Good Morning! Today is Tuesday, January 23. The New Hampshire presidential primary is today, and Donald Trump is leading the polls. Israel said 24 soldiers were killed in Gaza yesterday, their biggest single-day losses yet. The country of Cameroon in Africa kicked off the world’s first malaria vaccine program for children.
The Mortgage Note Reports
To Buy Or Not To Buy: As more people consider jumping into the housing market, what do they need to know? Writer Nicole Murray set out to answer this question, talking to industry leaders and three people who recently purchased a home to get their opinions.
Think Outside The Box: Americans are getting creative to save money on a home, considering buying fixer-uppers or committing to two-hour or more super commutes.
Labor Practices: A National Labor Relations Board judge has found that portions of a mandatory employment agreement between United Wholesale Mortgage and its workers should be rescinded.
CMB Goes UM: Missouri-based Community Mortgage Brokers announced a partnership with the mortgage platform UMortgage.
In other mortgage and housing news…
Paying Up: Patriot Bank agreed to pay $1.9 million to resolve allegations from the DOJ that it engaged in redlining discriminatory practices.
Fraud Alert: The fraud trial for Baltimore state attorney Marilyn Mosby began yesterday. She is accused of lying about owed taxes on mortgage applications.
“Mortgage Disaster”: The ongoing insurance crisis in Florida, fueled by the exodus of major insurers and extreme weather events, could trigger a serious real estate downturn.
Price Improvement: U.S. home prices climbed 0.4% month-over-month in December, the smallest increase since June.
Buying Earlier: The housing outlook won’t be on the right track until more first-time buyers enter the market and at a younger age, closer to their late 20s/early 30s.
“Never-Ending Trend”: Why “barndominiums” took America by storm and remain a dream purchase for Millennials seven years after their debut.