unconstitutional policing. Commercial airline pilots keep reporting UFOs over Canada. And in mortgage and housing news … ORIGINATION FLEXIBILITY: The Mortgage Note reports on a Federal Housing Finance Agency announcement that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will extend some temporary loan origination flexibilities through May 31, while allowing some to expire at the end of April. MORTGAGE APPS: The Mortgage Note reports that mortgage applications climbed 8.6 percent for the week ending April 16, according to the latest Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey released by the Mortgage Bankers Association. HISPANIC HOMEOWNERSHIP: The number of Hispanic homeowners…
Good morning! Today is Wednesday, April 21. A Minneapolis Jury finds Derek Chauvin guilty on all three charges: second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. The European Union called for a warning label to be added to J&J vaccines, but concluded that the benefits far outweigh the risks. Netflix reports a dramatic drop in subscribers. And in mortgage and housing news … HOUSING STARTS: The Mortgage Note reports that housing starts increased 19.4 percent in March amid strong buyer demand. REMEMBERING MONDALE: The Mortgage Note remembers former Vice President Walter Mondale for his role in passing the Fair Housing Act as a senator from Minnesota. GSEs SHRINK: Under FHFA Director Mark Calabria, there have been executive departures from the GSEs and housing policies adverse to the housing sector.…
Good morning! Today is Tuesday, April 20. The Biden administration is considering a rule to require tobacco companies to reduce the nicotine in all cigarettes sold in the U.S. to levels at which they are no longer addictive. The US Army has approved the call-up of 250 members of the DC National Guard, as the nation’s capital braces for potential protests and unrest ahead of a verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial. NASA flew a helicopter on Mars – the first time an aircraft has flown on another planet. And in mortgage and housing news … GREEN HOUSING: The Mortgage Note reports Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced a “Green New Deal for Public Housing Act” that would invest…
Good morning! Today is Monday, April 19. President Biden announces new sanctions on Russia over hacking and election interference. Four pharmaceutical companies on trial today in California over claims they fed the opioid crisis could help finalize multibillion-dollar settlements with state and local governments. Apple pays the music industry a penny per stream on its service, a disclosure it made as part of an effort by music-streaming services to show they are artist-friendly. And in mortgage and housing news … ANOTHER BUBBLE: The real estate investor who shorted subprime mortgages says this housing boom is in a bubble, too. FAIR HOUSING POLICY: The Biden administration has begun its efforts to roll back changes to two key fair-housing policies that were altered during the Trump administration.…
Good morning! Today is Friday, April 16. Soaring retail sales and a sharp drop in jobless claims are the latest signs of a quickening economic recovery. Pfizer announced that due to variants of the coronavirus, people likely will need a booster shot within a year to suppress the pool of those individuals susceptible to Covid-19. Some states are being hammered by a spring wave of infections and hospitalizations even as others have seen the crisis begin to ease. And in mortgage and housing news … MORTGAGE RATES: The Mortgage Note reports that mortgage rates fell for the second week in a row, with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage average 3.04 percent. PANICKED AND DEPRESSED: Housing experts at Zillow are calling for 2021 to be the hottest…
Good morning! Today is Thursday, April 15. President Biden said he will pull troops from Afghanistan by September 11. Democratic lawmakers are presenting a plan to expand the Supreme Court. Instagram is running a pilot program that allows you to hide the number of likes. And in mortgage and housing news … MORTGAGE APPS: The Mortgage Note reports that mortgage applications dropped 3.7 percent for the week ending April 9. GENERALLY FAVORABLE: According to Freddie Mac’s most recent quarterly forecast, conditions will remain generally favorable for the housing and mortgage market through 2022 as the economy continues to improve. DISASTER PREP: To what extent have homeowners prepared for natural disasters? RESIDENTIAL SEGREGATION: The Department of Housing and Urban Development has submitted drafts of two fair-housing rules for review. AFFORDABLE…
Good morning! Today is Wednesday, April 14. The Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended pausing use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine while they investigate six reports of rare blood clots. Today is 100 days out from the re-scheduled 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. A fireball meteor burned up over south Florida. And in mortgage and housing news … IMB RECORDS: The Mortgage Note reports Independent Mortgage Bankers and mortgage subsidiaries of chartered banks made an average of $4,202 on each loan they originated in 2020 – up from $1,470 per loan the year before, according to a new report released by the Mortgage Bankers Association. BUYERS OPTIMISTIC: The Homebuying Sentiment Index is at an all-time high, just in…
Good morning! Today is Tuesday, April 13. Minneapolis-St. Paul is under a 7 pm curfew following unrest spurred by a police officer who meant to tase a man during a traffic stop, but fatally fired a gun instead. The volcano eruptions on St. Vincent island can be seen on satellite images. The Rock says he will run for President if that’s what the people want. And in mortgage and housing news … CREDIT CHANGES: The Mortgage Note reports about how a change in credit score criteria would increase home-buying opportunities for Black and Latino homebuyers, according to new research released at an event held by National Association Realtors. TOP EMPLOYERS: The Mortgage Reports on Fortune’s Top 100 Places to Work list, with four mortgage/real estate…
