Good Morning! Today is Thursday, January 18. Apple will remove a feature from its watches that detects blood oxygen levels. Google said it is cutting 100 jobs at YouTube. CNN canceled a debate, a day after ABC did the same, after both Donald Trump and Nikki Haley refused to participate.
The Mortgage Note Reports
Moving Forward: Motivated millennials and the power of technology will shape the mortgage market in 2024, according to industry leaders who gathered this week to reflect on 2023 and strategize for the year ahead.
Starts And Permits: Housing starts slipped in December, with single-family taking a hit, but permits suggest a wave of new inventory coming in 2024.
AIME CEO Changeup: Katie Sweeney is stepping down as Chairman and CEO of AIME to helm the organization’s legislative advocacy arm, BACPAC.
In other mortgage and housing news…
Great Sadness: Today the industry is mourning the passing of former MBA president and HUD veteran David H. Stevens.
Under Pressure: Mortgage rate lock volume is down more than 13% month-over-month due to seasonal lows that are likely to persist through Q1.
Easing The Burden: Both rent prices and homeownership remain a struggle for the average American worker, but renting is more affordable in nearly 90% of markets.
“A More Typical Pattern”: Fannie Mae’s ESR Group expects mortgage rates to dip below 6% in 2024, boosting refis and encouraging existing home sales.
Company News: Optimal Blue PPE is now available as a mobile app for Android; Snapdocs eClosing integrated with LenderLogix’s LiteSpeed POS.