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 1 month, 1 week ago by  Gustan Cho.

BREAKING NEWS UPDATE on GCA FORUMS:

Great Content Authority Forums Launches GCA Forums News

GCA Forums, powered by Gustan Cho Associates, has launched GCA Forums News. Our News department consists of two useful categories for our fast-growing online community:

GCA Forums News

• GCA FORUMS Mortgage and Real Estate News
• GCA FORUMS Headline News.

GCA FORUMS News, which provides a comprehensive overview of key daily news events, will benefit a large percentage of our viewers and members.

Content Consist of National Daily News Summary

Time is essential for our viewers and members of our online community.

• Many GCA FORUMS viewers and members are real estate investors, mortgage and housing professionals, and enthusiasts.
• Keeping time for our viewers and members is important.
• Due to the importance of the knowledge-is-king principle, GCA FORUMS Mortgage and Real Estate News and Headline News were launched.

Highlights of GCA FORUMS Daily Mortgage and Real Estate News

Market Trends:

• Notice of modification on mortgage rates.
• Key components cover fixed and adjustable mortgage rate products.
• Housing inventory, sales, and price analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions on GCA FORUMS Weekend EditionWhat additional insights or highlights will be included in the GCA FORUMS Weekend Edition that differs from the daily news?

• The Weekend Edition offers a comprehensive summary of the week’s key events and trends, capturing the most significant highlights.
• It presents thoughtful analysis and expert opinions, allowing readers to reflect on the week’s mortgage and real estate developments.
• This enhanced content consolidates the week’s news, providing valuable insights and perspectives.

Will there be any special features or guest contributions in the Weekend Edition?

Yes, the Weekend Edition often includes special features and guest contributions from industry experts. These provide in-depth analysis, unique perspectives, and valuable insights that are not typically covered in the daily news updates.

How will users be notified about the publication of the Weekend Edition compared to the daily updates?

• Users will be notified about the Weekend Edition through our regular notification channels, including email alerts, push notifications, and updates on our website and social media platforms.
• This ensures that users are always informed about the latest publications and special features.

GCA FORUMS Mortgage, Real Estate, and Headline News Daily Edition

• Each of these news sections will be updated and published daily from Monday through Friday, ensuring that members have access to the latest developments in the industry throughout the week.

The GCA FORUMS Headline, Mortgage, and Real Estate News Weekend Edition

• The Weekend News Edition provides a thorough and insightful summary of the week’s key events and trends, capturing the most important highlights and offering a comprehensive overview. This allows readers to reflect on the week’s mortgage and real estate developments.
• Enhanced with thoughtful analysis and expert opinions, the weekend content is an invaluable resource for our members seeking to stay informed and make informed decisions in the market.

Lending Guidelines

• New face value of loans eligible for FHA, VA, USDA.
• Lender Overlays and the Mortgage Process

Government and Policy Updates

• Mergers and acquisitions are new policies that bound the supply of mutual consternation, a constellation, and the merged entity.
• Government policies and its actions on mortgage banking rates through new policies set by the Federal Reserve.

Real Estate Market Insights

• Market predictions from both a regional and national perspective on housing construction.
• Advice for buyers, sellers, and investors in the current economy.

GCA FORUMS: Daily Headline Briefings – A Complete Synthesis

Objective

• This component caters to a target audience by providing global, national, or local headlines in business, politics, and economics integrated with coverage of the real estate and/or mortgage sector.

Major Takeaways

Business and Economy

• Regular insights related to stocks, corporate obligations, and their impact (if any) on mortgage rates.
• Turning out the latest developments on mergers, acquisitions, and other related activities with firms focused on the finance and real estate industries.

Politics

This section includes updates on new legislation and other political behavior in the country that affect the housing and consumer lending sectors. It also includes soft updates related to government spending policy, trade talks, and their aftermath.

Social and Environmental Changes

Recent news focused on housing sustainability, technologies designed for smart homes, and city development. Community-driven stories focus on the local affordable housing market, zoning law changes, and infrastructure investments.

Current Events

• A chain of event coverage that cameras social events fluxing to our daily bases.

GCA Forum Members’ Advantages

• Timeliness: Obtain important developments of the day with well-informed industry experts daily.
• Relevance: Industry news is tailor-made and useful to borrowers, realtors, and others.
• Accessibility: There is no cost to perusing news documents on the GCA Forums platform, which promotes equal opportunities for all.
• Engagement: Forums promote interactions around news stories, and related experiences are shared with other site members.

Where to Get the News

• Platform: The GCA Forums website has integrated the latest updates and aged news on their homepage.
• Delivery Options: Users with accounts can request these notifications as emails or text messages.
• Interactive Features: Discuss the day’s important news with other users and professionals.

The Vision Behind the Initiative

The schedule started on these new features. GCA Forums has the following goals:

• Aid its members with greater knowledge.
• Promote better decision-making when dealing with mortgage and real estate.
• Improve its reputation as a reliable source to industry players and borrowers.

GCA Forums’ Daily News

GCA FORUMS Daily News is great for borrowers who want to monitor the market, real estate agents who want to gain a competitive edge, and experts who want to remain in the know.

Be in the know. Make an impact. Go to GCA Forums now and remain updated on market shifts!

My big guy Chase, my German Shepherd Dog, has a baby sister. SKYLAR. Skylar is an eight month old female long coat black and red German Shepherd Dog from the same breeder Chase came from. Chase is neutered and i am going to get Skylar spayed in about six months. Skylar is underweight and skinny. You can feel the ribs when you pet her on the sides of her body. Skylar was the runt of the litter and was bullied on by her furry brothers and sisters. She was bit in many places and her siblings stole her portion of Dog food so that is why she is underweight and malnourished. Had a visit to the veterinarian and got her tested for worms 🪱 and parasites. Results came back negative. Skylar is takung a 14 day antibiotics program due to her scabs, a lump on her left side rib area due to blunt trauma and urinary infection and scratches on her vulva. She got her rabbits and puppy shots and weighs 52.5 pounds. Unfortunately Skylar is not fully potty trained nor obedience trained. I will work on a training regiment after a few weeks. Extremely skittish therefore I want her to get used to her new home and her new family and environment. Here are a few photos of Skylar and Chase. One of Skylar ears is floppy. I adopted Skylar on Sunday October 6th. Dan Ivenovic dropped her off the house. Dan has two other German Shepherd pups that are nine months. Please let me know if anyone is interested . Price is discounted. 9 months old.

Value of Silver will outpace Value of Gold as precious metals skyrocket. Silver trade in a thin market. Plus Silver has investment Value as well as practical industrial Value. In 2011 Value of Silver doubled to $45 per ounce. Trading of Silver opened higher today. Start stacking Silver today.

https://youtu.be/jYV3vi-ysPk?si=oC1zFZqFGjY8B6AU

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Here’s a broad summary of the front page news for Wednesday, January 1, 2025: Worldwide Celebrations and Events New Year Celebrations Across The World:

Celebrations like these were commonplace as 2025 was welcomed for a new decade in every corner of the world. New York City Times Square grew with a buzz as people celebrated and marked the start, while 2024 was on the verge of ending, one of the best places for fans to enjoy the new year.

Sydney’s First Baby for 2025:

Australia welcomes its first child in Sydney. Born around 12:32 AM in Royal Cohen for Women, Shawn Cedric Biansi was a true treat for his parents as the family assumed his delivery would be later in the month rather than the first of the new year.

Technology And Business

Apple Technology That Can Be Expected in 2025:

According to reports, Apple will release a smart home command center device and other gadgets, including an iPhone 17, a facial identification camera doorbell, a smart security camera, and much more. With these products, the company aims to tap into the expanding market of smart home technologies.

