Morning Roundup (12/11/2023) — Hallmark Heaven

Good Morning! Today is Monday, December 11. Severe storms and tornados killed at least six people in Tennessee this weekend. Donald Trump will not testify as scheduled in his civil fraud trial today. Elon Musk allowed conspiracy theorist Alex Jones back onto X after a five-year ban.   The Mortgage Note Reports Hallmark Heaven: Did you know that there are towns with holiday-themed names such as Rudolph and Santa Claus? Writer Chuck Green talked to industry leaders who work in some of these places to find out more about what drives people to move there. More Homes For Sale: Cooling mortgage rates cut some homeowners loose from rate lock-in last month and eased stock shortages that helped stall the housing…

Morning Roundup (12/8/2023) — Past To Present

Good Morning! Today is Friday, December 8. Trump’s lawyers appealed a judge’s ruling that he is not immune from prosecution. Hunter Biden has been charged with failing to pay taxes on millions in income. The Eastern U.S. is bracing for a severe storm this weekend. The Mortgage Note Reports Past To Present: First-time homebuyers have complained that they need to spend more to get less than their parents. Are they right? Writer Chuck Green explores how much home people are getting today compared to previous generations. Hedge Fund Bill: A bicameral bill introduced this week would force hedge funds to sell at least 10% of the total number of single-family homes they currently own to homebuyers every year for 10…

Morning Roundup (12/7/2023) — Freddie’s DPA Docs

Good Morning! Today is Thursday, December 7. An investigation found that an Israeli tank crew killed a journalist and wounded six reporters in Lebanon. Representative Kevin McCarthy will leave the House at the end of the year. A gunman at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, killed three people. The Mortgage Note Reports GSE DPA Update: Freddie Mac is streamlining down payment assistance programs with standardized mortgage documents for lenders working with HFAs. Alliant Loan Options: Alliant Credit Union rolled out several new mortgage offerings and a home construction loan. In other mortgage and housing news… “Potential Tripwires”: The housing markets facing the greatest downturn risks are clustered in California, New Jersey, and Illinois, ATTOM says. Early Gift For Buyers: …

Morning Roundup (12/6/2023) — Master Class

Good Morning! Today is Wednesday, December 6. Members of the actors’ union voted to approve a three-year contract with studios. Representative Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, who briefly served as House speaker, won’t seek re-election. The U.S. imposed visa bans on Israeli settlers who have committed violence in the West Bank. The Mortgage Note Reports Master Class: Real estate trainer and coach Ron Vaimberg says market frustrations have crept too far into the mindsets of people working on the front lines and it shows. He shares some tricks for overcoming objections and winning business. Apps Soar: Mortgage applications increased once again as cooling inflation and Fed rate expectations pushed mortgage rates to their lowest level since August. CBC Rate Buydown: …

Morning Roundup (12/5/2023) — Talking About NAR

Good Morning! Today is Tuesday, December 5. Hackers gained the personal data of nearly seven million profiles on 23AndMe. A former ambassador is accused of working for years as a secret agent for Cuba. Israel has started an invasion of southern Gaza. The Mortgage Note Reports Talking About NAR: People are talking about the possible ramifications of the legal actions being taken against the National Association of Realtors, including the president and CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage. Guild CMO: Adam O’Daniel joined Guild Mortgage as chief marketing officer. Lending Tech: POS provider Floify launched a one-stop lending platform for brokers, Floify Broker Edition. Holiday Home Sales: The holiday season can be a tricky time of year in the real estate…

Morning Roundup (12/4/2023) — Top Markets

Good Morning! Today is Monday, December 4. Israel ordered more evacuations before an expected ground invasion of southern Gaza. A volcanic eruption killed at least 11 hikers in Indonesia. Alaska Airlines said it plans to buy Hawaiian Airlines for $1.9 billion. The Mortgage Note Reports 2024’s Top Markets: First-time buyers are clinging to the dream of homeownership, creating opportunities for relatively affordable markets to explode in 2024. Newrez Product: Newrez launched a new 1% down payment product with a lender contribution of up to $5,000, geared towards low-income and first-time homebuyers. Cloud-Based Tech: Cloud-based technology is transforming warehouse lending. Editor Kimberley Haas sat down with Rich Berg of SitusAMC to learn more. In other mortgage and housing news… Industry Feedback: …

Morning Roundup (12/1/2023) — Year-End Incentives

Good Morning! Today is Friday, December 1. The House will vote today on whether to expel Representative George Santos. Israel resumed its bombardment of Gaza. Sandra Day O’Connor, the first female Supreme Court justice, died at 93. The Mortgage Note Reports Year-End Incentives: Rocket Pro TPO is kicking off its annual December to Remember event and the executive vice president says it will mean more for mortgage professionals this year than ever before. Editor Kimberley Haas has the story. Rates Down Again: Mortgage rates slipped for a fifth consecutive week to 7.22%, signaling the possibility of more competition in a “market starved for inventory.” FCM Exec: Jeff Pancer joined First Community Mortgage as EVP of Capital Markets. In other mortgage…

Morning Roundup (11/30/2023) — Lending Sinks In Q3

Good Morning! Today is Thursday, November 30. Tesla’s Cybertruck will officially launch at 3 pm ET. Henry Kissinger died at 100 years old. Apple said will improve texting with Android phones. The Mortgage Note Reports Lending Sinks: Originations fell by 3% in Q3 thanks to weakness in purchase and home equity lending, reversing a Q2 spike and marking the ninth decline in ten quarters. Pending Sales Down: Pending home sales sank to their lowest level in 20 years last month, piling on more tough news for the housing market. Opinion: Scott Olson, executive director of the Community Home Lenders of America, says they are renewing their longstanding call for all mortgage loan originators to be licensed after Bank of America…

Morning Roundup (11/29/2023) — BOA

Good Morning! Today is Wednesday, November 29. The wife of Ukraine’s military intelligence chief was poisoned but is recovering in the hospital. A commercial plane crossed the Atlantic without using fossil fuels for the first time. Google will delete Gmail and YouTube accounts that have been idle for two years or more. The Mortgage Note Reports BOA Penalized: The second largest bank in the country will pay a $12 million penalty after it was found that hundreds of loan officers falsified forms about mortgage applicants. Applications Up: Mortgage applications rose for yet another week, though the increase was mild, inching up just 0.3% as refinances tanked. 2024 Predictions: Will 2024’s housing market be better? Experts expect to see the beginning…

Morning Roundup (11/28/2023) — Home Prices Hit Another Record

Good Morning! Today is Tuesday, November 28. Rosalynn Carter’s memorial service is today in Atlanta. New Zealand’s government said it will repeal a law banning cigarette sales. Hunter Biden agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee on Dec. 13. The Mortgage Note Reports Case-Shiller Index: Home prices hit another record high this fall as stock shortages spurred competition for well-priced homes. Ascent Buys VA: Ascent Software Group, the appraisal software company behind end-to-end suite Jaro, has acquired tech developer Value Acceptance. Data Beats: Leaders at Tavant say they are using generative AI to redefine the financial services landscape. Editor Kimberley Haas has the story. In other mortgage and housing news… New HPI: Redfin introduced its own Home Price Index,…