Mortgage Roundup (2/20/20) – Coronavirus, Sweet Freedom & Credit Card Debt

Last night’s debate among Democratic presidential candidates was full of attacks and animosity. White House economists predict growth won’t hit Trump’s 3 percent target unless big changes occur. Two passengers of the Diamond Princess cruise ship who contracted the coronavirus have died in Japan. Meanwhile in mortgage news …

Federal Reserve officials dubbed coronavirus a “new risk” to the economy and indicate no major changes to rates are likely, according to minutes released Wednesday.

Fannie Mae’s Economic and Strategic Research (ESR) Group suggest that low mortgage rates and strong demand will keep housing on a strong growth track

The housing industry is calling for changes that would allow mortgage loan originators more freedom when it comes to changing their compensation. Mortgage loan originator compensation rules are strictly regulated by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 

US mortgage delinquencies fell by more than 5 percent last month, reaching a record low, according to Black Knight data. 

More than a quarter of Americans have more credit card debt than they do in emergency savings, according to a survey released by Bankrate.

Last year, the percentage of people who had moved in the previous 12 months fell to an all-time low of 9.8 percent. A Housing Wire columnist looks at how often people move and what it says about the health of the housing market. 

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is pumping more money into public housing in Massachusetts, while California Gov. Gavin Newsom vows to fight homelessness.

Finally, here’s your real estate listing of the day (if you like cats).