Sports

Pro Bowl Voting Results:

Jayden Daniels was voted the favorite for the Quarterbacks and overtook stars Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Patrick Mahone.

In addition, several players of the Washington Commanders team performed ripe in fan votes, hinting at a fruitful season for the team.

Expectations For 2025

Speculative Forecasts:

Experts have hypothesized many things that can happen in 2025, such as political shifts, anticipating technological shifts, and undergoing cultural changes. Although all these forecasts are speculative, they assist in building expectations for trends or happenings in the upcoming year.

Forecasting The Weather

Polar Vortex Warning:

According to meteorologists, the eastern part of the United States might see freezing temperatures in January 2025 due to the polar vortex. If their predictions are accurate, then history will be made, as 2014 was the last time January was freezing. This prediction can be juxtaposed with the warm temperature readings in 2024.

Legal and Policy Changes

New Policies For Tasmania:

Australia underwent several legislative changes that came into effect on January 1, 2025. These include the mandating of electronic identification devices for all sheep, goats, and bobby calves to strengthen biosecurity, restriction of any activities associated with engineered stone because of health issues, and modifications to the provisions within the Historic Cultural Heritage Act to enhance the level of protection for heritage sites.

Laws In Florida:

The laws now instituted in Florida include restricting minors from using social media and providing protection to first responders.

Changes in law will focus on child protection issues, safety while on the internet, and the treatment of paramedics.

Increased Minimum Wage for the State of Virginia:

As of the first day of January 2025, the wage rate will increase from twelve United States dollars to twelve United States dollars and forty-one cents per hour. This will also be included in the minimum wage plan to reach fifteen United States dollars by 2026 to compensate the state’s employees fairly.

New Traffic Laws and Safety Measures in Colorado

Since January 1, 2025, the existing traffic laws have been altered. They now include no sitting while driving while holding a cell and tightening child seat belt laws. All these regulations have been enacted to increase children’s safety in cars.

INCIDENTS

New Orleans Attack:

• A horrifying event happened in New Orleans, Louisiana, involving a vehicle ramming and shooting attack, which caused over 30 injuries and 10 death tolls.
• Its surrounding areas have been cordoned off for security purposes as the motive for the attack is still unknown.

Since news developments are very new, the information is likely incorrect. Contact political sources or other official news channels that provide up-to-date information for accurate data.

Newest Updates for January 1, 2025

New Year’s 2025 live updates:

• New York City bands goodbye to 2024, welcoming 2025 from Times Square.
• New leaked home gadgets we have never seen before have surfaced.
• New Apple tech expected to be unveiled in 2025 has also been leaked.
• In 2025, the US is expected to be warmed by the Polar Vortex and experience unreasonably low temperatures.

Comprehensive Overview and Summary of Mortgage and Real Estate, and Business News for Wednesday January 1st, 2025.

Below is the summary regarding mortgages, real estate, and business news for Wednesday, January 1, 2025:

Mortgage and Real Estate BriefUnited States:

Housing Market Activity:

A slowdown in the United States housing market was observed in early 2024 owing to stagnated mortgage rates and an increase in home prices. New listings scalped for the first time since June 2023 while the pending home sales growth decelerated.

Mortgage Rates:

Throughout 2024, mortgage rates were chaotic, and as a result, home affordability went downward. By January 2024, rates came down from their peak established in October 2023, which assisted in buying potential buyers.

Home Prices:

From 2023 to 2024, the median sale price of homes continued to rise, reaching $362,113 in January 2025, a 4.2% increase from the previous year. This trend escalated existing affordability barriers for a vast majority of buyers to above unfortunate limits.

Australia:

Home Prices:

In Australia, statistics illustrate that home prices declined by 0.1% in December 2024 compared to the Australian home prices, which saw a monthly rise in Canada two years ago. Major Australian cities like Sydney and Melbourne both observe declines of 0.6% and 0.7%, respectively.

Interest Rates:

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) retained interest rates at 4.35% during 2024, which was 12 years high. Market predictions led to interest rate cuts in 2025, which could, in effect, steer home prices.

United Kingdom:

Mortgage Rates and Cash Buyers

Rising mortgage rates increased the number of cash buyers in the market, accounting for 31% of property sales in early 2024.

The increase in interest rates has led to some homebuyers opting to purchase homes in cash rather than obtain a mortgage because they don’t want to bear the costs of a loan.

Retail UpdateRETAIL/RETAIL HIGHLIGHTS

Contagion from Housing Crisis:

The retail sector in the US had also been severely impacted by the weakened housing market, which led to home durable goods sales collapsing in 2024. Concomitantly, Big Lots and Conn’s reported overstocks, which caused them to shutter more locations than they expanded in the entirety of the year, leading to the overall net store closures of about 1400.

REAL ESTATE

Property Outlook Determinants:

The uncertainties of the economic state led to subdued demand, coupled with higher financing rates, creating an imbalance. Consolidated Offices witnessed a drop in demand due to the patterns of hybrid and remote work. The sector is expected to grapple with refinancing nearly USD 570 billion worth of matured commercial real estate loans by 2025.

PROPERTY/REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT

Single Successful Candidates:

Some outliers managed to profit from market trends with great effort. For example, 30 aged rental property owners in Des Moines, Iowa, earned around 240,000 from rental properties in 2023 while fully employed in the day sector.

Regional Commentary: Shorewood in Wisconsin MSA

Property Trends:

In February 2023, Wisconsin noticed a 6 percent rise in the average housing price, reaching an estimated $265,000.

Sales have become increasing with inventories of 2.5 months worth of supply remaining. Along with this, new listings have also surged by up to 10.1%.

Real estate and business markets are ever-changing, and conditions tend to shift quickly, so to get real-time information, check in with local real estate agents or financial advisors in addition to authentic news sources.

• This discussion was modified 1 month, 1 week ago by  Gustan Cho.

Mortgage and Real Estate News Update for December 30th 2024

Until December 30, 2024, trends have emerged and developed in the mortgage and real estate industry as follows:

Current Rates:

• The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is around 6.85%, indicating an upward trend from 6.72%.

Federal Action:

• While the Federal Reserve has cut rates, that has not been reflected in mortgage rates.
• This
  is primarily because the Fed’s benchmark rate cuts have been negated by
  higher 10-year Treasury yields due to inflationary worries, causing
  mortgages to remain higher.

Pending Home Sales:

• The
  US saw a successful November, with purchase contracts of used homes
  rising by 2.2%, the highest level in 21 months, over November.
• This
  signaled the potential recovery of the US housing sector, as not only
  did this mark an increase compared to October, but there was a
  noticeable trend over the past four months.

Regional Variation:

• Moderation in Housing Stock has aided growth in home purchases, with YoY housing inventory rising to over 18%.
• However,
  the South and West regions saw an increase in the sales of Pending
  homes, which was contrasted with a decrease in the Northeast region.

Forecasts of the market for the year 2025

Mortgage Rates:

• As estimated, mortgage rates will stay above the 6% threshold in 2025, with chances of reaching 6.8%.
• These measures assume inflation and a rise in the national debt due to future strategies.

Prices of Homes:

• The estimates suggest that home prices will increase by approximately 3.7% by 2025.
• Such estimates gauge home prices increased by 4% in 2024 and 1.1% in 2023, suggesting appreciation for the rules set.

Construction inventory:

• The
  estimates suggest construction will rise in 2025, with an estimated
  13.8% increase in new construction and an estimated 11.7% increase in
  inventory sales.
• This expansion could provide buyers with ample options, decreasing the competition in the market.

