California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Mismanagement has Santa Ana winds forcing wildfires to a new catastrophic level. January 8, 2025, marks one of the worst wildfire emergencies in Los Angeles’s Pacific Palisades neighborhood. The Palisades Fire was amongst its most destructive fires historically.

Fire Progression and Impact

Size and Containment:

• In no time, the Palisades Fire has expanded to consume over 15,832 acres without containment.

Destruction:

• This fire burned at least a thousand structures and broke the Sayre Fire (2008) and Bel Air Fire (1961) records.

Casualties:

• There have been five confirmed deaths as well as many casualties, such as a firefighter aged twenty-five years who suffered serious head injuries.

Evacuations:

• Around 70,000 residents have been required to leave their homes by law, and shelters are being used to house them.

Contributing Factors:

Weather Conditions:

• Strong Santa Ana winds, with gusts of more than 100 mph and very dry conditions, have spread the fire far more quickly and hampered efforts at containment.

Power Outages:

• Due to the fires, approximately 400,000 customers in Los Angeles County and surrounding areas have no electricity.

Community and Culture:

Historic Sites:

• This includes Will Rogers State Historic Park, which has lost its Stables and Will Roger’s house, and Topanga Ranch Motel in Topanga State Park.

Educational Institutions:

• Palisades Charter High School and Palisades Elementary School suffered severe damage, which disrupted education for many learners.

Entertainment Industry:

• The Critics’ Choice Awards and several movie premieres are some cultural events postponed or canceled due to this predicament.

Emergency Response:

Government Action:

• Governor Gavin Newsom declared an emergency and obtained federal support against these flames.

Firefighting Efforts:

• Over 1,400 firefighters are fighting the firestorm with help from other states’ resources.
• Harsh weather conditions led to an array of problems.

https://youtu.be/BeaHDHYJAqA?si=7frG0Hq1odigks7U

• This discussion was modified 4 months, 4 weeks ago by  Gustan Cho.

Comprehensive Overview of National Headline Daily News for the Week of January 6th through the 12th 2025: The Summary of This Week’s Weekend Edition Summary with the Latest on the Pacific Palisades Wildfire in Southern California, the latest updates on President Elect Donald Trump’s agenda, plans, and changes, the Federal Reserve Board, the exit of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, and other important headline news for the week. Also, what we are going to expect this coming week.

Full Summary of Mortgage, Business, Employment, Economic, and Investment Daily National News:

From 6th to 12th January 2025:

Weekend Edtion Highlights

***Adjustable-Rate Mortgages: ARMs Rates Capped: Economy Dips***

• Due to fluctuating economic activity, the 30-year fixed mortgage loan rate averages 6.35%.
• The weighted average cost for adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) moved down.
• This indicates that consumers are choosing to refinance at a higher rate more often than lenders can provide these options.

***Investors and self-employed people prefer Non-QM Loans***

• Non-QM loans are gaining popularity from self-employed folks and investors seeking more financing options.
• Especially in states like Florida and California.

***FHA Loans are on the rise***

• FHA increased high-cost zone loan limits for areas exceeding $1,200,000 in 2025.
• This increase is anticipated to enable first-time homebuyers to purchase a home in a highly competitive housing market.

***Insights on Improvement in the Housing Market***

• There has been a 2.5% decrease in active listings relative to the preceding month’s figure.
• Unfortunately, supply constraints remain most severe in metro areas.
• This includes New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
• Labor shortages coupled with increasing construction expenses are worsening this inventory problem.

Home Prices Rise Slightly

• The national median price of homes increased by 1.2% month over month.
• Midwest cities such as Columbus, OH, and Kansas City, MO, showed the most prominent year-over-year growth.

Shift Toward Multi-Generational Housing

• This increasing trend of multi-generational living is impacting how houses are built.
• The demand for units with two kitchens and separate living spaces has risen by 18%.

Real Estate Trends Commercial Real Estate Faces Headwinds:

• As remote work continues, the office segment has not performed well.
• The vacancy rate is constantly above 20% in big metropolitan regions.
• However, the industrial real estate sector continues to be buoyed by the growth of e-commerce.

Luxury Real Estate Rebounds

• The new year started strong, with sales of luxury homes.
• Especially those priced at more than 3 million dollars, seeing an increased demand of 10% in the first week of January.
• This was driven by increased investment from abroad and improved stock market conditions.

Top Performing Real Estate Markets

• The real estate markets in Phoenix, AZ, Austin, TX, and Charlotte, NC, have higher volume and price appreciation than the national average.

Business and Employment News Unemployment Rate Declines

• The country’s unemployment rate fell to 3.7%, clearly showing a strong labor market.
• The health, tech, and construction sectors saw the strongest job growth.

Layoffs in Tech

• Companies like Meta and Amazon announced additional layoffs, citing cost-cutting and adjusting to post-pandemic demand changes as the reasons for the cuts.

Small Business Optimism Improves

The Small Business Optimism Index rose 4 points, signifying confidence in the new consumer entity, which is expected to improve inflation.

Economic Developments

Federal Reserve Signals Pause on Rate Hikes:

• According to the FOMC meeting minutes, a rate hike is unlikely.
• This is because inflation decreased to 4.1% from 9.1% mid-last year.

Consumer Confidence Up

• The Consumer Confidence Index increased due to wage growth and holiday spending, finally posting its highest level shift since April 2023.

Stock Market Performance

• Green energy and tech stocks led gains.
• The NASDAQ and S&P 500 stocks increased by 2.2% and 1.8%, respectively.

Investment and Financial News

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) on the Rise:

• Investor optimism in the logistics and tech sector led to REITs owning industrial and data center properties posting strong gains.

