Good morning! Today is Friday, March 26. In his first news conference, President Biden called for changes to the legislative filibuster and defended his border policy. Executives of Facebook, Twitter and Alphabet appeared before a House panel, where they faced questions about social media’s role in spreading disinformation. Pfizer begins testing a Covid-19 vaccine on children.
And in mortgage and housing news …
BROKER WARS: The Mortgage Note reports that United Wholesale Mortgage CEO Mat Ishbia went on CNBC to assert he is the good guy in the Broker Wars by standing up for brokers and “for what is right.”
MORTGAGE RATES: The Mortgage Note provides the latest news on the sixth straight mortgage interest rate hike.
BITCOIN: Lenders are accepting bitcoin as a down payment for home purchases.
GSE INVESTMENT PROPERTY: The Mortgage Bankers Association sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Mark Calabria expressing concern over several amendments to the Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreements announced in January, including changes to investment properties.
RECOVERY: Big bank stocks could rise by another 21 percent in a renaissance for the sector supported by economic recovery, says Bank of America.
APPRAISAL IMPACT: Most mortgages require a home appraisal. Here’s how it keeps you from overpaying for a home.
UNCHARTED EXTREMES: As home buyers already know full well, the residential real estate market has been on a wild tear for the past few years—and the pandemic has pushed things to new, uncharted extremes. What’s next?
EXTREME SELLER MARKET: Forbes Advisor asked more than 20 real estate experts, including brokers and lenders, for their best advice for buyers in the current market.
DIGITAL MORTGAGE EXPERIENCE: Freddie Mac announced a new automated payroll income verification option is now available to its clients.
FORECAST: What will the housing market be like in 2022? The Home Buying Institute offers some predictions.