GCA Forums Headline News Weekend Edition Report: May 19–24, 2025

Greetings and welcome to the GCA Forums Headline News Weekend Edition Report for May 19–24, 2025. This report aims to provide timely insights and analysis tailored for homebuyers, investors, real estate professionals, businesses, and strategists. This Edition has all the important news on mortgage rate cuts, housing market movements, other critical economic indicators, government actions, real estate investment policies, and financial news in the business world. Use our cutting-edge analysis and confidently navigate today’s complex landscape.

Mortgage Market Updates & Available Interest Rates

Mortgage rates have surged again. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.86% as of May 22, 2025. This marks an increase of 0.05 percentage points from the previous week. Also, as reported by Freddie Mac and the mortgage market update published on May 22, by the 21st, rates are hitting 6.95% due to growing fears of national debt alongside bond market concerns. Most experts are still cautiously optimistic, with four of the five major housing authorities indicating a modest decline in rates for Q2 2025 and possible dips below the 6.5% mark by the year-end.

Important Key Developments

Policy Impacts:

The Federal Reserve’s decision to maintain its stance on holding core rates suggests uncertainty surrounding President Trump’s proposed tariffs (mass deportation combined with tax cuts), which could potentially inflate and keep core rates sticky high.

Lender Trends:

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have tightened the DTI ratio requirements, affecting more borrowers. Investors seeking flexible options continue to seek DSCR and non-QM loans.

Rate Lock Strategies:

At or near 7%, locking a rate for 45 days ensures no unforeseen spikes within that period.

Why It Matters:

Homebuyers and borrowers can save by planning strategically, as spending varies by 1.5% between lenders, depending on their readiness to borrow and credit score. Mortgage experts can use these changes to help clients select more favorable loan products, such as 5/1 ARMs for short-term owners.

Market Indicators & Housing News

Affordability is recovering with some improvement; however, the high prices and constrained stock continue to challenge buyers within the housing market. As reported by the National Association of Realtors, in March 2025, the national median home price hit $403,700, reflecting a 2.7% increase year over year.

Key Trends:

Persistently high rates make it very difficult for most first-time buyers. Still, resilience remains through FHA loan applications with lower credit standards.

Slowly increasing housing inventory presents some hope for buyers, but tight supply sustains intense competition in hot markets.

Regional Analysis:

Areas such as Austin, TX, experienced an increase in purchase applications (+11% week over week). However, coastal cities still prove difficult for buyers.

Rental Market:

The demand for multifamily home rentals is expected to decrease by 4% by 2025, but the long-term outlook remains strong because of cost-saving multifamily units.

Focus Areas:

Looking into price changes and shifts in inventory can offer good insights to homebuyers and investors about opportunistic windows. Sellers can take advantage of hot markets, and buyers are encouraged to look where there is growing inventory.

Inflation & Federal Reserve Reports

Federal officials’ current policies and the inflation rate continue to impact the housing and mortgage sectors. Constraining inflation is forecasted at 2.4% yearly, with housing costs significantly impacting this figure. No rate cuts were made in May, which points to the Fed’s concern for inflation driven by tariffs and a slow economy.

Condensed Notes of Greater Importance

CPI and PCE:

Increased spending on gas, available homes, and housing prices are projected to show three straight months of inflation growth, demonstrating ongoing price growth in these categories.

Economists’ Fed Allies Forecast:

Economists project that cuts to the housing rate cap could be implemented in mid-2025, assuming inflation eases or employment declines.

Impact of Affordability:

Median family income is projected to be $97,800 in 2024, but purchasing power continues to decline due to inflation. This directly impacts affordability when purchasing a home.

Why This Matters:

Investors and borrowers should closely examine inflation data to predict rate changes. A slowdown in economic activity may decrease interest rates, which could support homebuyer affordability.

Housing Affordability, Lending Trends, Job Market, and Other Important Economic Reports

Economic data released this week present a mixed outlook concerning the job market, directly impacting lending, home affordability, and the economy.

Key Highlights

Employment Data:

While the unemployment number remains unchanged, emerging market weakness bolsters homebuyer skepticism.

Wage vs. Home Prices:

The rate of wage increase is far slower than the increase in home prices, especially for the middle class; this severely compromises affordability.

Risks of GDP Growth Recession:

Economists are worried about potential recession risks as GDP growth declines. However, strong consumer spending provides a glimmer of hope.

Volatile Stocks:

Uncertain policies surrounding trade continue to negatively affect investors, making stock and bond yields much more unstable.

Why this matters:

Economic factors are central in mortgage application approval and other investment plans. Entrepreneurs and those looking to buy a house must pace their strategies smartly while waiting for the right economy and steady job availability.