Crypto Markets Recover

• With renewed interest from institutions and regulatory shards bolstering confidence.
• Bitcoin’s value jumped above 100,000 dollars.

The Investment in Renewable Energy Grows Herring

• This week, investments in wind and solar projects hit an all-time high of $15 billion.
• This increase is largely due to recent announcements made by First Solar and Tesla.

Market Predictions for the Coming Week

Expectations in Economic Reports:

• Retail sales data will be useful during the holiday season 2024 and paint a clear picture of holiday spending changes.
• The CPI report will reveal December’s inflation rate, which will help estimate the inflation rate 2025.

Mortgage Applications and Rates

• Mortgage application is estimated to experience moderate growth.
• This is due to buyers easing their financial expectations and stable rates.

Potential Legislative Actions

• A new legislature is set to debate the new housing credit.
• This has been introduced to boost the housing market for first-time buyers.
• This week witnessed strong performance, encouraging results in the mortgage and housing sectors.
• There is optimism visible across the greater investment and economic environment.

Comprehensive Overview of National Headline Daily News From 6 To 12 January 2025:

Weekend Edition:

Summary With The Most Recent Information:

• Regarding The Pacific Palisades Southern California Wildfire.
• President-Elect Donald Trump’s Plans And Changes.
• Federal Reserve Board Member Benefits.
• The Month And Year Joe Biden And Kamala Harris Leaving Office.
• Other Significant Head People News From The Selected Week.
• Additionally, What We Anticipated For The Subsequent Week

FEMA financed personnel and equipment and gave federal approval. Inga suitcase canister turning random oblique ring Newadiens surveil this impact.

• Investigators are corroborating the story, with initial information raising the possibility of power lines disqualification.

Policy Announcements

• Trump talked about the most important plans in an off-the-record meeting with the head of the next round invited to his press release:

Immigration Reform

• Renewed commitment to border security.
• This includes reinstatements from his earlier presidency.

Economic Stimulus:

• A “Middle-Class Recovery Act” that aims to cut taxes and strengthen the economy by increasing the number of small businesses.

Healthcare Overhaul:

• Repeal key provisions of the Affordable Care Act while simultaneously expanding Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).

The US Military

• Trump pledged a return to American values.
• He prioritized military readiness, manufacturing jobs, and energy independence and gave a speech in Florida emphasizing these areas.

Updates from the Federal Reserve Board

• Jerome Powell hinted that the Fed will adjust the chair’s interest rate for the first time during the new normalization period.
• Inflation stabilization and housing market stagnation are often cited as the causes of this rate shift.

Economic Growth Concerns

• According to the minutes from the Fed’s last meeting in December.
• There are worries regarding the economy contracting after the holiday customer spending boom.

Market Reaction

• The Dow Jones index increased by 2.1 at the end of the week.
• The increase was driven by more positive earnings reports and speculation over the Fed’s upcoming decision to change its monetary policy.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris Take Their LeaveFarewell Address:

For one last time, President Joe Biden addressed the people of America and emphasized the following main points:

• Reduction in unemployment to historic lows.
• Passage of landmark infrastructure and climate legislation.
• As Vice President Kamala Harris puts it, all these reasons are enough to ponder her remarks regarding unifying and moving forward into civilian life.

The Transition of Power:

• Joe Biden’s presidential advisors are working directly with Trump’s group to ease the power shift and concentrate on security and economic stability in the USA.

Other National Headlines

Supreme Court Decisions:

• The Supreme Court has decided not to take a case against state abortion bans.
• Thus keeping the controversial laws.
• A very important decision regarding affirmative action in college admission policies will also be made in a few days.

Severe Weather Across The Midwest

• The Blizzard has severely impacted travel and power supply in the Midwest.
• The Blizzard took over the Midwest, canceling over 1,500 flights and shutting down service in 200,000 homes.

Healthcare Strikes

• California and New York nurses and healthcare personnel went on strike over wages and the understaffed population.
• This puts pressure on the hospital systems to take immediate action.

What Have We To Expect On The Followed Date

Political Movements

• On his first day in office, Trump will announce an Executive Order.
• He will sign it on his inaugural day and finish outlining his cabinet appointments.
• A temporary funding bill is on Congress’s agenda to prevent the government from halting operations.

Econometric Data

• The CPI index for December is due to be published.
• This should shed some much-needed light concerning inflation.
• Based on previous records, strong retail consumer spending is predicted during the festive season.

Containment progress of the wildfire

• The Pacific Palisades firefighting will pick up.
• This is because the US government is expected to start and allocate further resources for warfare.

Watch the Supreme Court

• The military court will likely pass rulings on immigration and voting rights legislation pending case reviews.

Weather Predictions

• The arctic temperatures will shift this upcoming week, affecting big city populations such as Chicago, Detroit, and New York.
• This week’s events included economic optimism, political transition, and environmental catastrophe.

Significant changes in policies and markets and contagious recovery efforts in different parts of the country are expected in the upcoming days.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAHzD37g_6E

• This discussion was modified 4 months, 3 weeks ago by  Gustan Cho.

