GCA Forums Headline News: Weekend Edition (February 24, 2025 – March 2, 2025)

Presented by Great Content Authority (GCA) Forums, powered by Gustan Cho Associates, NMLS 873293, a dba of NEXA Mortgage, the nation’s largest mortgage broker and correspondent lender.

This weekend edition of GCA Forums News includes the most important comprehensive overview and summary of GCA Forums Daily News between Monday, February 24, and March 2, 2025, on GCA Forums. Headline news stories may affect Americans in one or more ways, especially consumers, homeowners, home sellers, real estate investors, renters, and potential buyers.

At GCA Forums News, we pride ourselves on incorporating reliable real estate and mortgage information. As such, we pledge to provide our readers with timely changes in the housing sector, interest rates, economic policies, and business activity that affect American citizens. You will find these updates helpful whether you are selling, buying, or renting your house, as they will help you understand the US economy and its changes.

Changes in mortgage rates, difficulty in home buying, trends in real estate investment, job statistics, inflation, and home improvement all form the week’s summary.

Let us focus on the United States households and businesses and the headlines that matter.

Mortgage Rates and Home Buying Capability

Mortgage Rates Today: A Buyer’s Breakeven Point Approaches

A potential silver lining in mortgage rates has emerged for homeowners hoping to buy a house. As of February 27, 2025, the February 27-year fixed mortgage rate declined to 6.76%, its lowest value over two months.

Some reasons for this rate of mortgage decline include:

• A slowing economy is causing investors to be worried, meaning the Federal Reserve might lower rates in 2025.
• A mitigating inflation that lessens the burden on interest rates.
• Greater demand from potential homebuyers as the lowered rates slightly enhance affordability.

Even if the drop in mortgage rates is a hopeful sign, affordability continues to be a problem, with home prices still significantly high.

Problems in Affording a House: How Much Do Houses Cost?

• Even with the lower rates, housing affordability is challenging for many first-time buyers and middle-class members.
• An average American struggles to overcome this to qualify for a mortgage.
• Affordable homes in competitive markets keep prices accessible, but home prices continue to rise.
• Salaries are increasing at a slower rate as inflation and property prices rise.
• Bidding wars caused by a lack of available homes make buying homes much more challenging.

Industry experts predict that home prices may start declining around 2025. But a drastic drop in home values is very feasible due to a shift in the imbalance of supply and demand

How Federal Policies Affect Housing Costs

Tariffs and Material Costs: The Pricing Issue with New Homes

• Federal tariffs on Canadian lumber and Mexican drywall are predicted to inflate construction pricing even more.
• This will add more issues to an existing problem: an affordability crisis.
• This increase in home-building expenses is passed on to the consumer, leading to the construction of new homes at even higher prices.
• Inflated drywall costs add thousands of dollars in expenses for renovation and construction projects.
• Consequently, there is an even lower supply of new homes, higher expenses for home buyers, and still no relief for the housing market deficit.

Labor Market Dynamics: The Myth of a Construction Worker Shortage

• The broader effort to brush undocumented workers has negative effects on the pool of available workers in the construction, roofing, and home remodeling industries.
• A low supply of skilled workers leads to increased expenditures on wages by contractors.
• Construction operations taking longer than anticipated result in houses not being completed when they are supposed to be.
• Homebuyers and property investors looking to build or renovate are faced with higher expenses.

Suppose there is no change in these unattainable conditions. In that case, the supply of new homes being built will stagnate, causing greater problems for the housing shortage situation.

Challenges of Home Ownership

• Increasing expenses on home insurance: Another hurdle on the path of homeownership.
• Particular states hit by hurricanes, wildfires, and flooding are witnessing a large increase in home insurance premiums.

Factors contributing to the increasing costs:

• Climate risk is raising an insurer’s claim and risk exposure.
• Supply chain challenges lead to costly home repairs.
• Insurers abandoning high-risk states results in fewer coverage choices.
• Costs are starting to strain the budget for California, Texas, and Florida homeowners.
• The energy and maintenance costs associated with owning a home are ballooning.

In addition to the mortgage, paying for the upkeep of a house has become extremely expensive, with the following adding to its cost:

• Soaring gas and electricity costs lead to increased utility bills.
• Labor and material markup inflict costly repairs on the house.
• Multiple states’ increasing property taxes leave homeowners with a burdensome expense.
• Homeownership is becoming increasingly less appealing as these costs are now more difficult for many homeowners to manage, making renting a more desirable option.

Home renovation and improvement trends Rethinking Consumer Behavior: Stalling Major Remodels

• Increased interest rates and inflation mean homeowners turn towards smaller upgrades, delaying major improvement projects.

Key trends:

• Reduced consumer spending results in fewer luxury remodels.
• Increased labor costs mean more homeowners perform DIY repairs.
• People focusing on energy efficiency results in an increase in smart home technology upgrades.