Government Regulation Policy Changes About Housing

Continued policy changes present both challenges and opportunities in lending and housing markets.

Important News

Loan Boundaries:

FHA and conforming loans will now be pegged to $806,500 for high-cost areas in 2025, benefiting buyers.

Tax Incentives:

Plans to provide homebuyers tax credits are gaining momentum, which may increase demand.

Rent Control and Fair Housing:

New legislation regarding tenant protections with fair housing laws attempts to resolve affordability and discrimination impacts on landlords and investors.

Foreclosure Mitigation:

Existing supported initiatives are still helping homeowners default on government-issued loans, aiding in stabilizing the market.

Why It Matters:

Real estate agents and borrowers must know policy changes to avoid missing out on loan approvals and investments. Tax credits and foreclosure relief programs are extremely useful for first-time buyers.

Tips For Real Estate Investing

Real estate remains one of the top asset classes for builders to build wealth, as new buyers are looking for places to invest in a fast-moving market.

Best Techniques

Investable Markets:

Several cities, such as Austin and Phoenix, are seeing an increase in rentals and population, which is creating great yields for rental units.

DSCR Loans:

Investors are increasingly favoring DSCR loans. Angel Oak Mortgage REIT recently reported a weighted average coupon of 7.67% on new loans, confirming this trend.

Short-Term Rentals:

Airbnb markets in tourism regions are highly valued in the short term but need consistent monitoring due to regulatory changes.

Tax Strategies:

Depreciation strategies and 1031 exchanges can maximize returns for real estate investors, especially in multifamily structures.

REIT Opportunities:

While AGNC Investment’s 16% yield is attractive and qualifies them as a leading REIT, exposure should still be limited to 2-3% of portfolios for passive income purposes.

Why It Matters:

Long-term investors can capitalize on these suggestions to scout high-return markets and loan products while improving tax strategies.

Business & Financial News in Focus

For professionals and investors, the intersection of real estate with business and financial news provides essential information.

Key Stories:

Marketplace:

Mortgage rates increased as bond yields surged amid mounting concerns regarding the U.S. credit downgrade. This also marks a highly volatile week for the stock market.

Banking Sector:

Angel Oak Mortgage REIT announced a robust Q1 2025 with a year-over-year 18% growth in net interest income, showcasing strength in non-QM lending.

Crypto and Real Estate:

The use of digital assets to purchase real estate is rising, creating innovative opportunities for more technologically inclined investors.

Small Business Loans:

Stricter lending standards hurt small business lending, adversely impacting real estate developers and investors.

Why It Matters:

These trends allow for better real estate decisions, aiding investors and entrepreneurs to adapt their plans to shifting market dynamics.

The GCA Forums Headline News Weekend Edition Report for May 19–24, 2025, examines the critical factors influencing the housing and finance industries. We examine everything from increasing mortgage rates to shifting government policies and investment options. With GCA’s industry-leading analysis, homebuyers, investors, and professionals are well-prepared to tackle today’s challenges. Don’t miss out on the daily updates, and join the GCA Forums family to unlock exclusive content and network with professionals.

Check out the personalized recommendations and analysis available at the GCA Forums News site and register today!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNgdtgDd78Q

GCA Forums News: National Headline Overview – May 23, 2025

Trump’s Pharmaceutical Price Cuts

Economic policies under the Trump administration, especially concerning tariffs, were noted to raise prices within certain sectors, including pharmaceuticals. For example, Goldman Sachs predicted a 7.8% laser-sharp increase in pharmaceutical and medical goods pricing due to tariffs by December 2025. Without concrete evidence of price reductions being put into action, such initiatives may be misaligned with current or future economic impacts.

Dow Jones and Market Performance

As of May 23, 2025, the DJIA has experienced “significant Volatility” but no consistent “skyrocketing” growth. Recent reports suggest:

Market Volatility:

On May 21, 2025, the DJIA dropped by 1.91% because of US debt and deficit concerns. The S&P 500 declined by 1.61%, and the Nasdaq by 1.41%.

Tariff Impacts:

The stock market continues to fluctuate with the implementation of Trump’s tariffs, including a 50% tariff on the EU beginning June 1, 2025. Stocks such as Apple are losing value alongside the market in Apple’s case due to broader economic concerns.

Recent Gains:

At the beginning of May, the DJIA had a nine-day winning streak and climbed over 1% on May 2, 2025, after strong job numbers (177,000 non-farm jobs were added in April) and tariff relief for certain automakers.

Outlook:

Paul Tudor Jones, a billionaire investor, theorized that stock prices would bottom out, even if China tariffs were reduced to 50%. Jones cites macroeconomic headwinds and the Federal Reserve’s reluctance to implement rate cuts. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent seems to be trying to calm the markets by assuring “several” large trade deals will be done soon, which the Secretary says will restore faith in the market.