Opinion of the Consumers:

• The sentiment surrounding the housing market is now more optimistic than ever.
• An unprecedented share of respondents think the rates will lower in the coming year.
• At the same time, an appropriate number of them think the housing market will be a good area to invest in.

We are slowly seeing some stability in the mortgage and real estate markets, with slight increases in home sales and the prices of homes, although I wouldn’t hold my breath for those rates to come down anytime soon. For mortgage seekers, and even home buyers and sellers, despite the high competition we face in the market, deep knowledge of economic indicators helps to forecast market trends that promote reliable decision-making in today’s global environment.

• This discussion was modified 1 month, 1 week ago by  Gustan Cho.
• This discussion was modified 1 month, 1 week ago by  Gustan Cho.

Daily Mortgage and Real Estate News for Tuesday, January 7th, 2025:

Some significant developments can be noted in the mortgage and real estate markets as of January 7, 2025:

Mortgage Rates

Current Rates:

The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage is 6.91%, up from 6.85% the previous week. This marks the highest rate since July 2024.

Forecast:

• Analysts predict that mortgage rates will remain elevated throughout 2025, averaging around 6.4%.
• This is slightly lower than the 6.7% average in 2024 but still above the historical average of 4% from 2013 to 2019.

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 is expected to continue due to limited housing inventory and sustained demand.

Sales Activity:

• Existing home sales are expected to increase by 1.5% to 4.07 million units in 2025, which is still below the 2013-2019 average.
• The supply of homes for sale is expected to improve by 11.7%, and new home constructions are projected to surge by 13.8%, reaching 1.1 million new units.

Current Rates:

• The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 6.91% from 6.85% the previous week, marking the highest since July 2024.

Forecast:

• Mortgage rates are expected to remain elevated throughout 2025, averaging about 6.4%, slightly lower than the average of 6.7% in 2024.
• However, it will still exceed the historical average of about four percent between 2013 and 2019.

Regional Insights:

Wisconsin Market:

• Many predict the Wisconsin real estate market will favor sellers during 2024, with a slow rise in home prices and a 6.5% increase in the number of homes for sale.
• Buyers have more choices today, but it is still competitive.

Climate Hazard Considerations:

Climate-Risk Scores:

• Climate risk assessments are becoming important to homebuyer decision-making processes.
• Platforms like Zillow now provide climate-risk scores, which indicate potential damage from flooding, fires, or winds over the next three decades.
• The scores may affect property prices and buyer behavior, making homes in less risky areas more desirable.

Mortgage rates are higher, climate risks are receiving increased attention, and home prices continue to increase. Prospective buyers and sellers should keep pace with these trends to make informed decisions about their properties.

https://www.youtube.com/live/3rWDfvQUlco

Daily National U.S. Headline News including California Palisades Wildfires, Politics, Economy, for Thursday January 9th 2025. Thursday, January 9, 2025, U.S. national news headlines provided by an overview and summary of the daily. The bullet points include updates on the California Palisades wildfires, political developments, and economic news.

California Procrastinations Wildfires

• The wildfires in California’s Palisades are still burning, and little or no containment effort is being made.
• Firefighters have grappled with tough conditions, including strong winds and dry weather.

Evacuations:

• Flames are threatening thousands of homes and infrastructure, leading to the evacuation of inhabitants.
• Emergency shelters for displaced people have been established.

State Response:

• Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to fight these fires, ensuring more support.
• However, questions persist concerning the state’s readiness and response to the wildfire crisis.

Political Development

Congressional Actions:

• Congress is getting ready to discuss budget allocations for disaster relief, including funding for wildfire recovery efforts in California.
• Lawmakers are being pushed to hasten aid delivery.

2024 Presidential Campaign:

• Candidates are already preparing for upcoming primaries, making politics hotly contested.
• The two most important issues revolve around climate change, disaster preparedness, and increasingly extreme weather patterns, which candidates greatly consider in their strategies.

Economic News

Market Performance:

• The stock market showed ups and downs due to mixed economic data as investors reacted.
• Inflation and interest rate concerns continue to influence the sentiment of the market.

Consumer Confidence:

• Recent reports have attributed a slight fall in consumer confidence to the high cost of living and economic uncertainty.
• Analysts are watching to see if such a trend will affect consumer spending over the next few months.

Federal Reserve Outlook:

• The Federal Reserve’s latest statements reveal that inflation is still a concern and could lead to changes in monetary policy.
• Economic indicators will determine whether or not interest rates will change.

By January 9, 2025, California Palisades wildfires remain a major national issue, prompting state and federal responses for relief efforts and recovery plans. As political discussions surrounding disaster funding and the imminent presidential campaign intensify, economic indicators indicate consumers’ moods are cautious towards their wallets. At the same time, the markets seem wary with regard to the implications of these issues. The interplay between these problems continues to pose dilemmas throughout America’s journey from crises recently experienced to future uncertainties ahead.

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.

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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.

Comprehensive Daily and Weekend Mortgage and Real Estate News Updated from January 3rd through Monday, January 6th, 2025:

January 6, 2025, saw certain patterns and predictions in the mortgage and real estate markets, as stated below:

January 3, 2025

Mortgage Rates Trend:

Mortgage rates slightly increased, with the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage increasing to 6.75%. According to analysts, this is because of stronger-than-expected job growth.

Housing Market Update:

Despite higher interest rates, the National Association of Realtors reported a modest increase in home sales in December, suggesting resilience in the housing market.

January 4, 2025

Fed Meeting Insights:

Following the latest Federal Reserve meeting, officials indicated they may consider pausing further interest rate hikes. Consequently, mortgage rates stabilized for some time after this announcement.

Following the latest Federal Reserve meeting, officials indicated they may consider pausing further interest rate hikes. As a result, mortgage rates stabilized for a period after this announcement.

Reports indicate that institutional investors are increasingly targeting single-family rental properties due to a lack of affordable homes for potential buyers.

January 5th 2025

Real Estate Investment Trends:

Reports show that institutional investors are increasingly targeting single-family rental properties as there is a lack of affordable homes for potential buyers.

Homebuilder Confidence:

The Home Builders Association reported a slight increase in builder confidence, with new construction expected to begin soon due to a backlog of permits.

Foreclosure Rates

Data revealed that foreclosure rates have declined compared to the previous year, suggesting that homeowners are managing their mortgages better despite economic pressures.

January 6, 2025

Mortgage rates have slightly increased, with the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rising to 6.75%. Analysts attribute this rise to stronger-than-expected job growth.

Despite the higher interest rates, the National Association of Realtors reported a modest increase in home sales for December, suggesting resilience in the housing market.

**Weekend Market Insights:**

Analysts noted that attendance at open houses was robust over the weekend, compared to previous weekends, indicating that home buyers are adapting to existing mortgage rates.

**Regulatory Changes:**

New rules proposed for a more transparent mortgage lending process could significantly impact both lenders and borrowers.

Summary

Although interest rates are rising, the mortgage and real estate markets are showing resilience. Various indicators suggest steady activity and interest from both home buyers and investors. Key trends include slowly increasing mortgage rates, a slight uptick in home sales, and stable new construction anticipated for this year. Additionally, upcoming regulatory changes may reshape the landscape in the months ahead.

For current updates, it is recommended to consult reliable financial news sources and regular real estate market reports.025

Weekend Market Insights

Analysts noted that open house attendance was robust during the weekend compared to previous weekends, meaning home buyers were adjusting themselves to the existing mortgage rates.

Regulatory Changes

New rules proposed for a more transparent mortgage lending process would greatly impact lenders and borrowers.