This change in spending mentality has led to lower sales in retailers such as Lowe’s and Home Depot.

Trends In The Property Market

Analysis of Home Sales: Are Buyers Coming Back To The Market?

• Due to a reduction in mortgage rates, there has been a 3.5% rise in existing home sales in February.
• Sales from new homes also grew by 4.1% because builders had offered particular buyers’ incentives.
• While there is a decrease in sales for luxury homes, there is a surge in sales for affordable houses.

Insights Into The Rental Market: Renters Are Feeling The Pinch

• Significant increases in rent prices are evident, especially in large cities.
• Rental prices are high because there are few availabilities in the market.
• Homeownership is becoming less possible for many people, which is causing more people to rent for longer durations.

Due to the limited supply of houses and affordability problems, the rental market is predicted to remain active until 2025.

Economic Indicators And Other Business News

Unemployment Trends: Stability In The Job Market By 2025

• The US unemployment rate, which has remained at 3.8%, shows little change, indicating a stable labor force.
• Increased health care, technology, and finance employment compensate for lower retail trade and manufacturing employment.
• Workers face more challenges with expenses because salary increases are reaching a standstill.

Inflation And Consumer Spending

The inflation rate dropped to 2.9% in February, which could allow the Fed to consider lowering interest rates.

Americans remain cautious with their spending, contributing to a small decline in consumer spending.

There has also been a slowdown in economic activity, evident in the 0.5% drop in retail sales.

FAQs on GCA Forums NewsWhat are the current mortgage rates?

• The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate as of February 27, 2025, is February 6, 27 improvement from January’s 7.12%.

How do federal policies affect housing costs?

• Affordability continues to shrink because tariffs on materials and labor shortages make constructing new homes expensive.

What challenges are homeowners facing today?

• Homeownership is becoming less and less affordable due to rising energy and insurance costs on top of general maintenance expenses.

What are the latest real estate trends?

• Increased home sales due to declining mortgage rates have been seen; however, accumulating expenses still create a ceiling on affordability.

How is the rental market performing?

• Demand continues to soar due to low vacancy rates, with urban areas especially taking the brunt of rising rent prices.

This week’s real estate, economy, and mortgage news has many obstacles and prospects for homeowners, investors, and renters alike. One positive update is a decline in mortgage rates; however, affordability and rising expenses are still weighing on many US citizens.

Check-in at GCA Forums New for fresh perspectives and the latest information on your investments, finances, and home.

There’s a video series about several pet monkeys. Little pet monkeys are extremely intelligent and cute.

Considering A Pet Macaque Monkey

Insights, Availability, Costs, and Wisconsin Regulations.

You might think owning a monkey is an interesting idea, especially bear macaw mandrills for pets. These monkeys are known for their extreme intelligence and very sophisticated social customs. Their faces are expressive with distinctive features and immensely playful. Therefore, some people consider them exotic pets. But there is a need to ponder a bit deeper before adopting a pet monkey, particularly a baby macaque monkey. This requires consideration of various important factors, including cost, availability, and legal issues, especially in Wisconsin.

Understanding Macaque Monkeys as Pets

Having a pet monkey is like having a small, adorable friend in your home. These pets are also considered very intelligent. They have sophisticated family structures. Macques live in social groups and engage in various physical and mental activities. Suppose they are kept in a domesticated setting like a house or an apartment. In that case, it’s very difficult to replicate this, which can cause severe behavioral problems. An owner must accommodate a multi-dimensional approach to meeting a Macaque’s needs. People wanting these pets should also be ready for the commitment because pet monkeys, particularly macaques, can live for decades.

Availability and Cost of Baby Macaque Monkeys

Contact trusted breeders or exotic pet shops to buy a pet monkey or baby macaque.

Here are several websites that are useful guides in your search.

Supreme Exotic Animals for Sale:

• This website offers several varieties of baby macaques for sale.
• One of the babies, Lily, is listed for roughly $750.
• supremeexoticanimalsforsale.com

General Monkeys for Adoption:

• Another website offers black long-tail macaques for about $1,200 and pigtail macaques for around $900 to $1,000.
• generalmonkeysforadoption.com

Exotic Animals for Sale:

• Features listings like baby marmosets (pocket monkeys) and squirrel monkeys.
• Prices vary.
• Potential buyers must fill out a request form for specific pricing.

Exotic Animals for Sale:

• Features listings like baby marmosets (pocket monkeys) and squirrel monkeys.
• Prices vary.
• Potential buyers must fill out a request form for specific pricing. ​
• exoticpetsforsale.com.