Here is a link to funny children’s clips

This video is about a young man who relocated to Florida from Wisconsin and got stopped by a Florida law enforcement officer for a traffic infraction. The cop sees evidence of impairment and asks the driver if he wants to perform field sobriety test to see if he can pass it so he can go on his way. With that said, the driver volunteers to take the field sobriety tests to end up bombing it and giving all the cops a laugh. Must see. It must be tough to be stupid and make a total jack as of yourself.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/95RbpdMSFeonYeej/?mibextid=D5vuiz

facebook.com

Officers Amazingly Keep Straight Faces During this Arrest | Officers Amazingly Keep Straight Faces During this Arrest | By Diócesis de La PazFacebook

Officers Amazingly Keep Straight Faces During this Arrest

Homes prices in Sarasota Florida is expected to tank in 2024. This year is an election year and many homebuyers are jittery during a turbulent election year. Lower interest rate is forecasted in the later half of the year. Home prices are forecasted to plummet 40% or more in Sarasota County Florida. Average price of homes in Sarasota Florida is $535,000 for single family homes. Condos are priced in the low $500,000 median price range.

https://youtu.be/5iOF5u4W9r0?si=3jODXPnqdNxlNxOx

National Daily Comprehensive Headline News, including the latest Southern California wildfires, inflation, stock and bond markets, rates, and overview of important news in the United States for Friday January 10th, 2025. On January 10, 2025, there will be a roundup of major national news covering the fires in Southern California, economic indicators, and national markets.

Southern California Wildfires:

Wildfires are raging in southern California, and roughly 36,685 acres of land have been burned, mostly in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Palisades Fire, Hurst Fire, and Eaton Fire are the main ones. These fires have resulted in the death of not less than ten people, destruction or damage to over 13,400 structures, and evacuation of close to 180,000 residents. Adding to the problem are severe Santa Ana winds that blow with speeds above 80-100 miles per hour and dry weather conditions. Authorities are examining the causes emphasizing extreme climate patterns.

Economic Indicators:

Employment Data:

• In December alone, the U.S. economy added more jobs than anticipated – a total of 256 thousand – thereby reducing unemployment rates.
• This noteworthy increase in employment suggests a robust labor market that could influence the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy choices.

Inflation Concerns:

• Anticipated import tariffs have pushed consumer inflation expectations, leading to concerns that prices may rise in the coming months.

Financial Markets:

Bond Market:

• Following yesterday’s strong employment report, U.S. Treasury yields jumped, with the 10-year yield nearing five percent.
• This change reflects investors’ readjustment of their forecasts for Federal Reserve interest rates.

Stock Market:

• The main U.S. stock indices fell, including the S&P500 (1.5%), DJIA (1.4%), and Nasdaq (1%).
• Investors worry that continued economic strength may mean higher interest rates, impacting corporate earnings and valuations.

Outlook on Interest Rate:

• The Federal Reserve, which started to cut rates in September 2024, is now expected to maintain current interest rates for longer.
• Some analysts argue that the Fed may contemplate raising rates in 2025 if inflationary pressures intensify.

Other Developments

Corporate Bond Issuance:

• Major American companies are issuing bonds faster and faster to capture current borrowing costs, keeping rising Treasury yields in mind.
• This week, $62.7 bn was raised across 39 issuers—a record.

Public Health Emergency

The U.S. Department of Health has declared a public health emergency for California due to wildfires to facilitate federal help for affected communities.

In summary, America faces several challenges, including huge wildfires in Southern California and economic dynamics marked by strong employment numbers, increasing inflation outlooks, and unstable financial markets.

• This discussion was modified 4 months, 3 weeks ago by  Tom Miller.

As of the week ending on April 25, 2024, the average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is reported at approximately 7.877%. It’s important to note that these rates have seen some fluctuations, and various factors including economic conditions and the borrower’s credit profile influence the final rate offered. For those considering refinancing, the average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate refinance loan has slightly increased to about 8.425%​​.

Mortgage rates are significantly influenced by economic factors, personal financial details of the borrower, and the specific conditions of the mortgage market at the time. For instance, someone with a strong credit score and a substantial down payment might secure a lower rate, while those with lower credit scores or smaller down payments might face higher rates​​.

If you’re thinking of securing a mortgage or refinancing your current one, it would be beneficial to compare rates from multiple lenders to find the best deal for your situation. As of April 30, 2024, the housing market is showing signs of resilience and growth in certain areas despite ongoing challenges like high mortgage rates and affordability issues. Key insights include:

• Home sales have seen a mix of increases and decreases depending on the region. Nationally, existing home sales have improved month-over-month but are still below the levels from the previous year. New home sales show slight growth compared to the previous year, indicating a shift where more buyers are opting for new homes due to the low supply of existing homes​ (Freddie Mac – We Make Home Possible)​.

• The National Association of Realtors (NAR) forecasts a significant increase in existing-home sales to 4.71 million for 2024, which is up from the previous year. This growth is expected to be concentrated in markets with high demand such as Austin, Texas, which is noted as a top market to watch due to pent-up housing demand​ (http://www.nar.realtor)​.

• Mortgage rates have remained steady with an average of around 6.8% as of March, impacting both buying and refinancing activities. Although this presents challenges, there’s an uptick in both refinance activity and purchase applications as the market adapts to these conditions​ (Freddie Mac – We Make Home Possible)​.

Overall, while the housing market faces headwinds from higher rates and price pressures, certain regions are experiencing growth, and there’s a general sense of cautious optimism as the market adapts to the economic landscape of 2024.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYQgJlwKskc

Daily Mortgage and Real Estate News for Wednesday, January 8th 2025:

By January 8, 2025, there are outstanding changes in the United States mortgage, real estate, and business sectors:

Updating about Mortgage Rates:

Current Rates:

• The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage is approximately 6.91%, marking the highest rate since July 2024.

Projections:

• Fixed mortgage rates will not fall until next year, as forecasted by analysts, averaging around 6.4% for 2025.
• This is slightly lower than the annual average of 6.7% last year but still above that historic average between this year and the past six years (2013-2019), which was less than or equal to 4 percent.

Housing Market Trends:

Home Prices:

• Nationally, home prices are projected to rise 3.7% in 2025, followed by 4% in 2024 and 1.1% in 2023.
• This trend will continue due to limited housing inventory and sustained demand.