Summary

Even though interest rates were rising in the economy, Mortgage and Real estate markets showed some resilience, with different indicators pointing to steady activities and interests from both home buyers and investors. Main trends include slowly increasing mortgage rates, house sales picking up slightly, and new construction expected to remain stable this year. Additionally, regulatory changes could shape the landscape in the coming months.

For current updates, reliable financial news sources and regular real estate market reports are recommended.

• This discussion was modified 1 month, 2 weeks ago by  Gustan Cho.
• This discussion was modified 1 month, 2 weeks ago by  Gustan Cho.

Headline News For Monday December 30th 2024

On December 30, of the year 2024, a variety of noteworthy changes have taken place within the spheres of business and politics:

Business

Wall Street Performance:

• The stock markets of the United States fell on December 30, with all three benchmarks completing lower in value than the previous day.
• The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 418.48 points. The S&P 500 was down 63.90.
• The Nasdaq Composite was down 235.25 points.
• The decline is concerning.
• However, when viewed annually, the performance remains respectable, with the Nasdaq around 30%, the S&P 500 over 24%, and the Dow rising slightly over 13%.

Rising Treasury Yields

Yields on the Treasury have become a problem in this longer-term bull market. According to recent reports, the current 10-year treasury yield has been at its highest for the past seven months. There are concerns about how that might impact the equity markets. A hint that yield than usual may drive the stocks ward over time.

Trump Administration’s Impact on Wall Street

To no one’s surprise, the trump presidency is changing the policies meant to govern Wall Street and is bound to have a larger impact. Joe Biden’s administration is hoping to achieve a plethora of changes. The anticipated changes would make it easier for banks to abide by capital requirements, enable mergers and acquisitions, and support the cryptocurrency and fintech sectors. The policy shift will likely be business-oriented, and regulators will be less ruled out.

Politics

US Avails from Government Shutdown:

• The likelihood of a government shutdown was narrowly prevented when Congress approved an extension of current expenditure.
• This bipartisan approach extends the resolution of continuing to March 14, 2025.
• It has also provided for disaster management and extensions of other programs.
• Several conservative groups opposed the proposal, but it was eventually approved, averting a shutdown.

International Trade Worries

Donald Trump’s proposals regarding tariffs and taxes on imports from Mexico, Canada, China, et al. are generating fears of potentially adverse effects on the economy worldwide during the decade. In this way, the further increase of prices combined with trade restrictions and other economic factors could hamper stability in the international economy.

Economic activities of China

In December, the Chinese economy was expected to grow slower but more stable, as the manufacturing industry anticipates modest growth for the third month. However, a set of US tariffs could disturb this momentum.

Notable Passings

Commemoration of United States President Jimmy Carter:

The 100-year-old Jimmy Carter, president between 1977 and 1981, was also active in humanitarian services after his presidency through involvement in Habitat for Humanity construction and solving international conflict, earning him a Nobel Peace Prize.

Sports

Jayden Daniels Receives Great Training From Commanders Coaches:

• Interestingly, This story starts with Jayden Daniels, the Commander’s first drafted player.
• However, this decision still left me curious.
• Daniels made a remarkable contribution to the team’s performance, helping them secure a record of 11 wins and five losses. This was achieved through a team effort.
• Furthermore, under the right guidance from the Kansas State Line Coach (Daniel’s “country boy attitude” was so amusing.
• Imagine a dash of Denver and Daniels in cowboy boots). He took the field and delivered the right punches.

Oh, the beauty of digital convergence. At the end of the year, these events perfectly illustrate the fluidity of the modern business and political environment.

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• This discussion was modified 1 month, 3 weeks ago by  Gustan Cho.

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FHA loans are the most popular loan program for first-time homebuyers, borrowers with bad credit, homebuyers with high debt to income ratio, and borrowers with credit scores down to 500 FICO.

• This discussion was modified 2 years ago by  Eric Jeanette.

Many business analysts and experts are forecasting mortgage rates will drop under 4% in 2024.This forecast is extremely aggressive and a lot of these economists are putting their names behind their mortgage rates forecast. Here is an article about a mortgage and housing economist aggressive statement on the conviction he has on his under 3% mortgage rate forecast for 2024.

https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-rate-cut-outlook-economy-recession-forecast-2024-inflation-ubs-2023-12

businessinsider.com

The Fed will lower interest rates under 3% as a mild recession leads to a 'soggy 2024,' UBS chief economist says

"We think we're going to end up with a relatively soggy 2024 when we look back at the end of next year."

Mortgage Rates forecasted to plummet under 3% according to Business Insider Economis

https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-rate-cut-outlook-economy-recession-forecast-2024-inflation-ubs-2023-12

businessinsider.com

The Fed will lower interest rates under 3% as a mild recession leads to a 'soggy 2024,' UBS chief economist says

"We think we're going to end up with a relatively soggy 2024 when we look back at the end of next year."

The mortgage and real estate markets have fluctuated due to inflation, job statistics, foreclosure, and home prices, all notable developments considering the rising mortgage rates. Here’s the recent trend. The article will also provide information on the ever-changing but somehow related business economics.

Mortgage Rates

30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgages:

• According to the most current statistics.
• The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage increased to 6.85%, which has been the highest recorded since mid-July.
• The percentage was 6.72% last week, compared to 6.61% recorded a year ago.
• This is a clear sign of raised bond yields banks use to sell home loans.

15-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgages:

• Closed at 6%, up from 5.92% recorded the previous week.

Employment and Job Losses

In considering the labor force, indicators highlight its potential decay due to students’ inability to find summer jobs, resulting in aggravated unemployment reaching 6.4%.

Inflation

The growing economic debate on whether federal banks should pay particular regard to inflation is apparent, especially considering the recent US statistics indicating inflation is growing to 3.2% annually.

It is projected to keep increasing, impacting mortgage rates and the overall economic spectrum.

Foreclosure Rates

There are no seasonal statistics or trends regarding foreclosures at present. However, the growing interest and inflationary rates can complementarily lead to further foreclosure activity, as people who need to deal with further economic stresses alongside rising home loan interest rates may find themselves unable to cope and eventually file for bankruptcy.

Home Prices

Despite the hike in mortgage rates, home prices remained steady. Due to high demand and low housing inventory, the price of homes in the United States is predicted to increase by 5% this year, higher than the previous prediction of 1.9%.

In the UK, it is estimated that house prices will increase by 1.9%, bringing the average value of a house to £267,500. The increase in market activity is expected to impact the housing market positively.

Factors Influencing the Market

Bond Yields Increased bond yields are the reason mortgage rates are increasing. This affects the low number of homebuyers.

Federal Reserve Policies Other policies cut rates to improve affordability, but in contrast, the rate cuts resulted in increased mortgage rates. This is because the 10-year Treasury bonds have increased yields, which wreaked havoc on mortgage rates.

Housing Inventory

Even with the increased mortgage rates, there is a limited number of houses, which keeps the prices of the homes steady. Owners with low mortgage rates are reluctant to sell their houses, contributing to the low supply.

Implications for Homebuyers and Homeowners

Affordability Challenges Due to the increased price of homes and mortgage rates, the supply of houses has greatly diminished, which has resulted in many unfavorable implications, such as a decrease in mortgage applications.

Increased Costs

The property tax rate has historically been low, around 32% in recent years. Still, as of 2014, mortgage rates and insurance expenses have virtually skyrocketed.

The increased mortgage rates, inflation, and economic instability make it almost impossible for potential buyers and homeowners to afford their properties. With the market as fuzzy as it is, it’s worth getting advice from an expert and staying updated with the latest economic information.