It’s crucial to note that prices can fluctuate based on factors such as age, health, and monkey rarity. The initial purchase price is just the beginning. Ongoing costs include specialized diets, veterinary care, and suitable housing to ensure the monkey’s well-being. ​

Legal Considerations in Wisconsin

• Before acquiring a macaque monkey, it’s imperative to understand the legal landscape in your state.
• Wisconsin’s regulations regarding exotic pets are nuanced:

Exotic Animals for Sale

• Features listings like baby marmosets (pocket monkeys) and squirrel monkeys.
• Prices vary.
• Potential buyers must fill out a request form for specific pricing. ​
• dinocalifornia.com

Wisconsin Is Watching

General Regulations:

• Wisconsin is among the states with relatively lenient laws concerning the ownership of non-native species.
• Owning a monkey, or almost any other non-native animal species, is currently legal in Wisconsin.

It is among five states:

• Alabama
• Nevada
• North Carolina and South Carolina

The above states are the other states with no bans on owning ‘dangerous’ exotic animals. ​

Check out the link for further information.

• Blackfeminity.com
• Dinocalifornia.com

Wisconsin Watch: Animal Law

Importation Requirements:

• A General Import Permit application is necessary if the animals are privately owned and relocated to Wisconsin.
• Different permit applications exist for some animals, such as those in a rodeo, circus, or menagerie visiting Wisconsin briefly.

Restrictions on Local Ordinances:

• While state laws may allow certain exotic animal ownership, local city or county laws might be more restrictive.
• You should check with local authorities to ensure you abide by all relevant laws.

Perspectives From Current Monkey Owners

The following information may be helpful for current pet owners of monkeys:

Social Media Groups:

• Facebook has groups that serve as communities where enthusiasts and owners can share experiences.
• For instance, one user posted about some ‘adorable’ capuchin monkeys for sale, and comments highlighted how sweet and playful they are.

Educational Videos:

Some mini-documentaries feature “pet monkeys,” showing how smart and charismatic they can be. One video of a pet monkey named “Lilly,” who lives in Vietnam, shows how much love this monkey has for her owner. It is as if she is a mother to a young child.

Ultimately

As tempting as it may be to own a baby macaque monkey, proper research and preparation is advised:

Ongoing Responsibility:

• Macaques regularly need your attention, time, and resources.
• Their care is complex, and their lifespan can reach several decades.

Moral and Legal Duty:

• Ensure that, at the first stage, owning a macaque will adhere to all legal terms.
• Remember the moral issues for keeping a wild animal as a pet.

World Population Review

Other types of engagement:

• If ownership appears difficult, consider donations to primate rescue facilities or volunteer activities that allow hands-on involvement without requiring permanent placement.

To sum up, some pet owners may find it rewarding on some level to have pet macaque monkeys, but they need to be mindful of the obligations and difficulties that come with it. Those willing to leap should know and be ready to tackle these issues for harmonious coexistence with their primate pet.

They are no different than having a little kid that normally behaves. Each pet monkey has its own personality. Anyone raise a pet monkey? Watch this short video. The owner of Lilly lives in Vietnam. This video will make your day. 😍

https://youtu.be/HhVmi-if1yU?si=RY380dlthSfvqHsY

• This discussion was modified 5 days, 7 hours ago by  Gustan Cho.

GCA Forums Headline News for Thursday February 27th 2025. To get new viewers to GCA Forums and simultaneously convert them into loyal members, the management team at GCA Forums News must discuss appealing, interactive, and current issues that pique the interest of homebuyers, real estate investors, mortgage professionals, and other business people. Starting today’s GCA Forums Daily Headline News, we will cover this format for Thursday, February 27th, 2025. To put this into action, below you will find key daily headlines and news topics that you should focus on and that are guaranteed to attract traffic and ensure the growth of your audience:

Updates on the Mortgage Market and Interest Rates (Core Content)

As Gustan Cho Associates focuses on housing and mortgage news, we must teach our viewers and members daily about mortgage rates, market changes, and lending policies.

What We Will be Covering on GCA Forums News?

Daily updates on the mortgage rates;

Changes made on the Federal Reserve policies and their effects on the mortgage rates

Predictions on future mortgage rates

Changes made to the guidelines from lenders like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

Trends in credit scores and mortgage approvals

Why Does It Work?

Constant monitoring of mortgage rates is exceedingly important for homebuyers, refinancers, and people who make money buying and selling real estate.

This will help mortgage professionals greatly as they will have reliable information to share with their clients.

• Real estate news and housing market trends (Engaging for Homebuyers and Investors).
• Coverage of housing market conditions, home sales information, and price trends will attract real estate buyers and sellers alike.

What to Cover?

• Changes in home pricing index on a national and regional level.
• Stock or flow of available houses for sale.
• Trends for new home buyers and other affordability obstacles.
• Best and worst housing markets for sellers and buyers.
• Insights into the multi-family and rental markets (Perfect for investors).
• Big real estate transactions and celebrity real estate purchases (just for fun readers).