Sales Activity:

• Existing home sales are expected to increase by about a half percentage point, or nearly one hundred thousand homes, to as many as four million units.
• This is far below the historical annual mean level within our analysis period – eight years (this decade).
• Besides, the housing supply may improve compared with last year’s data, including more new house constructions anticipated to total over a million units.”

Regional Insights:

Hudson Valley, New York:

• A luxurious manor in Hyde Park, initially valued at $45 million in 2021, has been resubmitted for sale at $11.25 million after three years of futile attempts to sell it.
• The considerable price reduction highlights the difficulty encountered in the upper-end real estate industry.

Banking and Financial Services:

TSB Bank Initiative:

• TSB has launched a new 5&5 mortgage scheme that gives tenants a 5% reduction on their first home, provided they put down a minimum 5% deposit.
• This initiative is intended to help renters buy the homes they are already living in, remove any complexities landlords could encounter while selling them off, and offer affordable housing alternatives as property prices rise.

Economic Indicators:

Stock Market Movements:

• On January 8, 2025, the U.S. stock futures are moving downward following a tech sell-off, with NASDAQ, S&P 500, and Dow Jones trending slightly lower.
• Hence, markets and federal agencies will be closed tomorrow for the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter.
• Moderna stock is climbing on expectations of a bird-flu vaccine after the first U.S. death from the disease was reported.
• Bitcoin and crypto stocks are falling as a strong labor report diminishes hopes of Federal Reserve rate cuts.
• Palantir Technologies’ shares continue to decrease because analysts are worried about its high valuation despite its good performance in 2024.

Challenges in Homeownership:

Affordability Issues:

• A twenty-six-year-old Perth resident earning $80,000 per annum experienced difficulty making his loan repayments when he initially could afford them easily.
• When his fixed-rate time lapsed, he had to tune into repayment that became highly increased—having to sell personal things to ensure payment was made regularly.
• This shows how many property owners feel financial pressures due to rising costs plus interest rates.

Market Outlook:

The mortgage and real estate market is characterized by higher mortgage rates, increasing home prices, and a greater focus on affordability and economic indicators. Prospective buyers and sellers should follow these trends to make wise decisions.

Summary of National Headline News Updated of January 3rd, January 4th, January 5th, and January 6th 2025, including Weekend News Update of January 4th and 5th 2025:

January 3, 2025

On January 3, the 119th U.S. Congress sat in session for the first time. Vice President Kamala Harris swore in the senators, and Mike Johnson was re-elected as Speaker of the House.

Janet Yellen To Be Nominated as U.S. Treasury Secretary:

• Joe Biden’s administration is set to nominate Janet Yellen as Treasury Secretary.
• Joe Biden blocks Nippon Steel’s $7 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel over national security concerns.
• According to Fox News on Saturday, a newly released report shows that the president has ordered the government to buy less from China and other foreign sources over concerns about supply chain vulnerability.

Surgeon General Calls For Cancer Warnings On Alcohol Bottles:

• Surgeon General Vivek Murthy suggests that alcohol bottles be marked with cancer warnings.
• This is because there is a clear link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk.

SpaceX launches United Arab Emirates Communication Satellite Thuraya 4-NGS:

According to ABC News, SpaceX launched its communications satellite Thuraya 4-NGS for the United Arab Emirates on Friday via a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

January 4, 2025

Terrorism in New Orleans? So far, fourteen people have died after a terrorist attack took place on New Year’s Day. Homemade bombs filled with special explosives were used by the attacker, indicating the involvement of high-level terrorist training and possible connections with international terrorist organizations.

Winter Storm Blair Disrupts Central U.S.: According to NBC News, Winter Storm Blair caused major disruption across central the USA last Tuesday, resulting in four deaths.

Kansas City, Missouri, and Louisville, Kentucky, were particularly affected by heavy snowfall, with the latter receiving its heaviest snowfall in a quarter of a century. For instance, around 1,900 flights were canceled, and more than 254,000 utility customers lost power.

January 5th, 2025

Congestion Pricing New York City:

New York City was the first city in the United States to introduce congestion pricing for vehicles below 60th Street into Lower Manhattan and Midtown. This initiative aims to reduce traffic jams and generate revenue for public transportation improvements.

U.S. Provides Arms to Israel: The U.S. State Department informed Congress about an intended $8 billion weapons deal with Israel that includes air-to-air missiles, Hellfire missiles, artillery shells, and other ammunition, thereby enhancing their strategic alliance between the two nations.

January 6th, 2025

Election Results Certified By Congress: On January 6, amidst heightened security measures and a January 6 m, Congress met to confirm Donald Trump’s presidential victory earlier this year. Vice President Kamala Harris presided over the session, announcing election results formally without any altercation like last year’s event on January 6.

Shore Drilling:

In one of his final acts as President, Joe Biden banned new oil and natural gas drilling across most of America’s coastline to accomplish environmental objectives and mitigate climate change effects.

These events underscored important political shifts alongside environmental conservation and safety challenges experienced within the U.S. during the first week of January 2025.

Comprehensive Daily Headline News for Tuesday, January 7th, 2025, which includes the economy, inflation, unemployment, bankruptcy, foreclosure, politics, stocks and bonds, corruption, and factors affecting Americans.

The United States is experiencing significant developments across various sectors as of January 7, 2025.

Economy and Inflation

Economic Growth:

• Projections are that the US economy will grow by about 2.2%- 2.5% in 2025 due to full employment and price stability.

Inflation:

• Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) rose by 6.4% in 2023, with Florida leading at a growth rate of up to 8.1% and Iowa at a low pace of only 4.7%.

Bureau of Economic Analysis

Unemployment and Job Market:

Job Openings:

• In November 2024, there were 8.1 million job openings, up from the forecasted 7.7 million.

