Good morning! Today is Monday, January 4. Georgia Senate candidates try to avoid GOP infighting as the final runoff votes are cast tomorrow. The Food and Drug Administration will meet this week to consider giving half-doses of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine to people aged 18 to 55. Instead of making an arrest, a Massachusetts police officer bought groceries for two women caught stealing days before Christmas.
And in mortgage and housing news …
BIDEN IMPACT: What will Joe Biden do to mortgage rates? A few analysts give their predictions.
AMERICAN MORTGAGE MACHINE: A lot has to happen to make 30-year mortgages at super-low interest rates possible. Investors should understand what each player in the process does, and what risks they take.
NEIGHBORLY: More than two-thirds of those surveyed have gotten to know their neighbors better during the pandemic. Almost that many have made an effort to be more friendly than usual, and nearly 7 in 10 say they appreciate their neighbors more than ever.
HOUSING INEQUITY: The coronavirus recession is driving a wedge through the U.S. housing market, sparking concerns of worsening inequality.
TOURISM RECOVERY: Hotel owners are still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic.
MORTGAGE TECH: RON use went up in 2020. Here’s why more lenders won’t adopt it.
BORROWING LIMITS: Borrowing limits for conforming mortgage loans are set to rise in 2021.
EVICTION BANS: Could eviction moratoriums upset the housing market?
2020 ROUNDUP: The biggest real estate stories of 2020.
RECORD RECORDS: How record-low mortgage rates changed everything in 2020.