Why This is Effective?

• Real estate news is for everyone, from homeowners to investors.
• Provides useful information for people looking to buy or sell a home.

Report from the Federal Reserve & Inflation (Important for Homebuyers & Investors)

Fed decisions and inflation forecasts will determine the mortgage rate and the state of the economy.

What to Cover?

• Summaries of meetings of the Federal Reserve and their interest rate decisions.
• CPI (Consumer Price Index) and PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditures) reports.
• Speculation on the effect of predicted rate cuts/hikes on the real estate market.
• How inflation is changing home affordability.

Why This is Effective?

• Mortgage holders will be interested in knowing whether the rate will increase or decrease.
• Real estate and financial markets are where investors look for trends in inflation.

The State of the Economy and the Job Market (Interesting for Homebuyers and Business Owners)

• Inflation per household affects the affordability of housing, the granting of a mortgage, and investment level.

What to Cover?

• Unemployment and employment reports every month.
• The growth of wages compared to the appreciation of housing prices.
• Economic growth and risk of recession.
• How these changes impact mortgage lending.
• Trends in business optimism and the stock market.

How It Works:

• Readers should know how economic developments affect their purchasing capacity.
• Captures the Attention of professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs.

Government Policy & Housing Regulations (Critical For Borrowers & Realtors)

• New mortgage policies and housing market regulations change how funds are offered.

What to Cover?

• Updates on FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional loan limits.
• Proposed tax credits for novice buyers.
• New laws on rent control and tenants’ rights.
• Amendments to the Fair Housing Act and anti-discrimination policies.
• Federal government-sponsored programs to avert foreclosures.

Why It Works:

• Investors and homebuyers need to know whether changes in legislation serve their interests or work against them.
• Keeps people who work in real estate in the loop.

Real Estate Investment & Wealth-Building Tips (Ideal For Investors & Entrepreneurs)

• Real estate has topped the list as a means of building wealth, and this has prompted investors to look for professional advice.

What to Cover?

• Analysis of the best investment cities for rental homes.
• Trends in DSCR lending and other investor-friendly mortgages.
• News on the short-term (Airbnb) rental market.
• Trends in multi-family and commercial real estate investments.
• Tax provisions for real estate investors.

Why It Works:

• High-value readers are sure to find real estate investment material.
• Maximizing profits is the name of the game for investors seeking best-placed strategies.

Breaking Business & Financial News (For Entrepreneurs & Investors)

• The major financial events significantly affect real estate and mortgage markets.
• Covering major business stories strengthens your credibility profile.

What to Cover?

• The stock exchange activity and the earnings report from the company.
• News of financial institutions and banks (for example, Mortgage companies going bankrupt).
• Changes in crypto and other digital assets which influence real estate.
• Updates on credit and loan facilities for small businesses.

Why Does It Work?

• Investors, finance individuals, and entrepreneurs are heavily engaged.
• Builds credibility of GCA Forums in the business news domain.

Foreclosures, Distressed Properties, and Housing Crises (Investors and Buyers Hot Topic)

With economic unpredictability, opportunities for distressed properties and the foreclosure rate are on their minds a lot more.

What to Cover?

• Freddie Mac national and state foreclosure rate trends of a quarter.
• Real estate owned (REO) group and shortening selling market updates.
• The job market changes and their effects on foreclosure rates.
• Buying opportunities for distressed properties.

Why Does It Work?

• It is one treasure destination for investors trying to fetch deals for foreclosed properties.
• Enlightens a distressed homeowner about the options available to prevent foreclosure.

Daily Trend Hot Topics And Viral Real Estate Stories (Offers More Engagement and Saves Attention)

Casual readers can now set their focus on adding new changes within the real estate domain, in addition to adding news that will capture everyone’s Attention.

What to Cover?

• Controversies or scandals within the real estate industry.
• Success stories of buying homes that have gone viral (or horror being).
• Mortgage fraud cases that became a headline and the effects following it.
• Viral news of strange, bizarre, or unbelievable real estate properties and listings.

Why Does It Work?

• The answer is simple.
• Content that can be shared and discussed organizes interest.
• Attracts readers who do not usually pay Attention to mortgage industry news.

Expert Q&A & Forum Highlights (Increases GCA Forums Participation!)

Display the most important debates of the GCA Forums along with the best expert responses.

What to Cover?

• Series of “Ask an Expert” from mortgage specialists.
• Weekly summaries of the most interesting discussions on the GCA Forums.
• Reader questions about mortgage and housing from the audience.

Why Does It Work?

• Increases activity on the forum and growth in membership.
• Establishes GCA Forum’s reputation as a credible source for mortgage information.

The Formula for Success

To achieve high engagement and increased membership numbers, GCA Forums Daily Headline News must:

✅ Use captivating news and blend it with expert commentary.