Services Sector:

• The ISM’s non-manufacturing index for December rose higher than predicted, indicating strong service sector activity.

Stock Market and Bonds

Treasury Yields:

• With strong economic data, US Treasury yields have hit an eight-month high, with the government bond yield on a ten-year note reaching around 4.7%.

Stock Market:

• Positive economic data pushed the S&P 500 and NASDAQ downwards on concerns that the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policies could be affected.

Politics

Presidential Election:

• On January 6, 2025, Congress confirmed Donald Trump’s re-election as President during the recent presidential contest held in 2019, marking his return to the White House.

Debt Ceiling Concerns:

• According to Fitch Ratings, the debate on the US debt ceiling is not likely to be resolved promptly, even though Republicans control the government due to fights over spending within the party.

Corruption and Legal Matters

Trump’s Legal Challenges:

• Jack Smith, a special counsel, reports on his criminal cases against Donald Trump to Merrick Garland, an attorney general.
• Trump’s legal team wants this report kept confidential and has called it an “unlawful political stunt.”

Factors Affecting Americans

Climate Risk Considerations:

• Home buyers increasingly turn to climate risk assessments in evaluating properties, such as platforms like Zillow, that offer climate risk scores indicating potential damage from flooding, fires, and winds for the next 30 years.

In conclusion, the US negotiates a tricky terrain with strong economic indicators, political turnovers, and emerging issues in climatic risks of fiscal policies.

Gustan Cho Associates and Subsidiary Sites:

Gustan Cho Associates Mortgage Group (NMLS 2315275) is a dba of NEXA Mortgage (NMLS 1660690). Licensed in 48 states (MA & NY pending), including Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, The U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam, NEXA Mortgage ranks as one of the largest, if not the largest, in terms of licensed loan officers and volume, mortgage broker, and correspondent lenders in the Nation.

Scope of Work and Mission

Gustan Cho Associates assists borrowers with business, commercial, and residential loans. Not only does Gustan Cho Associates offer competitive rates, but over 80% of our borrowers are folks who could not qualify at other mortgage companies due to overlay or the lenders not offering the mortgage loan program for the borrower. This fact-checked statement confirms that the competition has nothing to say. With a lending network of 280 wholesale lenders (not including commercial lending programs) licensed in 48 plus states, with very competitive rates, it will be difficult, if not impossible, for the competition to come close.

A One-Stop, All-in-One Mortgage Superstore

Consumers often ask mortgage companies what they specialize in. This is a great question. The valid answer differs for each mortgage lender. There are mortgage lenders that specialize only in non-QM loans. Other lenders do not touch government and conventional loans. Credit unions often only offer conventional loans and not government-backed loans. Most mortgage companies do not offer any business or commercial loans. Gustan Cho Associates has a national reputation for being an all-in-one, one-stop national mortgage superstore.

Below is a comprehensive description of the company:

Core Services and Loan Products Traditional Mortgage Products

Conventional Loans:

• Conventional loans are offered to people with good credit ratings as they fall under prime loans.
• Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are included in this class.

FHA Loans

• FHA Loans help mitigate poor credit scores, such as those of self-employed clients with a high debt-to-income ratio.

VA Loans:

• These home buyers are veterans or current service members and don’t have to make a down payment.

USDA Loans:

• The requirements for these loans are comparable to those for VA and FHA loans, except no down payment is required to qualify.
• However, they are restricted from purchasing a designated home in rural land.

Non-QM Loans

Bank Statement Loans:

• Bank statement loans are for self-employed individuals with sufficient cash flow to maintain normal income verification requirements but who do not reach them.

DSCR (Debt-Service Coverage Ratio) Loans:

• DSCR loans are aimed at real estate investors who want to include rental income in the qualification requirements.

No-Doc Loans:

• This type of loan is granted without requiring borrowers to provide proof of income, so the income level does not matter.
• It was created for those with high liquidity or who are self-employed.

ITIN Loans

• ITIN loans allow people to purchase a house without legal permission from U.S. residents. This class includes illegal immigrants.

Specialty Loan Products

Fix-and-Flip Loans

• Short-term loans are used by those who purchase property that must be renovated and sold.

Construction Loan

A construction loan seeks to finance the sequential construction of a building for builders and homeowners.

• The same doing on its level may again be within a construction context, taking a scope and developing a new building.

Construction to Commercial Loans

• Among more common, CCC or construction to-commercial is its divergence from the more common form of building construction on which many construction firms focus heavily in today’s market.
• Lenders design a construction loan for homeowners wishing to build a home on a piece of land, directing funds exclusively to finance construction projects.

Commercial Loan

• With a commercial loan, the financing covers the purchases or refinancing of multifamily units, mixed commercial, real estate development, and a few other commercial projects.

Hard Money Loans:

• For this profile of borrowers desperate for capital recall, these loans make the transition between lenders despairing and lenders friendly owing to extreme urgency.

Key Features and Differentiators:

From the credit history aftermath of banks shunning these borrowers with low scores, GCA Mortgage Group differentiates itself with various features. It has gone as far as having borrowers with surrounding credit scores of less than five hundred or those wishing to graduate from their debts that were toilets and earlier bankrupt, and lenders aid them in earning months ago.

Private lenders commonly impose and/or usually expect their borrowers to have as overlays any restrictions they wish to impose on them. However, they do not infringe on the agency rules, which Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA, and USDA tend to comply with.

Gustan Cho Associates is a prominent national mortgage company with a team of government experts, conforming, nonqualified, and nonqualified mortgages. It currently ranks best in the industry due to its extensive range of self-employed businesses and mortgage solutions for investors and borrowers.

GCA Mortgage Group is in various parts of the country, with licenses in multiple states.

