Good morning! Today is Tuesday, January 12. The Trump administration is putting Cuba on the list of countries that are considered to be state sponsors of terrorism. New England Patriot coach Bill Bellichick says he won’t accept the Medal of Freedom at a White House ceremony, following last week’s Capitol riot. More than a dozen earthquakes have rattled the Southern Appalachian region in the past month.
And in mortgage and housing news …
MILLION-DOLLAR CITIES: The number of “million-dollar cities” surged significantly last year as home values climbed amid the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a report released by Zillow.
FORBEARANCE REPORT: The share of U.S. mortgages in forbearance edged down slightly last week.
BIDEN EFFECT: How a Biden administration could affect your mortgage.
HOME-BUILDING EMPLOYMENT: Home building employment withstood the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the National Association of Home Builders reported.
URBAN ALLURE: U.S. cities are losing their allure for renters, placing early signs of strain on the $50 billion market in bonds backed by mortgages on apartment blocks.
LOANDEPOT IPO: California-based LoanDepot Inc. has filed for an initial public offering, the latest mortgage lender to do so amid record-low mortgage rates and some five years after scrapping similar plans.
RECOVERY: A hot housing market is leading the nation’s economic recovery.
BUYING VS. RENTING: ATTOM Data Solutions’ newly released 2021 Rental Affordability Report is showing that owning a median-priced three-bedroom home in the U.S. is more affordable than renting a three-bedroom property in 63 percent of U.S. counties analyzed.
VACATION CONDOS: Moves by government-controlled mortgage firms could drive up cost of borrowing to buy units in resort areas.
AFFORDABILITY: Home prices will increase in 2021. Here’s where you can find value.
BEST PLACES TO LIVE: Bankrate combed through data and identified the 10 best places to live based on the cost of living, quality of life and who’s moving there. Here’s where you may want to consider calling home this year.