Other markets also feel the restlessness: bonds, commodities, etc. On May 21, the Treasury posted new yields at their highest, spiking to 5,085% on 30-year bonds and 4,607% on 10-year bonds, in addition to inflation worries. Gold dropped below 3300 dollars after peaking at 3500.

Housing and Mortgage Journal

Mortgage Rates

On May 21, 2025, the 30-year mortgage rate stood at 6.95%, nearing 7%. This is despite inflation rates cooling to 2.3% in April. The increase is due to market disruption caused by Trump’s tariff policies and the bond market. Housing economists estimate that the rate will continue to be between 6.5% and 7% for 2025 as the Federal Reserve is predicted to have fewer rate cuts.

Industry of the mortgage and real estate markets

Market Trends:

The busiest spring housing season has hit one of the lowest demand levels in years, thanks to the home price challenges. Due to limited housing supply, home prices remain resilient, with the 20-city index rising 4.5% year over year in February 2025. While demand dwindles, supply struggles to keep up with the resilience.

Affordability Issues:

As of March 2025, the average home price is $403,700, compared to the median family income of $97800, which puts added strain on market affordability.

Impact of Tariff:

Trump’s tariffs impact mortgage rate acceleration, which leads to sell-offs in the bond market and lowers buyers’ confidence during the spring season.

Forecast:

Trade policy in the United States remains unpredictable, so experts such as Samir Dedhia from One Real Mortgage see rate prediction as impossible, even with some expecting a steady increase.ICE, Sanctuary Cities, and States

The provided sources do not directly cite any actions taken by ICE or sanctuary cities and states as of May 23, 2025. Even so, it is known that the Trump administration makes immigration enforcement a priority, which tends to draw considerable controversy. Sanctuary jurisdictions that limit cooperation with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency must defend themselves against stricter scrutiny.

Auto Industry and Layoffs

Auto Industry:

Trump’s tariff policies are even impacting the auto industry. An executive order on April 29, 2025, eased some of the strain when an additional tariff on foreign-made cars was not implemented. However, Goldman Sachs estimates that the price of used cars will increase by 8.3 percent by December 2025 because of the changes in demand due to tariffs.

Layoffs:

Layoffs are a major issue within all industries, especially the automotive industry. United Parcel Service (UPS) has stated that it will eliminate 20,000 positions by June 2025 due to reduced order volumes from clients such as Amazon, due to an influx of tariffs, ultimately cutting $3.5 billion. General Motors is slimming down what is left of an autonomous vehicle company by over 1,000 jobs because it is folding the remaining assets into its operations.

Overview of Broader Layoff Trends

Across Multi-Sectors

• A glance at tech shows jobs remaining were slashed at Stripe and Johns Hopkins University due to funding cuts.
• Stripe cut at least 300 jobs, while Johns Hopkins will lay off 2000 employees.
• Tech Crunch reported that under its restructuring plan, “Future Now,” one company will cut 2000 jobs.
• It appears Grindr was one of the first firms to remove work-from-home positions.
• This is because, in 2023, they lost almost 50% of their employees.
• This restriction resulted in what can be termed stealth resignations.
• Savings are driving layoffs, as in the case of Ally Bank and BlackRock, where the reasoning for their respective 500 layoffs and hiring freeze is.

Eviction Rates

• The estimate is controversial, as there is not a single credible source reporting the figure.
• In contrast, there is mention of eviction risk in Arizona, where during the historically high heat of July 2023, 7,000 renters were evicted in Maricopa County.
• The remainder of this population might face heightened eviction risks due to cuts in federal LIHEAP funds and rising utility costs for those who earn under $400 a month.
• Increased deflationary relative prices, import tariffs, and utility bills may fuel the high eviction rates.

Destruction Amidst the Use of COVID-19 Vaccines

There is no credible evidence to suggest that the COVID-19 vaccine was a means for mass Destruction or intended to cause the loss of lives on a large scale. These claims are often made on the internet, but no scientific evidence is available to support them. We now know that the vaccinations were properly administered and that dire circumstances during the pandemic were significantly reduced. For more accurate information, visit the CDC’s website or read their peer-reviewed studies.

Andrew Cuomo Interest

The provided documents do not provide new information on Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s suspicion regarding the deaths caused by the coronavirus as of May 23, 2025. While there has been historical scrutiny surrounding the nursing home deaths during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, those recent developments are not covered here. Their live X feeds and news are available on major outlets such as the New York Times.