A vivid overview of the country, its businesses, and its economy, as a whole, over the period from December 23 to 28 has been presented below:

American News

Government Shutdown Avert:

• The risk of the US government shutting down was averted on the 21st day of the 12th month of the year 2024.
• This was possible because the representatives had signed a spending amendment bill that Biden later enacted.
• As I have stated above, the US was on the brink of a government shutdown as there was a lot of discord over the signing of the bipartisan bill and the subsequent amendments.
• The bill was not signed, while the spending amendment was enacted to prevent the US from shutting down.

Biden’s Death Sentence Commutes

On December 23, 2024, President Joe Biden commuted the death sentences of 37 federal inmates. The main goal behind this act was to reflect the current president’s stance on capital punishment in the US and widen the scope of justice in the legal system.

American Airlines Flight Delays

On September 24, 2024, Amer American faced a technical issue that delayed over 900 flights. The issues were resolved later that day, but the travel season was massively disrupted due to the holiday season, as flights were grounded nationwide.

Business News

Retail Store Closures:

• 2024 proved to be the year when America officially disintegrated into a retail apocalypse, as it saw the closure of hundreds, if not thousands, of retail stores and chains.
• Estimates suggest that in November, about 7,100 stores in the US closed, a considerable 69% jump from the previous year.
• Some notable closed stores included Family Dollar, CVS Health, Big Lots, and Walgreens, which closed 677, 586, 580, and 259 stores, respectively.
• Big Lots closed all 963 remaining stores because the deal between them and Nexus Capital Management LP did not go through.
• Furthermore, CVS and Walgreens have also shut down multiple stores and are planning to expand the closures.
• The stock market’s performance was unsatisfactory for the S&P 500, which lost 1.1% on Friday, resulting in a loss of yet another 1% for the month.
• The index rose 25% throughout the year, with a 5.7% increase in November.
• The tech sector performed extremely well, especially the Magnificent Seven, which includes Apple, Tesla, Alphabet, Amazon, and Nvidia.
• Apple’s valuation reached close to $4 trillion.
• Strong software and AI performers, including Palantir Technologies and AppLovin, brought growth stocks to the forefront of 2024.
• Sezzle topped the performer’s list after its stocks rose beyond 1000% because of its rising revenue.

Broader stock market leadership, compared to 2023, was observed, with several industry groups performing well.

Economic News

Consumer Confidence Data:

• Compared to November, the American consumer confidence level has decreased with a ratio of 81.1, where 80 would be recession indicative.
• This depicts a recessionary trend due to the steep decline in short-term expectations of over a dozen points in income, business, and the upcoming job market.
• The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index dropped to 104.7 from 112.8 beating analysts expectations for 113.8.
• However, despite consumer confidence declining over the three months, retail store sales increased by 0.7%, indicating that consumers could still be positive for the economy.

US Productivity Improvement

The United States seemsseemsis following on the edge of potential productivity improvement, similar to the internet boom in the mid-1990s. Worker productivity lately has started showing positive growth trends and has recorded over 2% growth. Further, investments in labor-saving technologies and post-COVID better job-role matches also contribute to the growth. Economists have predicted further advances in these developments, especially in AI, improving productivity growth in the 1990s era from 2.5% to 3%. This increase in productivity is essential for the country in managing its debt and economic well-being.

US Economic Policy Forecast

If the US Republican party wins the 2024 elections, as they appear to do, the economic outlook will change noticeably.

Donald Trump, the president-elect, has plans to grow the American economy through policies such as lowering taxes, tightening immigration laws, raising tariffs, and loosening regulations. Thanks to the Republican majority in Congress and in the Senate, there will be very few problems implementing these policies. It is a crucial juncture to predict since the facets of the policies after the election can vary. However, the economy will be impacted greatly by the elections.

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.

These are the most recent developments in national politics as of Friday, December 27, 2024.

The Number of Store Closures in the Retail Sector Peaks in 2024

The United States suffered a major blow, which shifted the focus to closing retail stores throughout the year. This is because of the weakest recession in history, as many eye chains announced the closure of many retail locations.

• Family Dollar leads the way with 677 store closures.
• Followed by CVS Health with 586.
• Big Lots with 580.
• Walgreens with 259.

Big Lots intends to close 963 stores after Nexus Capital Management LP ended the deal. Building upon its strategy of shutting down 900 stores by the end of 2024, CVS is left unfazed. Building on its strategic focus on closing locations, Walgreens intends to close around 1200 stores by 2027. Buy Baby is no longer in business because it has decided to adopt a digital-first approach along with the plethora of store closures. Family Dollar has also made a statement indicating considerable financial difficulties after its acquisition by Dollar Tree in 2015.

Stock Market Update

The U.S. stock future is heading downward, as the Dow, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 are down by 0.3% each. Things don’t look great for Apple either, as its stocks are stable on the threshold of reaching 4 trillion. The losses are expected to surge, as Wedbush analysts set the target at 325, expecting the decrease in value to fall right on that number. Apple’s share price, meanwhile, edged up.

Record Christmas viewership numbers came in for Netflix as their NFL games peaked with 27 million plus viewers on Christmas day. Shares of KULR Technology Group amassed an increase exceeding 12% alongside its announcement of the investment in Bitcoin for around 21 million U.S. dollars.

Financial institutions worldwide are closely following the multi-billion dollar merger of Amedisys Incorporated and UnitedHealth Group Incorporated as there is a green light from the regulatory authorities to proceed with the merger. It is expected that bitcoin will, ‘if not break this year’s all-time high of $96,600, at least get very close to it,’ while oil and gold futures have experienced a slight bump. Michael L. Smith of the UnitedHealth Group was wary after the deal’s announcement as it could very well trigger Israeli-Palestinian tensions.

Richard Parsons, chairman of Citigroup from 2009 to 2012, held several noteworthy titles, including being the first black person to serve at Parsons Corporation and the senior vice president at Time Warner. Parsons married Gina Sussman in 1982 and had three children with her. He died in 2022 and was an outspoken advocate for diversity at Goldman. During his career, Parsons served numerous boardroom positions, including AOL-connected Americans.

Chris Moore, a former Arizona Cardinals mindset specialist, recently signed a contract with the Washington Commanders, with it being his practice squad in August. He was well known among football coaches for his extraordinary performance, having played 17 games for the Tennessee Titans in 2023, catching 22 passes and covering 424 yards with a touchdown and at least two rushing touchdowns in the game. The move came after releasing Greg Joseph to create space for Moore, as the team was already experiencing injuries on several key players, including Andrew Wylie and Dyami Brown,

The football player Jonathan Allen is all set to face off against the Falcons.

Microsoft

An Investigation Based on Antitrust. The investigation of Microsoft was evidence that Microsoft is not misusing its considerable power obtained in the market to enforce a bundle of its services in an unfair manner, which type of competition is considered anti-competitive. This has already happened—this is an investigation of antitrust against Microsoft.

U.S. Government Shutdown Shocka Averted

On December 21, 2024, the U.S. was threatened by a government shutdown if Congress did not approve a spending bill. A shutdown was narrowly avoided when President Biden signed a spending extension bill approved by Congress.

The New Mexico Civil Nuclear Weapons Race

Nuclear-weapons-involving activities in New Mexico are rising, particularly in the Los Alamos National Laboratory and its extended facilities. Such activities affect local communities, local economies, and even the environment.

The New Role of Influencers in the Political Space

Political discussions in 2024 are partly driven by the active engagement of influencers, thus effectively extending the scope of punditry and journalism. Turning to the creator economy has seen politicians engage more influencers.