✅ Simplify the difficult concepts and ideas of mortgages.

✅ Foster public comments and input from the audience.

✅ Use exciting and trending news about the real estate business.

🚀 GCA Forums has become a prime news resource for home buyers, mortgage specialists, and investors by focusing on those topics daily.

I have a 45 ft. diesel Class A Motorhome I purchased 20 years ago for $200,000. The motorhome I purchase 20 years ago is a low mileage (50,000 miles) and is a diesel. Diesel engine motorhomes are more expensive and sturdier than gas powered motorhomes. The motorhome I purchased was used when I purchased it. The coach has been sitting for the past 10 years and needs to be fully checked out mechanically. I was thinking about trading the motorhome for a newer model with slides. However, I heard how fast motorhomes depreciate. I heard motorhomes depreciate and lose their values faster than boats. I also heard banks and finance companies often do not care to finance motorhomes older than ten years old. Is it better to renovate my current RV or buy a new motorhome and sell mine.

GCA FORUMS HEADLINE NEWS-Weekend Edition for Saturday February 22nd 2025: In this weekend edition on GCA Forums Headline News we want to cover this week’s national news update and wrap-up. Lots of news this past week starting with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency releasing breaking news of what the DOGE Team of Auditors have uncovered with the vast amount of money (taxpayer funds) that is unaccounted for. The taxpayers of the United States deserve transparency and the right to know where their hard earned tax dollars is allocated to and for.

President Donald Trump is making great progress, maybe better than expected, on the type of waste in almost every federal agency, especially, the USAID, Department of Education, the Department of Treasury (The IRS, Social Security Administration) the Federal Reserve Board, the CFPB, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security especially FEMA, the Department of Defense, the United States of Housing and Urban Development, and hundreds of government agencies, sub-agencies, and third-party vendors as well as sub-vendors.

After years of forensic criminal investigations by forensic scientists and forgery experts, Former President Barack Obama’s birth certificate has been confirmed to be counterfeit and a forgery. Further news on President Barack Obama’s fake, forged, counterfeit birth certificate to be coming in the coming days and weeks.

Millions of dead people who are getting paid by the Social Security Administration. some as old as over 300 years old has been revealed by the Department of Government Efficiency. The Fraud and Corruption uncovered by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is expected to be in the trillions of dollars and the biggest, largest fraud and corruption not just in the United States but in the World. The corruptions and fraud discovered by Elon Musk and the team at the Department of Government Efficiency is not even 1.0%.

After finding the extensive fraud and corruption in government agencies, President Donald Trump has vowed to abolish wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars and eliminate tens of thousands of federal jobs as well as abolish federal agencies and government sponsored programs such as the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Education, the USAID, the CFPB, the Federal Reserve Board, and dozens of other federal and government programs that has been proven to be a total waste of taxpayer dollars.

Kash Patel got confirmed as the Director of the FBI. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Czar Tom Homan is aggressively zoning in on arresting and deporting illegal migrants. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi is targeting State Governors and City Mayors of Sanctuary States and Sanctuary Cities and suing them civilly and gathering up due diligence on how the Attorney General’s office of the United States can criminally indict, arrest, prosecute, and convict them for not following the law and abiding by the Constitution of the United States.

Tens of thousands of government workers is getting fired or in the process of getting laid off. The Trump Administration is expected to give early retirement packages to federal workers. All government workers who have been hired a probationary government federal workers will be terminated. Many critics and Democrats are concerned President Trump’s firing and laying off tens of thousands of federal government workers will have on the economy, especially, the housing and mortgage sectors. Will this mean thousands of foreclosures? Will this mean huge unemployment numbers? Will this mean the next 2008 real estate and financial crisis larger than the 2008 financial crisis? This is a developing story and GCA FORUMS NEWS will keep our members and viewers of Great Content Authority Forums News updated on any news developments 24/7, seven days a week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2zeWm40Zh0

Mayor Brandon Johnson says that for Chicago to function fully, he needs $ 300 million. To do this, he wants property tax revenue from homeowners and real estate investors in Chicago, which will allow him to cover the budget deficit. So, why is Chicago so broke? Why is there a hiring freeze, and why can we not hire 700 vacancies in the Chicago police department when crime rates are skyrocketing? Why does Chicago need to make across-the-board personnel? Why is Chicago increasing fees and costs on city services, such as parking and other revenue-generating portals?

The answer is obvious. Mayor Johnson has welcomed tens of thousands of illegal immigrants, costing the City of Chicago 1 billion dollars.

From the moment he assumed office in May 2023, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has dealt with a complicated economic situation. His administration set out to solve a budget deficit that is expected to reach almost $1 billion by 2025, all while trying to keep key city services running.