Letitia James, James Comey, and others: Sean Diddy Combs

Letitia James, Comey, and the rest have not made new statements as of May 23, 2025. I don’t know if anything is available in the sources. These persons must be presumed innocent until proven guilty, as they all have legal allegations or wrongdoing against them. Sean Combs

James Comey:

This report shows no evidence that former FBI Director James Comey was arrested. The claim of “left-wing criminals” mentioned does not seem justified here. It could be drawn from strongly biased views on X.

Letitia James:

No other updates are offered within the paragraph relating to New York Attorney General Letitia James within the scope of active criminal allegations or cases.

Others:

While the phrase “left-wing criminals ” is frequently used, it remains undefined and devoid of supporting evidence. To curb disinformation, all such statements need to be fact-checked.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker

The referenced materials suggest that the Justice Department had not confirmed the arrest of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson or Illinois Governor JB Pritzker as of May 23, 2025. These claims appear to stem from unreliable social media accounts and fantasies.

As of May 23, 2025, the national news was centered around an economic crisis caused by elective tariffs placed by President Trump, affecting the markets, mortgage rates, and the automotive and tech industries. The housing crisis persists as the mortgage rate is close to 7%, and some regions have eviction rates. Allegations on the price cuts of pharmaceuticals, misuse of the COVID-19 vaccine, or even claims on celebrity arrests lacking substantial evidence should always be double-checked with reliable sources.

Recent posts and articles from Great Content Authority Forums demonstrate the increasing apprehension concerning trucker job losses in 2025 amid supply chain interruptions and economic downturns. Reported layoffs within April 2025 surpassed the 1,800 mark in Southeast US freight industries, with an additional 3,500 announced after April 30th. This equates to 30,000 freight job cuts since January. In a more aggressive forecast, Apollo Global Management predicts mass layoffs due to a looming recession prompted by tariffs that would curb supply chains and freight demand. Other GCA Forums posts have noted a staggering 35% decline in cargo volume at the Port of LA, leading to job losses among truck and dock workers. Additionally, trucking insiders on GCA Forums predict we are only weeks away from a “total trucking collapse” due to plummeting rates and redundant capacity, with tender rejections at a record low of 5.12% for the year.

These layoffs reflect minimized employment opportunities alongside shrinking consumer demand and inventory shortages. However, the data remains inconclusive in the absence of company reports or quantifiable numbers concerning the layoffs within the trucking industry. For companies like TopChinaFreight, these interruptions highlight the need for effective logistics partners to deal with tariff intricacies and streamline supply chains. I can find specific information on the trucking layoffs or examine what logistics service providers can do to overcome these problems. Just tell me!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLiII5omAl8

My daughter and her husband live in Texas. Do your company offer loans on manufactured or modular homes using a VA Loan?

What is 100% Unsecured Business Loans For Small Business Owners? How does unsecured business loans work? What are the eligibility requirements and guidelines on unsecured business funding? How hard is it to get an unsecured business loan? What is the lending process on unsecured business loans? What is the step by step process on unsecured business funding? What are the types of small businesses that can benefit from small business unsecured funding?

What are lender overlays by mortgage companies. What is the differences between a conventional loan and government-backed mortgage loans. What does it mean if a mortgage loan is backed by the government. Are conventional loans backed by the government? What are common lender overlays on FHA, VA, USDA, and Conventional loans.

There are many conflicting questions about the type of people that become cops and police impersonators. I heard kids who were picked on in high school become cops. Cop impersonators are those who could not become POST certified to become cops or could not pass the background investigation

Adam Schiff is grilling Special Counsel Robert Hur on why he released embarrassing information about his investigation of Joe Biden and his deteriorating mental state. So what is Representative Adam Schiff saying? To hide it from the public?

https://youtu.be/TcQIjK2BYso?si=3NnxmkoocwrA70kt

Sylvester Stallone makes it official. Sylvester Stallone and his family are fleeing the state of California and will set their home in Florida. Never in history so many Californians are fleeing California than ever before. Skyrocketing crime rates, Clownshow politics, high taxes, ridiculous home prices, and hemorrhaging economy. California is losing so many residents they are losing congressional seats due to losing population. With an incompetent governor and unaffordable Housing, people are fleeing to Texas and Florida as well as dozens of other blue states.

https://youtu.be/Ilk8vBJXAQE?si=ir5Pg8md28ycCi7E

Here is Tucker Carlson interviews Chris Cuomo part I

https://youtu.be/fogNGLmY4tg?si=mEIrfnmUhJ1G0OCA

Spoke with Gustan and he mentioned his friend is a professional German Shepherd training professional. What are Dutch Shepherd dogs.

Here’s the link to Mark Chen trained Dutch Shepherd dog.

• This discussion was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by  Gustan Cho.