Conclusion of the Presidential Election Results

The 2024 election cycle ended with Donald Trump winning and becoming president again. Great efforts were put into the campaigns, and a huge turnout of voters was reported during the election.

Celebrity Social Media Announcers for the 2024 Baby Reveals

In 2024, several celebrities announced their pregnancies and told the public about it.

Celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence, Cooke Maroney, Ashanti, Nelly, and Patrick Mahomes are adamant about expanding their family shortly.

These news articles give a good summary of the facts. These are the most significant events in the country as of December 27, 2024.

These are the breaking stories from across the country on December 26, 2024:

Scandal at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport

Yuletide roaster dropped at the Jew, who was over kerfuffle and going down on Christmas Eve.

There were three shootings and one stabbing. The primary persons involved were the suspect, an adult male, and a girl aged 0-16. They were assisted by the parties that sat at the third-level restaurant in Terminal 4. Weapons were recovered on-site, along with some. Activities at the airport were temporarily suspended, but ordering assistance has resumed.

Updates on the Stock Market

It was noted that US stock indicators have decreased compared to After Christmas Eve’s tech stock rally. The Nasdaq, S and P 500, and Dow Jones futures dropped approximately 0.3%. Oil prices saw a slight increase, whilst Bitcoin fell by three. Besides, TW regulators disqualified Uber’s attempt to purchase Food Panda for nearly $950 million due to the competition it could generate.

What to Expect in 2025

In 2025, powerful technological changes are anticipated to alter people’s lives. Working alongside other Artificial Intelligence (AI) advancements, a category of autonomous “agents” will meld in, performing actions like ordering food or booking travel tickets. New devices, like a smart home display that Apple is set to release alongside Meta’s smart glasses, will also be available.

Moreover, improvements in climate prediction through AI solutions such as the Google Gen Cast program are also expected to be achieved.

Development in Perceptions of Gun Violence

Throughout the year 2024, the incidence of gun violence in the United States has remained on a downward slope. The numbers for murder have also undergone a significant decline, especially in several cities that have noted a decrease of more than 10 percent to the overall murder counts as compared to the years overlapped with the pandemic, which was 2020 to 2022, which amasses a staggering 5000 murder victims’ difference to locating the cause behind the violence. This positive outcome is largely based on the return to normalcy after a pandemic coupled with targeted violence reduction measures that got support from federal finances.

Pregnancy Announcements from Celebrities

Starting at the beginning of t024, some celebrities have begun to go public with the news of their pregnancy. Horse owners immediately think of Jennifer Lawrence and Cooke Maroney, Ashanti and the rapper Nelly, and Patrick Mahomes and Brittany Mahomes. Fans of these stars have been delighted over this announcement, especially with the anticipation of the stars welcoming a new member to their families.

NFL Christmas Games on Netflix

Despite some uneven contests, midweek Christmas NFL games that streamed online provided the best viewing experience. A superb high production level and special kinds of presenting drove these broadcasts to the top levels. Among other events of the NFL, Jaden Daniels took the 10th Recruit of the Week title, which made a record, and consecutively placed Kansas City Chief at the top in the AFC, rejoining the engaging contests.

1 seed after beating the Steelers as well.

Avoiding Government Shutdown

The danger of the US government closing was posed if Congress disagreed with a spending bill on or before December 21, 2024. There was a considerable chance that that would happen until Congress voted optimistically on the spending extension, which President Biden signed. This removed the threat of a government shutdown, at least for the near future.

Changes in the Presidential Transfer Process

The soon-to-be President, Donald Trump, is currently working on assembling a cabinet and an administration for the new term he is stepping into. Kelly Loeffler will be his small business administrator. At the same time, Scott Turner was appointed Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. These picks highlight the trend seen by Trump: outsourcing such jobs to business people with previous government experience.

Cyber Security Events of Recent Times

The year 2024 had several notable cybersecurity events. Ukrainian armed forces collaborating with cyber spies had access to US telecommunication networks deployed as a drone base, and cyber terrorists using ransomware were able to make healthcare systems out of reach for millions. These incidents of international diplomacy reaffirm the increasing and turbulent aspects of cyber security of the time and the inability of organizations to protect themselves effectively.

Christmas Day Retail Bans

Several retail outlets, including Kroger and Walmart, have shut their doors to enable their colleagues to spend the festive day with their loved ones. Shoppers were encouraged to stock up beforehand, pointing out that stores would open again on December 26 and their hours would be normal.

However, these news headlines are important to understand the state of national journalism as it stood on December 26, 2024.

The developments that affect official reports, as well as the development of procedural oral hearings, parties’ presentations, and the subsequent making of judgments, aid the tribunal in reconstructing events relevant to the case. The statement negotiations allow the participants to be recollected with considerable forensic precision. The scientific approach allows for defining elevator and escalator services as objects of scientific and operational studies. Elevator and escalator services and engineering objects installed in buildings have specific settlements bound to them. Friedrich Gilmer centered a research program investigating the interconnectedness between escalators/elevators and the entire building’s structures. During the ceremonial day of the building, more words are being wasted than otherwise.

• This discussion was modified 1 month, 3 weeks ago by  Gustan Cho.

In the mortgage circuit, there have been drastic changes along with fluctuations in the real estate market, all affected by the economic policies that have increased bond yields. As for the current state of the economy, it can be summarized as follows:

Rates on Mortgages

30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgages:

• Average rates have soared to 6.85%.
• This is the highest increase since July, when they climbed from 6.72% to 6.85%, compared to last week’s and the six-point sixty-one percent a year ago.

15-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgages:

• Instead of 5.92% in the previous week, the rates have spiked to 6.00%.

Housing Market Information

House Prices:

• High price rates combined with even higher mortgage rates have made it nearly impossible for almost all potential buyers to stimulate any chances of homeownership, further supporting the continuing downturn of the housing market.

Inventory Trials:

• Taking November into account, the last reported figure regarding the total number of houses available for sale was 1.37 million, showing a 19.1% increase year after year.

The Following influences the Rate Increase On Mortgages

• Generally speaking, mortgage rates and bond yields display a very tight relationship.
• An increase in bond yields leads to many factors, including an increase in mortgage rates.

Expectations Regarding Inflation

As we all know, inflation is bad news for every industry. It pushes investors to seek larger returns on long-term investments, which increases bond rates.

Policies By The Federal Reserve Bank

Although the Reserve recently cut some rates to facilitate purchasing, mortgage rates have paradoxically skyrocketed instead.

These factors account for the divergence we have seen, and it seems justified in view of rising yields on 10-year Treasury Bonds, which are considered a significant determinant of mortgage rates.

Government Debt Levels

Increasing fiscal deficits enhance the volume of government bonds, causing yields to increase to attract buyers.

Economic Policies

Policy shifts, such as instituting tariffs and tax reductions, could increase economic activity, raise inflation, add to government borrowing, and consequently raise mortgage rates.

Aspects That Influence Homebuyers and the Real Estate Economic Activity & Development:

Challenges on Affordability: Rising mortgage rates and current home prices have generally limited the number of prospective buyers, and mortgage applications have been sluggish.

Market Activity:

• Interest rates have suppressed buyer interest. A slight reduction in interest rates is likely to stimulate some business growth.
• Still, the business environment will remain restrained due to the relatively high prices and low volume of housing available.

The movement in 10-year Treasury yields and mortgage bonds highlights the intricate web of factors that characterize the current economy. These indicators and trends are critical for home buyers or borrowers intending to refinance their homes. Therefore, such transactions should be undertaken only after due consultation with advisers.

