Good Morning! Today is Thursday, August 17. The district attorney prosecuting Donald Trump in Georgia is seeking a March trial start date. More than 1,000 people are still missing in the wake of the Maui wildfires, and the death toll has risen to 111. President Biden will host the leaders of Japan and South Korea at Camp David.
The Mortgage Note Reports
School Of Hard Knocks: It is being estimated that the average metro area teacher can afford 12% of homes for sale within commuting distance of their school. That’s down from 30% in 2019. Editor Kimberley Haas has the story.
Opportunity Zones: Low-income redevelopment zones are back on track for home price appreciation, and some are faring better than others.
New Home Take Over: As high rates keep sellers locked in their current homes, new homes made up nearly one-third of the market in Q2 2023.
In other mortgage and housing news…
FOMC Minutes: More rate hikes may be coming as FOMC members continue to view inflation as a threat and suggest they would support further action to quell it.
No Relief: California’s mortgage relief program is expanding once again, while Philly homeowners can’t get a dime from its flawed system.
NAR, Zillow Case Tossed: A judge said REX failed to prove that NAR and Zillow had agreed to work together to disadvantage non-MLS listings and dismissed the case.
Company News: PrimeLending added 21 LOs to its North Texas area branches; Houwzer created a parent company, Newfound, and new brands.
Picture Perfect: Sellers who want to make the most money for their homes clear the clutter and make their beds before listing photos are taken. Here’s some other tips.