Ortal only provides unparalleled service to its customers. At the same time, GCA has gained recognition in the market for its fast and clear solutions.

Social Media

Website:

• Gustan Cho Associate claims it is the best platform for applying for a loan.
• It is important for borrowers because it has many informative resources, such as qualification requirements, loan plans, and blogging content about mortgages.

GCA Forums:

• A GCA Forum aims to bring customers and professionals together to discuss their mortgage needs and other experiences in the sector.

Educational Content:

• Blogs, videos, and guides on fixing credit, declaring bankruptcy, non-QM loans, and purchasing a home enhance search optimization.

Leadership

• The firm is operated by professionals who possess relevant industry expertise and many years of practice:

Gustan Cho:

• Gustan, a veteran mortgage expert, is the founder and chief motivator of the company.
• He has a vast wealth of experience and particularly aims to assist unbanked borrowers, which, in combination with GCA Mortgage Group’s reputation, has been the primary driver of innovation.

Target Audience

Low Down Payment First-Time Homebuyers:

In addition to providing almost no down payments, we guide first-time homebuyers through the entire home-buying process in depth.

Credit-Challenged Borrowers

People who already owe loans but have experienced some bad credit history or faced some bad financial events are the kind of audience GCA targets.

Self-Employed Applicants

Programs that don’t require extensive documents and use a few techniques like self-reporting are acceptable.

Property Investors: Targeting the investment market with various products, including DSCR and fix-and-flip loans.Investors in Commercial Real Estate: Multifamily, mixed-use, and commercial properties are collateral-based loans.

Customer Testimonials

The borrowers of GCA Mortgage Group gave the following compliments:

• Responsiveness. The pre-approval process takes less time, and consultations can be conducted on the same day.
• Expertise. I have good knowledge of niche lending programs and other related underwriting programs.
• Advocacy. Effects of Trying to Get More Approvals in Difficult Circumstances.

Vision and Mission

The company’s vision is to increase the volume of the target market for home ownership. Its purpose is to facilitate the broad spectrum of potential borrowers by providing various inventive, flexible, and simple mortgage products while enhancing its citizens’ economic literacy and quality of life.

You can contact them through their team or websites to browse through different loan options and get more personalized assistance.

California Governor Caught Plotting Against Trump to Use Tax Dollars Inappropriately. With only 2 weeks to go before Former President Donald Trump takes office, blue state governors are gearing up for how to go to battle over Trump’s immigration policies, that is the number one item on these big state agendas. Why are they so concerned with Trump’s plan to remove the criminal illegal migrants from their states? Why are they coming out publicly opposing Tom Homan, Trump’s new border czar? Well we may have some answers after an internal memo was leaked to politico from an insider on California Governor Gavin Newsom’s team, from his office. Detailing how Gavin Newsom plans to fight Donald Trump’s mass deportations, and using tax dollars to do it!

https://youtu.be/lSiGW3czdbg?si=H4Ra2RhnVDR-96Te

“The 2025 Chevrolet Corvette Zora is here to redefine the supercar game with groundbreaking hybrid technology and jaw-dropping performance. Boasting over 1,000 horsepower, this ultimate Corvette combines a twin-turbocharged V8 engine with cutting-edge electric motors to deliver unmatched speed and precision. With its sleek design, advanced aerodynamics, and innovative features, the Zora is set to rival the likes of Ferrari and McLaren. Join us as we dive deep into everything this revolutionary hybrid supercar has to offer—performance specs, design highlights, and what makes it a true masterpiece. Is the Corvette Zora the future of American supercars? Let’s find out!”

https://youtu.be/8DC5w0QG29g?si=wdVqd9p8S4KYi0xD

The City of Chicago has a major budget deficit. Chicago is outspending Los Angeles, New York, and other major big cities

What Chicago needs is an office of government efficiency. Get rid of Incompetent Mayor Brandon Johnson and other leaders without a clue

https://youtu.be/zVJli70qr7Y?si=kPQ9oqtxhT7JqsqH

Here is a link about an economist aggressively forecasting mortgage rates will drop under 4% in 2024. Could 2024 be a bull market for loan officers? Out of 150,000 loan officers, close to 100,000 either left the mortgage industry completely, retired early, or let their NMLS licenses expire and are in a different industry or thinking about going into a different industry. Hundreds if not thousands of mortgage companies, whether they are mortgage bankers, correspondent lenders, or mortgage brokers went out of business in 2023

https://youtu.be/aWePq5–Seg?si=L2Q_8ad8MFchhyuK

Below is a concise overview of the mortgage, real estate, and business updates for the week of December 23 to December 28, 2024:

Mortgage Rates and Housing Market Trends

Mortgage Rates Continue to Rise:

• For the second time in a row, mortgage rates have surged since July and now stand at 6.85 percent.
• This is an increase from 6.72 percent, which stood last week.
• The rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage has also hiked again, breaking 6.61 percent this time last year.
• This also means it will keep increasing, as we saw it hit 6.89 percent in mid-July.
• In addition, 15-year fixed mortgages surged, with rates reported at a whopping 5.92 percent compared to 5.84 percent.
• As we enter the new year, the economy is expected to boost purchase rates to assist with the surging problem of undersupplied homes in the market.

Homeowners Costs Are Increasing

A rising trend indicates that homeowners are now spending more on property taxes and home insurance than they are reportedly spending on mortgages. The average single-family mortgage is set at 32 percent for property taxes and insurance, which breaks records as it’s the highest rate since 2014. The driving factor for this trend is the natural disasters that caused home values to skyrocket.