Mortgage and Real Estate Update for Wednesday, December 25th, 2024Mortgage Rates Remain Constant As The Holidays Are Upon Us.

30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage:

• Average fixed mortgage rate continues to remain at 6.75 %.
• Analysts don’t anticipate any compelling changes this week.

15-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage:

• The average rate on the 15-year is 6.15, which is also a good option for homeowners willing to refinance.

ARM:

• Similar to the 5/1 ARM, rates have remained stable at 6.50 percent while buyers consider the risk of a rate change.

Analysis:

• Towards the end of the year, we usually see a drop in the amount of mortgage applications as people are less likely to look to buy a new home.
• However lenders do suspect that they may see a increase in the early months of 2025 as rates begin to normalise.

Housing Still In Demand During The Winter Season

Lack of Supply:

• The active listing has dropped by 18% year on year which further lowers the options for the buyers in many locations.

Prices:

• Price of homes rose by 4.1% in November 2024 when compared with the last year during the same period.
• This is indicitive of demand in high growth areas.

Top Buy Markets:

• Austin and Orlando are hot places to buy homes while less accessibly prices areas such as Wisconsin and Pittsburgh are more stable.

Trends in the Rental Market

Rents Rates Slowing Down:

• The rental rates for 2024 have seen a rise by 2.3 percent lower than the 5.7 percent rent witnessed in the year 2023.
• This stagnation is due to an increased availability of multi-family houses.

Continued Movement to Suburbs:

• Renters are shifting from apartments to suburban areas due to affordability issues, especially in areas just outside big cities such as Phoenix and Denver.

Increased Costs Affect Builder Confidence

Commencement of New Homes:

• In comparison to last year there has been an increase of 9 percent during November of single family house starts while multi-family starts have remained constant.

Excess Inventory in Some Parts:

• In Texas and Florida, builders are recording high inventories of unsold homes, especially in the luxury sector.

2025 Predictions:

• The builders are not very optimistic but cautious, which is why they want to build affordable housing for most people so that eager entry-level home buyers will choose it.

An Increase in The Rate Of Foreclosure and Bankruptcy

Foreclosure:

• An Increasing economic stress and inflation is leading to a growth in US foreclosure filing and as a result between Q3 to Q4 of two thousand twenty-three there was a 13 percent increase.

Bankruptcies:

• There has been a year over year increase of 18 percent in the filing of personal bankruptcies showing the financial stress faced by the middle-class households.

Areas With the Highest Growth:

States like New Jersey, Illinois, and Nevada need the most scrutiny as they had the highest amount of foreclosure activity.

Broader Trends in Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Looking at the Bigger Picture

Retail Decline:

• The e commerce business has taken over which is why the rates have increased to 12 .8 percent which is causing the brick-and-mortar business to struggle.

Shifting the Office Network:

• Suburbs are seeing an increase in preferences for office spaces.
• Whereas cities are facing higher offices than ever before.
• SFF and NYC are quoted to have a very high vacancy rate cross country comparison shows a significant increase in demand.

E-commerce digitalization effect:

• The E-commerce and improvements in supply chain are the two most key drivers for a growth in demand for logistics and warehouse spaces.

Changes In Policy Affecting Housing

Inspection Report for FHA Loan Limits 2025:

• Prevalent headlines include the federal housing administration loan limits amendment.
• This will see the loan limits in high-cost regions increased to 1.2 million dollars.
• This development allows more buyers to take up markets with expensive places, including New York and California.

Tax Incentives for Affordable Housing:

• Integracare in Hexcel has prepared to lobby Congress and vote to extend the tax incentives for builders seeking to construct affordable housing projects, which is liable to solve the looming shortage of inventory.

Climate Change Effects on Real Estate

Flood Zones:

• The New FEMA flood maps, which will be published in early 2025, will likely categorise additional regions as high-risk, which will lead to an enhancement in the price of flood insurance for homeowners.

Wildfire Areas:

• Wildfires are a reality whose aftermath California, Colorado and other states are adjusting to.
• Wildfires have alternative real estate impacts, such as A
• advancing premiums of insurance and reducing property expenses of affected regions.

Real Estate Investment Trends

• Over time, the popularity of real estate properties designed for short-term rentals has not seemed to drop.
• However, in the bigger cities such as Miami and Los Angeles, some measures are being put in place that control who can purchase these properties.

As for communities made specifically for renters, investors are gradually moving in that direction as there is plenty of demand for such buildings since many people can’t afford to own a house.

Tech in Real Estate

There is a rise in people utilizing remote services to buy houses. People can now talk over platforms and do virtual tours, which reduces the waiting time and makes it more efficient.

When lending, companies have been leaning towards utilizing AI as part of the approving process. It speeds up the process significantly and lowers the amount of time spent on underwriting.

International Buyers Return

Luxury Properties across the United States have been catching the eye of international investors, especially those in New York, Miami & Los Angeles, Canada, Europe & China overseas investors seem to be returning in large numbers.

Make sure to keep an eye open for further updates as there is plenty more room to monitor these trends going into the new year.

Wednesday Headline news summary: December 25, 2024News Related to the Economy and Financial Affairs

A Decrease in Inflation:

• The US witnessed a slight decrease in the inflation rate.
• The inflation rate was reported to be 4.2% in November.
• However, it decreased to 3.9 % in December, signifying that inflation is slowly being controlled.

The Stock Market Surge:

• Strong holiday consumer spending boosted investor confidence, increasing the stock market.
• The Ordinary Share Index 500 (S&P 500) and the Dow Jones Industrial Average were reported to have experienced increases of 1.3% and 1.1%, respectively.

Retail Sales Growth:

• Last year, the retail industry growth stood at 5.4%, which can be attributed to a rise in online spending and greater demand for expensive goods.

New Developments in Housing and Real Estate.

Mortgage Interest Rate Steady:

• The national average mortgage rate remained close to 6.75% for a 30-year fixed-up mortgage.
• It is expected to remain in the range during the joyous season.

Housing Prices and Inventory:

• Housing prices rose by 4.1 percent compared to the past year.
• However, the housing inventory surpassed critical limitations, decreasing by 18% compared to last December.

Increase in Financial Instability:

• The number of foreclosure applications in the latest quarter surged by 13%.
• Revealing signs of financial instability since housing loan interests and inflation remained highest.

Politics News

Biden’s endorsement drops to below expected: Economic factors do not support satisfaction relative to President Joe Biden’s administration’s handling of inflation. Consequently, his endorsement fell by 34%.

Congress Approves Housing Rental Assistance Bill

A bipartisan approach has resulted in a construction elements amendment with tax credits that will help increase the supply of affordable housing by the end of 2025.

International Affairs

US and China Relations Breakthrough:

• President Biden and China’s Xi Jinping had a talk focusing on trade and climate issues.
• But Taiwan issues remain unresolved.

Ukraine Conflict Updates

America’s support for Ukraine is still strong, and $45 billion in other military and humanitarian support is anticipated for 2025.

Climate and Environment

Severe Winter Storms:

• A severe winter storm affects the Midwest and Northeast regions.
• Leading to the scrapping of over 30,000 flights and dangerous driving conditions.

New FEMA Flood Maps:

• New maps have been altered, increasing the region’s high-risk flood area and shifting the concern to homeowners insurance costs, which could be millions.

Technology and Industry

AI Changing Workplace Dynamics:

• The penetration of Artificial Intelligence into workplaces has doubled in the US over the last 12 months.
• It is particularly used in the logistics, customer service, and financial services industries.

EV Market Growth:

• Electric vehicle registrations increased by 20% over the previous year to federal tax deductions.
• Growing market activity helped sustain the momentum.