Budget Gap and Suggested Steps

In order to fill the gap of 986 million dollars, Mayor Johnson’s administration has proposed a balanced budget that relies on responsible spending and investing. Some highlights are as follows:

Operational Efficiencies: Reducing the headcount by over full-time 744 non-core CPD civilian positions, with 456 being from the Chicago Police Department (CPD). The primary goal is to enhance efficiency without jeopardizing public safety.

Revenue Enhancements: A boost in the tax rate on cloud computing services by 128 million dollars and a rise in parking, grocery bag, rideshare, and streaming taxes. These moves aim to broaden the revenue base of the city.

Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Surplus: A historic 570 million dollar surplus of TIFs to support Chicago Public Schools, libraries, parks, and City Colleges enables the city to invest these taxpayer dollars back into essential public assets.

Effects of the Migrant Surge

Chicago has received over 42,000 undocumented migrants, and with it has incurred unprecedented expenditures of around 299 million dollars. Since the time Mayor Johnson took office, the city has spent over 215 dollars. The spending has been directed to shelters, food, medical services, and other areas deemed necessary.

The financial commitment in support of migrants has further deepened the discussions among citizens and government officials, especially with the emphasis on the budget deficit.

Some community members are worried that spending money on migrants might decrease the resources available to long-time residents. They have made this point in public meetings where they have asked to serve locals first.

Federal Immigration Law Considerations

In discussions about federal laws on immigration, the status of Chicago as a sanctuary city has been a constant feature. Mayor Johnson has restated that the city will continue to house migrants, even when it might bring more costs and lawsuits. This position also reflects a conflict on the allocation of powers of local governments with immigration policies, particularly in times when federal aid may be scarce.

Public Response and Political Implications

These policies by the administration have drawn different reactions from citizens. In reply to the humanitarian efforts of the city, some residents get outraged by the increased taxes and steeper spending. Town halls have turned into outlets for people to vent, with many asking why so much money is spent and what the consequences are on the communities.

Finally, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s governorship has to do with attempts to control public finances while being supportive of social spending.

Chicago’s policies and public discussions have been affected recently, and quite a lot like the challenges of having a deficit budget along with the costs involved in managing a large migrant community.

Allowing the crossing of border illegal immigrants causes a $1 billion deficit in the budget, which Chicago homeowners and real estate investors can cover up with an additional $300 million tax in 2025. Shouldn’t the citizens of Chicago and other cities do something and eliminate incompetent politicians? Besides Mayor Brandon, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is another incompetent politician who needs politician experience running a large city and state.

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

• This discussion was modified 1 week, 4 days ago by  Gustan Cho.

GCA FORUMS HEADLINE NEWS: WEEKEND EDITION For Saturday February 15, 2025: Great Content Authority News, Headline Weekend Edition for Saturday, February 15th, 2025, will cover the mass amount of unaccountable funds discovered by Elon Musk’s Office of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The fraud and misuse of government funds discovered by DOGE is shocking not just to politicians but also to the American people as well as world leaders. Elon Musk’s discovery of the amount of fraud and corruption is a wake-up call on how financially irresponsible the United States is and what kind of wasteful spending is going on. The Trump Administration said that many of the government agencies will be abolished and/or restructured. The Federal Reserve Board and the Internal Revenue Service is under the radar of DOGE and are expected to get audited. Many insiders say Elon Musk and the DOGE Team expect to find mass fraud and corruption in the Federal Reserve Board and the Internal Reserve Board. All types of government spending will be supervised, audited, and scrutinized. President Donald Trump fired all probationary federal workers effective immediately. If Fraud, Corruption, as well as the dollar being backed by Gold and Silver happens, inflation will come to an abrupt end and America will be Great Again. Inflation is out of control due to the Federal Reserve Board printing money and diluting the U.S. monetary system. Viewers and members of GCA FORUMS NEWS are welcome to participate on GCA FORUMS NEWS on both the Daily Edition and the Weekend Edition.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qesLjdYov0

In today’s GCA Forums Headline News for Wednesday, February 12th, 2025, we will cover the latest update on the progress President Donald Trump is making. Elon Musk, the appointed head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is making great progress in the one week he officially started as head of DOGE. Elon Musk discovered hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars that are unaccountable for. Elon Musk questioned whether the missing funds were laundered or misappropriated. Musk also questioned how an elected official can make $174,000 per year and have a net worth of $20 million. Were they savvy investors? Was it a book deal? Was it family inheritance? Or was it fraud? The one’s who scream the loudest are the one’s that have something to hide. President Donald Trump pardoned former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich and is considering offering Blagojevich the job of becoming the United States Ambassador to Serbia. Tom Homan and Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem are aggressively working on hunting down illegal immigrants and starting deportation procedures. Trump is working on tariffs for China, Canada, and Mexico. Attorney General Nominee Pam Bondi has cut off funding to sanctuary cities and states. President Donald Trump is directing Elon Musk to do a full audit of the Federal Reserve Board to determine the amount of money the Feds are siphoning from U.S. taxpayers. Bondi is suing mayors and governors of sanctuary cities and states. There was talk that Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro headed President Donald Trump’s assassination attempt. New York City Mayor Eric Adams had all of his federal charges dismissed under the directive of the Trump Administration. Chicago and 25 states are expected to get a snowstorm, including bitter cold and treacherous driving conditions. Inflation numbers are still high, as are interest rates. Prices of gold and silver per ounce are hitting all-time highs again. Great Content Authority Forums Headline News will update GCA FORUMS NEWS articles as new development get updated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L27N_I9Yg98