The Pirates of the Caribbean

Or, as I like to call them, the New York upstate, Omaha, New Orleans, and Miami Pirates that own homes. They are the worst, and so are mortgage holders because they pay more than half of their monthly payments on taxes and insurance. The average rate of this has grown to 7 percent, making owning a single-family single-family home a life of misery. And speaking of home buying in general, mortgage payments are high, no thanks to the recent rate cuts. In both 2014 and now, buying a home is a huge hassle for the rich and the poor, and I can assure you that this is only the start of our problems.

Advancements in the Real Every Field

Let’s start with Rocket Homes

• The CFPB also sued Rocket Homes for its alleged actions, in which the brokers were asked to purchase mortgage holder services from their company.
• The back-and-forth in this lawsuit goes deep, but to keep it short, the JMG Holding firm’s Jason Mitchell also comes into play within these allegations.
• Rocket Homes argues against the CFPB’s stance, enabling them to go at ease again.

Sadly, the CU building has also come under heat to be able sexual misconduct scandals with the inclusion of Master Batters: the brokers, Tal and Oren, go on to expose how eXp is real.

The recent allegations raised questions of integrity within a predominantly female industry sorely constructed by male figures. Detractors note the industry’s rampant culture, where safety precautions and a proper supervision hierarchy that controls malfeasance are non-existent. Pioneers such as the National Association of Realtors have tried devising policies that will help foster a balanced, safe, and upbuilding environment.

The sale of loans in multifamily commercial real estate by HomeStreet Bank

In a transaction that involved Bank of America, HomeStreet Bank went on to sell $990 million in unpaid principal balance of loans for almost $906 million. This translates to a 92% value of the loans. The only reason why this discount was given was due to the current interest rate environment and the lower yield of the loans. The deal is projected to aid HomeStreet in recovering from the multiyear loss and assuage investors worried about the previous halted merger with First Sun Capital Bancorp. Funds raised from the transaction will primarily be focused on addressing debt and looking for cheaper capital. The final date for the completion of the transaction is December 31. On the other hand, Home Street is expected to continue servicing the loans.

Forecast of Commercial Real Estate

The commercial real estate sector has been conditioned by various challenges, including the constant rise in interest rates, constantly decreasing supply, and high production expenses.

The hybrid and remote work trend has severely affected the office space market. And even now, despite a rather remarkable cutback from the Federal Reserve, long-term rates are elevated, making sales and refinancing more complicated than necessary. A massive 570 billion dollars worth of commercial real estate loans are due by 2025. These loans will most likely experience a cash flow deficit, while some may even face massive refinancing difficulties. The assumed Trump administration portrays promising tax structures and lower regulations as policies that further bolster the population’s confidence. The online shopping boom brought a sharp increase in demand for industrial supply. However, this has recently stagnated and is anticipated to bounce back when the newly available supply is subdued and demand rises. The growth of e-commerce stimulates future demand for industrial space. 2025 will likely be the year when this wheel starts rolling again. But we still have to navigate slow economic growth and tough refinancing circumstances.

Expected Housing Market Scenario

Expected changes in the 2025 housing market:

Towards 2025, hope is presented to future real estate hopefuls who have navigated on that tough terrain the last couple of years, as most are expected to find the housing market easier to deal with. There are predictions that mortgage rates will increase slightly over the 6% threshold, which will cause more listings to become available and slow the increase in the value of these listings. As the rate of interest declines, it is expected that more US citizens will be willing to relocate, aiding the housing inventory.

The current housing supply is likely to witness an uptrend growth of about 11.7%, which would dampen the competition with a more controlled price increase. However, they expect a remarkable rate decrease since they are most likely to follow the return on the 10-year treasuries, which may stay high if inflation continues. Overall, during 2025, there are high chances of the rates being more favorable for the buyers due to a high supply, alongside the mortgage rates being slightly lower than they used to be.

Lennar Homes are slashing their new home prices by 25% in 2024. CEO of Lennar admits their mortgage division is experiencing delinquencies and a higher number of debt to income ratio from consumers. Lennar Homes is America’s second largest New Home Builder.

https://youtu.be/6mmQ2TEoK-g?si=nj2aidmYgL_awc8N

Mortgage and Real Estate News Weekend Edition: Market Wrap-Up Update (December 16 – December 21, 2024):

Mortgage Rates

Current Rates:

• The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is steady at 6.4% as of December 21, with the average fifteen-year fixed in the 5.8% region.
• The ongoing stability during a slow period provides some relief to home buyers.

Market Influences:

• Inflation figures and the Federal Reserve’s message on the likely direction of interest rates have contributed to fluctuations in existing economic indicators, keeping mortgage rates slightly further tempered.

Home Sales Activity

Existing Home Sales:

• In November, the National Association of Realtors registered a surge of 1.5% in existing home sales.
• This increase signals a boost in buyer activity for that month, caused primarily by seasonal changes and a subsequent boost in buyer activity.

Pending Home Sales:

• The market shows signs of strength going into the new year, as pending home sales also bumped by 2.3% during November.

Housing Inventory

Inventory Levels:

• Despite the increase in sales, housing inventory remains tight.
• The current supply of homes is around 2.7.
• This number is fairly low compared to the historical average of six over the months.

New Listings:

• In December, new listings noted an increase of 4%, which is commendable.
• This further shows that despite sellers’ affordability challenges.
• There is still a willingness to join the real estate bandwagon.

Home Prices

Price Trends:

• The median existing home price has served as a foremost determinant in history.
• The average selling price at the national level was $370,000, down almost two percent compared to the past year.

Regional Variations:

• Particular regions within the Southern and Midwestern parts of America are either showing slight rises in value or stabilization of values, in contrast to the major restructuring occurring within the Californian and New York markets.

