Good morning! Today is Monday, May 17. Bill Gates left the Microsoft board amid a probe into a prior relationship with a staffer. Israel launched a new round of heavy air strikes on Gaza City. A wildfire near Los Angeles continues to grow and evacuations were ordered.
And in mortgage and housing news …
BANK JOB CUTS: U.S. banks could cut 200,000 jobs over next decade, top analyst says.
LOW-TECH APPS: Half of big lenders still get most mortgage applications on paper.
TOO MUCH: Some questions to consider if you are thinking of going beyond your original budget to buy a home.
SELLER’S MARKET: Some tips for navigating a hot housing market.
FIRST-TIME BUYERS: The housing market is a tale of two Americas and first-time buyers are struggling.
LOW MORTGAGE PAYMENT: Four ways to get the lowest monthly mortgage payment.
RELAXED STANDARDS: Lenders look to lure consumers with lax standards.
TIMING THE MARKET: Why it’s a bad idea to try to wait for a lower mortgage rate.
CREDIT EXPANSION: Why lenders might be slower to expand credit to first-time buyers.