The Agenda 21 is the principle that the common average human being should not own anything and become totally dependent on the government. Agenda 21 was developed, created, launched and supported by the New World ORDER. The New World Order Movement consists of the the far left liberal radicals such as Bill Gates, Barack Obama. George Soros. The Rockefeller FAMILY, Black Rock, and many radicals who believe in depopulation and those who believe people should not own anything and be totally dependent on government. More on Agenda 21, and the New ORDER Movement in the coming days, weeks and months.

https://x.com/redpillb0t/status/1877868089259262403?s=01

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

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

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.

I must have called over two dozen state mortgage licensing agencies in the past week and I am getting nothing but the runaround. I also called Mortgage Educators and other NMLS mortgage licensing schools and still cannot get the answer I am looking for. The mortgage industry and regulators are making a huge deal about not being able to get an NMLS mortgage loan originator license if you have bad credit. They are saying if you are late on your payments or have derogatory information on your personal credit profile you are classified as being financially irresponsible and not fit to become a mortgage loan originator. People can go through bad times, divorce, medical, or times of unemployment where you can have bad credit without being financially irresponsible. Now my question is can you get a mortgage loan orignator license with bad credit, collections, and late payments? Thank you in advance.

How to calculate your credit card utilization.

Balance Owed ÷ Credit Limit × 100 = %

2 IMPORTANT DATES (Due Date & Statement Date)

Due Date-The date it MUST be paid to avoid any late fees.

Statement Date-This is the date they will REPORT to the credit bureaus. Why is this date so important?! Whatever balance is reported on this date is what they will report to the credit bureaus. Make sure your balances are LOW (3%-8%) about three days before the statement date. Remember, statements dates can change because they are on a cycle (29 day, 30 day etc. ). Be sure to check your statement for your current statement date

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.

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

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

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

What loan program the borrower can qualify for a 6-unit apartment (Purchase)? What are the documents needed?
728 FICO with experience renting out properties (currently have 4 other rental properties).

Time flies, and everyone wants to limit the wasteful. The time they spend going to the wrong source for research on buying a home and getting approved for a mortgage. Over 80% of our clients at Gustan Cho Associates are borrowers who could not qualify at other mortgage companies due to the lender’s overlays or because the lender did not have the best mortgage loan option

. If Biden dies or gets impeached do we have to worry about this ding bat becing our President?Kamala Harris is being questioned by millions of Americans on her mental health state and her intelligence level. Is this idiot pretending to be dumb and stupid or is Kamala Harris a real idiot. Kamala Harris has zero brains 🧠 and seems this goof 🤪 is pretending to be a creature with a single digit IQ. Is this brainless moron the number 2 in charge of the United States? How humiliating to have this creature to represent the nation and be a power leader. The Imbecile in Chief. She has zero respect and is not a liked person in any way or form.

https://youtu.be/k7TCTQQWIZI?si=-hQw0rw-TbyD7SxJ

How hard is difficult to finance a boat and yacht? What is the maximum debt-to-income ratio you need to finance a boat or yacht? What is the maximum term can I get a yacht amortized for? `0,15, 25, 30 years? What credit score is required to finance a boat or yacht? Can you get a 30 year amortization on financing a %700,000 yacht? Where do I go for financing a boat or million dollar yacht?

One of the greatest benefits for homebuyers in Illinois is property taxes in Illinois are paid in arrears. Home buyers in Illinois get property tax prorations in Illinois because property taxes are paid in arrears. Homebuyers in Illinois can use property tax proration credit towards their down payment on a home purchase. You need to show you have the down payment but you do not need to bring that property tax proration credit at title company to use for your down payment. We will cover property tax proratikon in Illinois in this thread so homebuyers sellers, loan officers, and realtors fully understand.

This topic on non-QM loans after bankruptcy with no waiting period requirements is mainly addressed to Michelle McCue. Michelle, it has been a while since I kept up to date on non-QM guidelines on mortgages after bankruptcy and foreclosure. Do you know the credit score, down payment, credit requirements, and waiting period on non-QM loans after bankruptcy or bankruptcy?