Foreclosure Rates

Foreclosure Data:

• Financial strains on borrowers rapidly increase, resulting in foreclosure filings soaring by 10% in the last month.
• Significant activity has been done in foreclosures in Nevada and New Jersey.

Government Response:

• Local governments are trying to implement support measures for families facing foreclosure.
• These measures incorporate counseling services and monetary support.

Regulatory Developments

Federal Reserve Meetings:

• Over the recent months, mortgage rates have demonstrated signs of higher stability than in the past.
• This is due to the federal funds rate remaining steady after the Federal Reserve’s recent meeting.

Legislative Initiatives:

• Congress is paying attention to ongoing discussions on amending housing policies such as zoning laws and increasing funding for affordable housing.

Market Outlook

Outlook Towards 2025:

• Analysts expect the housing market to stabilize further in early 2025 if there are more sellers since there might be more inventory.
• However, other headwinds, like high mortgage rates and economic uncertainty, may continue to dampen buyer demand in the property market.

Affordability Constraints:

• The affordability constraint continues to be serious, especially for first-time buyers.
• More attention to the developments of economic factors and interest rate fluctuations will be very important for the housing market’s health in the months close to the elections.

The picture of the mortgage and real estate market between 16 and December 21, 2024, resembles a guarded optimism given the developing challenges. There are signs of home sales picking up modestly and mortgage interest rates stabilizing, which is positive. In contrast, supplies and affordability remain key drivers in the lead-up to the new year. The key economic indicators and regulatory measures have given clues on what to anticipate in housing for 2025.

• This discussion was modified 5 months, 2 weeks ago by  Gustan Cho.
• This discussion was modified 5 months, 2 weeks ago by  Gustan Cho.

Joe Biden claims he is Honest Joe Biden

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/b5T_QKbnJ1Q

Can diabetes cause blindness?

Can you get charged for a DUI in Illinois if you are parked and are sitting in your car without the engine running?

Improving the curb appeal of our home with landscaping

What are the basic safety rules for handling firearms?

Globalist and Democrats believe in depopulation especially Bill Gates, Joe Cheatin Lying Biden, Barack and Michael Robinson Obama

https://youtube.com/shorts/Fey6xVCWxzo?si=7KCqBwbJA7qOzFhM

This video clip is funny. Pranking a guy until he literally goes nuts.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/Z1LV4FFvHHBExZ2A/?mibextid=D5vuiz

facebook.com

Please HOLD 📞 | Billy Rosewood IV | you_funny_fooker · Original audio

Please HOLD 📞. you_funny_fooker · Original audio

What is the difference between AXEN Mortgage and NEXA MORTGAGE?

You may have heard about the lawsuit where the National Association of Realtors was sued whereby the Plaintiffs alleged that NAR conspired to inflate commissions for Sellers, also alleging that Buyers would pay their own brokers, if not for NAR basically holding Sellers hostage to getting their properties listed on the MLS. As I read some of the commentary, it sounds as though the Plaintiffs allege price fixing, and lack of transparency in real estate transactions. WOW! Is all I can say to that. Being a Realtor for going on 32 years now, I would have to disagree with some of this. From the very first class, the trainers beat it into our heads that commissions are negotiable. That agency relationships must be disclosed to buyers and sellers. That dual agency must be approved by both the buyer and the seller and they must both understand what fiduciary duties they are giving up because of the dual agency arrangement. Disclose, Disclose, Disclose is what we heard. Now as the market has changed on a dime, we are seeing anything and everything but fixed prices. Commission rates are all over the place in our market, and that is because they are NEGOTIABLE. Of course there can always be some bad actors out there in the marketplace, but to try to change a business practice that helps buyers buy, and sellers sell, and allows them the right to negotiate their price, terms and commission rates with their brokers and each other, I believe would be so disruptive and counterproductive, that the parties will just find new ways to negotiate around it.

To pay today’s real estate commission, a seller factors that into his asking price, and so does the entire market place. If that changes and the buyer now has to pay his own broker, then the pricing of homes will need to decrease, and sellers will not be happy. Or, Buyers will need to offer a higher price and ask for Seller Concessions to help pay the buyer’s real estate commission, because Buyers will still be shopping with a limited amount of money to make their purchase, and will require down payment help, closing cost help, and now lets add on Buyer commission help? So all of you real estate agents out there, better start letting your voices be heard to your local, state and national associations about this issue. And BTW, all you mortgage brokers, you need to put in your commentary as well, because this can have a huge impact on getting your borrowers qualified, if they now have to start coming up with a Buyer’s side commission, along with all the other costs they pay on the ALTA. Personally, my hope is that this gets appealed and overturned, because we don’t need to turn an entire industry upside down to make improvements in transparency and fair dealing. We can do that by self regulating ourselves, as we have been doing for over 100 years. I would love to hear your thoughts on this lawsuit and where you think we might be headed because of it.

Can you please explain what POS means and how you can make money 💰 with POS with small business owners?

Mortgage Rates are finally dropping fast. JEROME POWELL, The Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board announced yesterday the Feds will not be increasing interest rates for the past two Fed meeting which caused mortgage rates to plummet. The 10 year treasuries started plummeting the past few days from a high of 5.0% to 4.66%

Needed 100% financed loan for a Condo purchase
I was approved in July for a 100% financed loan for a condo conversion.

Not sold are 50% of the units in this condo conversion, so I was placed into escrow some time ago (extension). This lender requires 50% of the units to have sold prior to funding the loan.

Well due to the length of time it has been, and the volatile mortgage market, I am now not qualified for 100% from this lender. They say I will now need to put down at least 10%. The property is 335K.

My Question now is this: Is there any lender out there that WILL APPROVE 100% financing for a condo conversion? My Fico scores are: 636, 622, 605

Thanks in advance for all your help!