Social and Cultural Highlights

Record Charitable Giving:

• During this festive period alone, Americans gave a record-breaking seven billion dollars.
• This resulted in major donations to food banks, relief aid, and education.

Holiday Movie Box Office:

• Avatar 3 is the year’s highest-grossing film, leading the box office with over 1 billion dollars in revenue.

Sports

NFL Playoff Picture:

• While the Kansas City Chiefs have already qualified for the playoffs, the Philadelphia Eagles and many other team races are getting heated in both conferences.
• This outline, dated December 25, 2024, captures the critical moments in US contemporary history in economic, political, and cultural spheres.

Major news outlets and more detailed reports are excellent sources for further information on this story.

Here’s your weekly snapshot of mortgage and real estate headlines for December 24 December 24, 2024:

Mortgage Rate Changes

30-Year Fixed Rates:

• The national average interest rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage hit 6.75%.
• As a result, predicting competitive rates shortly has become easier.

15-Year Fixed Rates:

• The market continues offering 15-year fixed mortgage rates at around 6.15%.
• Much lower than before.

ARM Rates:

• The popularity of adjustable-rate mortgages has prompted lenders to cut back on their offerings.
• 5/1 ARMs, conversely, have an average interest of 6.50%.
• A flash in the arm is observed and foreseen for early 2025, as inflation is also predicted to remain strong.

Housing Market Analysis

Home Prices:

• Key markets such as Florida, Texas, and California show continued appreciation in median home prices. At the same time, states like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania still appear to have leveled out at more sustainable rates.

Inventory Shortages:

• Urban areas, in particular, are experiencing volatile market conditions.
• While demand and, thus, prices continue to stay high, supply remains at historic lows.

Best Buyers’ Markets:

• Buffalo, New York, and Detroit, Michigan, are approaching reasonable prices for new homebuyers.

Here Are The Updates About FHA Loans For 2024

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) raised the loan limit thresholds effective January 1, 2024.

• In low-cost areas, it is set to $500,000.
• The limit is set at $1.2 million in high-cost areas that can afford it, enabling homebuyers to have more choices.

Non-QM Loans Are Getting Popular Among Self-Employed Borrowers

Non-qualified mortgage loans are becoming more popular as more self-employed individuals enter the market. Various lending institutions have a wide variety of condotel and short-term investing options.

Shift in How Commercial Real Estates Are Sought After

The demand for multifamily building loans is increasing as more builders develop a strategy for constructing more projects in urban and suburban locations. Improvement in market conditions has enabled better entry price points for spec building of 1-4 unit real estate.

Private Equity Market with a Focus on Strategic Sourcing: The Midwest

Wisconsin:

• House prices continue to increase near Madison and Racine counties as more people from the area look for cheap housing and a better lifestyle.

Illinois:

• Chicago has a consistent level of interest for FHA loans, thanks to first-time home buyers who require financing and downpayment assistance programs.

Realstock Investor Programs

Realty investors are moving away from all capital cities and looking towards second-hand rental properties, as there is a good demand for rentals. There is still much interest in short-term furnished rental properties for places that are big tourist spots, but policymakers are increasingly holding back investment.

Top Updates to Regulation: There Is

The National Association of REALTORS(r) has settled on paying a realtor and buyer commission adjustments and structure to be in place come 2025. This has been proposed due to a discussion of concern that the agents will become purely marketing specialists, hence, out of the market.

Watch out for more analysis of these trends as the new year progresses.

NATIONAL HEADLINE NEWS FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24TH 2024Inflation Issues Persist Despite a Boost in Consumer Spending as the Holiday Season Begins.

Retail sales increased across the United States by almost 4.8%. Strong consumer spending from online shopping helped fuel this increase and the high demand for entertainment and travel. However, economists maintain that rising price levels, in conjunction with stagnant wage growth, will hinder any potential growth in the next five years or so.

Mortgage Markets Remain Steady As All Eyes Are Directed Towards the Federal Reserve

30-year fixed-rate mortgages have maintained a national average of 6.75%, marking a period of stabilization for a rampant market with fluctuating rates. The Federal Reserve is expected to conduct a meeting at the start of next month, wherein they will decide whether there is a scope for further rate increases, which may act as a barrier in combating inflation. Furthermore, experts anticipate this meeting with caution, as signs indicate economic growth is beginning to stagnate.

Continued Shortages Within Inventory Persist in the Housing Market.

The US housing market is still suffering from an extreme deficit in the number of active listings, which have dropped by roughly 23% compared to December 2023. The resulting combination of increased interest rates and a shortage of homes has made it difficult for homeowners to afford to sell their homes. Once again, this has dire consequences on first-time buyers, as relatively economical homes aren’t abundant in high-demand areas.

US Senate passed 1.2 Trillion Funding Package Bill for Infrastructure.

In a decisive bi-cameral vote, the Senate approved the one-point-two trillion-dollar funding bill covering new highways, IT, and climate. The construction industry stands to gain tremendously from it, leading to multitudes of job creation. However, there are concerns that the bill may not lead to a green future.

US Department of Justice Cracks Down on Big Tech: New and Tough Privacy Laws Come Into Effect

As Meta and Google colluded over Meta’s Giphy acquisitions, the US Department of Justice issued new privacy laws for big tech companies, requiring them to be more open about their data use and more respectful to consumers. Consumer advocates have well received the move. Still, it has raised fears among business leaders around the possible chilling effect it could cause on innovations.

Winter Storms Force 2000 Plus Flight Cancellations Over Christmas Weekend Travel Plans Afterphotos Shot Sorter Job View Photo

A winter storm that impacted America’s Midwest and Northeast regions has made travel before Christmas difficult. More than two thousand flights have been disrupted around the Michigan, Illinois, and New York regions, and treacherous snow is predicted for Christmas day.

The Stocks Reflect a Gain Following the +/- Year-End Rush.

After the approval of the infrastructure bill and the increased holiday retail sales, investors’ positive mood was reflected as both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 showed growth. Afterward, the tech-heavy Nasdaq took a harsh tumble during the week but was later able to recover due to the much-anticipated reports regarding the fourth quarter earnings.

As Cases of Problems Arise, the Hospitals Are Bound to Face Issues.

The healthcare system is facing a severe crisis due to increased cases of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). All hospitals are under substantial pressure with the pediatric wards, particularly under duress regarding the capacity issue. The CDC has warned people to consider taking extra measures and getting vaccinated due to family gatherings.

The USA and China Relations Are Kick Starting as Planned.

President Biden and Xi Jinping are expected to host a virtual meeting this week to discuss trade relations, Taiwan, and other topics related to global security. Analysts see the virtual meeting as a much-needed reduction of tension between the USA and China, fighting a soft war on multiple fronts.

Sports

NFL Playoff Picture Takes Shape:

The NFL regular season ends and the teams compete for the remaining playoff spots. The Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs have secured their divisions, while everyone else fights for the wildcards. Everyone is set for the high-profile matches as we enter the holiday weekend.

Entertainment

“Avatar 3” Breaks All Previous Box Office Records James Cameron’s “Avatar 3” has grossed $1 billion in just two weeks, making it the highest-grossing film of 2024. Critics love the film for its incomparable graphics and environmental storyline, making it one of the cultural marvel films of the time.

Holiday Spirit Sees Unprecedented Level of Charity Donations

Charitable organizations have reportedly received donations totaling $6 billion this holiday season, thanks to the globalization of humanitarian issues and tax incentives for donors. Corporations and individual philanthropists have donated to various social causes, from disaster recovery to education.

As these events unfold, more follow-up reporting and analysis will be published.