• This discussion was modified 2 years ago by  Gustan Cho. Reason: Forgot to check NOTIFY ME BOX
• This discussion was modified 2 years ago by  Gustan Cho.
• This discussion was modified 2 years ago by  Gustan Cho.

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Here’s a few pics and videos of Chase.

The Tale of Chase and His Half-a-Ball: A Long-Haired German Shepherd Love Story

There are dog lovers, and then there are staunch “my-dogs-are-my-co-pilots, my-shadow, my-ride-or-dies” type of dog lovers. My wife and I? Definitely the latter. And it all began with Chase, our Long-Haired German Shepherd born on 25th January 2023; a majestic and fluffy, fiercely loyal, and ridiculously stubborn dog with one very peculiar obsession: his prized possession, half-a-ball.

The Ball that Never Dies

Chase adored a particular toy above all others: a red ball. But let’s make no mistake—this is not a ball, and once it even ceased to exist. A long time ago, it did, and in fact Chase loved to fetch it—round, smooth and completely undamaged. However, now? Well, now it resembles an object of interest that has been subjected to a brutal archaeological dig. It overflows with bite marks, is disfigured beyond recognition, is in need of surgery, and quite frankly, had physics not intervened, would have ceased to exist by now.

As dutiful dog guardians, we engaged in speculative thinking. Why do we not attempt to acquire a new ball for him? Or, alternatively, how about two dozen brand new red balls that are identical to the first one? Since it was clear to us that the only issue was his lack of options. Makes sense, right?

No, not at all.

When Chase came out to play, he was greeted by several pristine new balls. Instead of running towards them like a sane dog, he sniffed them thoroughly and walked away as if he had just seen the antichrist. He didn’t even bother touching the fresh balls because at the end of the day, all he wanted was his half-ball. His one true love, the ball most people would disassociate with, is a half-chewed, nearly unrecognizable, blended piece of rubber that is coated with slobber. No other ball comes close to it.

Meet Skylar and Floppy: The Sister Duo

At this point, I am sure you have also deduced that Chase is our favorite dog in the family. For reasons that I am sure will be explained later, we can’t be normal people and leave him all by himself, hence, we got him two sisters. Now Chase was born on January 25, 2023, and so were his new sisters, making him a year older than the two. We surely love a good symmetric story.

Floppy most accurately describes the look of confusion, her ears thrown in different directions, give her a quirky, cartonish look style that can be also described as outright unique. Together with Skyler, who serves as the more excitement-driven dog, they have singlehandedly changed Chase’s life for the better, but the worst for Chase’s owners. The sweetest part? The lovely, heart-melting chaos they create while together.

The Three Musketeers (And Their Chauffeur—Me)

These three are a tight-knit group, and it is amusing to note that they would take my job if given the chance. They sit in the front row of the car when we go for rides together, which is a must. It gets pretty crowded because Chase assumes the shotgun role, while Skylar and Floppy scrunch up at the back like two misbehaved toddlers on a family trip.

As I am idling at stoplights, Chase scans the pedestrians and judges every single person’s life decisions while Sklyar and Floppy use the chance to bark at random objects. It is hard to get any gas without an event happening either. Whenever I leave the car unattended, all three dogs treat me like I am abandoning them and press their noses on the window as I step away until I come back.

The Ball Conspiracy Continues

With the arrival of two new sisters, one would assume that Chase would loosen up over the ball. Chase doesn’t share, nor does he seem inclined to. Everyone is baffled along with Skylar and Floppy because they are unaware of his bizarre dedication to the mangled ball. Those two other dogs would much rather chase the new red balls, which frustrates Chase to no end as he sits and perpetually observes the younger dogs, shaking his head in disbelief.

Now and then, Floppy makes an attempt to capture Chase’s half-ball to try understanding the excitement surrounding it, which is always an awful decision. Chase always gets it back with all the fervor of a person who is safeguarding the final piece of pizza at a party.

Life with The Trio

Our lives now center around three enormous, cute, spoiled, and incredibly funny dogs. Some bone of contention includes but is not limited to:

✅ Chase still not accepting the fact that his ball is not a ball anymore.

✅ Skylar being the main culprit of mischief.

✅ Floppy attempting to act like a baffled potato.

✅ All of them fighting for a ride in the car as if the car belongs to them.

We would not want it any other way.

So, if you ever spot a car zooming past with three extravagant Long Haired German Shepherds- one inconspicuously gripping a half-ball in his mouth while the other two stare in perplexment- you now have an idea as to who we are.

And if by chance you have a chewed up, barely recognizable red ball that is too damaged for any normal person to use, then to you Chase may just consider you his best pal.

P.S. Your guess is as good as mine on how we can convince Chase to replace the beloved trinket he keeps with a brand new, whole red ball. It’s safe to assume that whatever he has will remain. 🐾

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