Good Morning! Today is Friday, January 12. The U.S. and U.K. carried out strikes in Yemen, for which the Houthis promised to retaliate. Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty in federal court to charges of evading income tax. The FAA is increasing its oversight of Boeing’s production and manufacturing.
The Mortgage Note Reports
Rates Up, But Not Much: Mortgage rates increased slightly last week but remain in the mid-6s, encouraging some potential buyers to come off the sidelines.
The Case For HUD: HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge testified before the House Committee on Financial Services, emphasizing the department’s importance and impact.
In other mortgage and housing news…
UWM Rating: UWM was downgraded by research analysts at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods from…
Good Morning! Today is Thursday, January 11. Chris Christie suspended his presidential campaign. Google laid off hundreds of workers to cut costs. South Africa is arguing in front of the U.N.’s highest court that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
The Mortgage Note Reports
Managing Risk: TransUnion launched a new tool to calculate property value fluctuations as more homeowners tap into their accrued equity.
Christensen At CMBA: Arrive Home president Tai Christensen has been named Chair of the California MBA’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.
AI Hotline: A hotline that will give brokers the ability to make changes to approval letters at any time was announced by leaders at Rocket Pro TPO this week, and it is powered by…
Good Morning! Today is Wednesday, January 10. Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley will face off tonight in a final presidential debate before Monday’s Iowa caucuses. Donald Trump will take part in a town hall on Fox News at the same time. Asset managers are still hopeful the SEC will permit the trading of spot bitcoin ETFs after a fake post by a hacker sparked confusion.
The Mortgage Note Reports
Election 2024: Home affordability is expected to be a pressing issue for American families again this year and although it is not a top priority for Republican presidential candidates yet, they are talking about it.
Opinion: Edward Pinto of the AEI Housing Center says HUD’s latest homeless count fails to connect…
Good Morning! Today is Tuesday, January 9. Donald Trump is in court today as his lawyers argue he is immune from prosecution. Investigators said bolts on the grounded Boeing 737’s fuselage may not have been attached. A lunar lander launched yesterday malfunctioned after leaving orbit and is unlikely to reach the moon’s surface.
The Mortgage Note Reports
Blackmail Threat: The president of the National Association of Realtors has stepped down after allegedly receiving a threat to disclose a past personal matter.
FICO 10 At CCM: CrossCountry Mortgage adopted FICO Score 10 T for non-QM loans and mortgage-backed securities.
Fonda At Nymbus: Jeff Fonda joined digital banking tech company Nymbus as its new Chief Financial Officer.
In other mortgage and housing…
Good Morning! Today is Monday, January 8. Israel killed a Hezbollah commander in attacks on southern Lebanon. Two journalists were also killed in an Israeli airstrike. Congressional leaders reached a spending deal to avert a partial government shutdown.
The Mortgage Note Reports
Gravy Joins Clever: Clever Real Estate has acquired Gravy Technologies, a startup that promotes homebuying and offers loyalty-as-a-service to lenders and agents.
Confidence Boost: Cooling rates are giving Americans a rosier view of 2024’s housing market, sparking optimism despite overall dour feelings about affordability.
Listen To Our Podcast: It’s time to shake off 2023 and move into 2024 with a fresh perspective. Editor Kimberley Haas spoke with industry leaders who have tips for finding success in the new…
Good Morning! Today is Friday, January 5. One student was killed and five people were injured in an Iowa school shooting. ISIS claimed responsibility for an attack in Iran that killed 84 people. French retailer Carrefour will no longer sell PepsiCo products because of “unacceptable” price increases.
The Mortgage Note Reports
Embracing Technology: Artificial intelligence is changing how people buy homes and leaders at Rocket Companies are leaning in and embracing the latest technology. Editor Kimberley Haas sat down with Rocket Homes President Sam Vida to learn more.
New Addition: Rocket Companies named former Airbnb exec Jonathan Mildenhall as Chief Marketing Officer.
Rates Shift Slightly: Mortgage rates remained basically the same last week, increasing by 0.1%, as markets adjusted to…
Good Morning! Today is Thursday, January 4. Iran blamed Israel for two explosions that killed at least 84 people. The Israeli military said that a hostage was killed during a rescue attempt last week. Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court to reverse a ruling excluding him from Colorado’s primary ballot.
The Mortgage Note Reports
Hottest Cities Of 2024: Buffalo, NY, is slated to be the hottest market of 2024 as affordable Midwestern metros gain popularity among money-minded Americans.
Small Successes: Both listings and sales improved in December, suggesting that cooling rates may finally be encouraging some movement in the market.
In other mortgage and housing news…
Starting Off Strong: Early-stage homebuying demand is starting to pick up as buyers take…
Good Morning! Today is Wednesday, January 3. Harvard’s president resigned after evidence surfaced that she plagiarized academic work. Donald Trump appealed a decision that barred him from Maine’s primary ballot. The U.S. said Israel killed a Hamas leader in Beirut.
The Mortgage Note Reports
Holiday Applications: Cooling rates couldn’t attract buyers to the market in the last two weeks of 2023, leading to a slump in mortgage applications.
Board Expansion: Rocket Companies expanded its Board of Directors to eight, introducing CEO Varun Krishna as a new member.
In other mortgage and housing news…
Bad Behavior: RealFi has been accused of failing to pay laid-off employees, apparently saying in an email that it doesn’t have the funds.
“A Great Danger”: Corporate…
Good Morning! Today is Tuesday, January 2. Happy New Year! Israel’s Supreme Court struck down a law to limit judges’ powers. Some troops will be removed from Gaza, but Israel’s military did not indicate an end to the conflict. A powerful earthquake struck Japan on New Year’s Day, killing at least six.
The Mortgage Note Reports
Hedge Fund Ban: A bicameral bill that would force hedge funds out of the single-family home market is finding support. Writer Erin Flynn Jay has the story.
Opinion: American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Desmond Lachman writes that a looming commercial property crisis exists.
Buyers On The Sidelines: New home sales slowed to a crawl in November despite cooling rates as new construction remains unaffordable…
Good Morning! Today is Friday, December 22. The Mortgage Note will be off next week for the holiday. We wish you a wonderful New Year and will see you again in 2024.
The Mortgage Note Reports
Role Of AI: As artificial intelligence plays an increasingly important role in the mortgage business, industry leaders are figuring out ways to harness its power to revolutionize homebuying. Writer Erin Flynn Jay explores what role it will play in 2024.
Rates Stay Under 7%: Mortgage rates sank to the mid-6s last week, buoying buyers, sellers, and builders spirits ahead of the holiday.
MyHome x Volly: WFG’s marketing and tech subsidiary MyHome has acquired Volly, a tech and marketing services company for banks, credit unions,…
