Today’s News Synopsis:

According to the latest Home Purchase Sentiment Index from Fannie Mae, housing sentiment saw a decrease for the fifth month in a row, dropping 0.5 points to 80.7.  The latest Mortgage Monitor report released today by Black Knight Financial Services showed the delinquency rate is not decreasing but returning to normal levels.  One real estate market expected to see a comeback this year is Dubai.

In The News:

Bloomberg – “Here’s Where Goldman Sachs Is Telling Clients to Invest in Equities” (1-9-17)

“Goldman Sachs Group Inc. has identified three big items that will shape the equity landscape this year — and they all hinge on the impact of President-elect Donald Trump’s policies.”

Fannie Mae – “Housing Sentiment Dampened by Rising Rates, Despite Improved Economic Confidence Post-Election” (1-9-17)

“The Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index® (HPSI) decreased in December for the fifth consecutive month, dipping 0.5 points to 80.7. The six components that comprise the HPSI showed mixed results in December.”

CNBC – “Obama administration lowers government mortgage costs, claims Trump won’t reverse” (1-9-17)

“Future borrowers are about to get a break on their monthly mortgage payments — a parting gift to the housing market from the Obama administration, which may or may not be returned by the Trump administration.”

Mansion Global – “Dubai’s Real Estate Markets Poised to Rebound in 2017” (1-9-17)

“Dubai’s residential market is poised to rebound in 2017 from its cyclical downturn since mid-2014, as oil prices stabilize and real estate projects gain steam in the lead up to the Expo 2020, according to a new report.”

NAHB – “NAHB Unveils Two Show Homes at International Builders’ Show 2017” (1-9-17)

“The National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Leading Suppliers Council, in collaboration with Professional Builder magazine, today unveiled the two official show homes of the International Builders’ Show (IBS): The New American Home® 2017 and The New American Remodeled Home® 2017.”

Bloomberg – “Hundreds Of Colleges Saddling Students With Unaffordable Debt, Feds Say” (1-9-17)

“About one in four career-training programs at U.S. colleges are at risk of losing federal funding, the lifeblood for most schools, the Department of Education said Monday. In a news statement, the department disclosed for the first time the number of recent graduates saddled with potentially unmanageable debt.”

DS News – “Decline?  The Delinquency Rate is ‘Simply Normalizing'” (1-9-17)

“The percentage of residential mortgage loans 30 days or more delinquent has been on a steady decline for a few years, but the rate of decline is beginning to slow, according to Black Knight Financial Services’ November 2016 Mortgage Monitor released Monday.”

Freddie Mac – “Freddie Mac Transfers Risk on $215 Billion of Single-Family Mortgages in 2016” (1-9-17)

“Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) transferred $8.4 billion in potential credit losses on nearly $215 billion of single-family mortgages to private market investors across its four single-family credit risk offerings in 2016.”