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[ad_1] The Association for Commonwealth University (ACU) has opened its application for ‘Higher Education and SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) Challenge Grant 2022’ for professionals and academic staff and ‘Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarship’ (QECS) for students. The theme for QECL is ‘international collaboration’ and for Higher Education and SDG Challenge Grant is teaching-learning, research, estates and stewardship, engagement and impact, and partnership.  The QECS offers two years masters degree programmes in low-middle income commonwealth countries. The QECS scholarship aims to enhance international collaborations in higher education among the commonwealth countries. Citizens only from commonwealth countries with an undergraduate degree are eligible to apply for the QECS. Students can apply on or before May 24, 2022, 9.30 PM. The Higher Education and SDG Challenge Grant 2022 covers four grants of  £2,500. The grant is available for professionals and academic staff. Universities who have previously received the grant are not eligible to apply further. Applications will be assessed on the project goals and feasibility, impacts and outputs, experience and skill of the project lead, collaborations and alignment with the theme of the grant. The last date to apply for the grant is May 3, 2022, at 3:30 PM.  As per the guideline, applicants can include ideas on virtual exchange and collaborations, teaching or professional practice collaboration, sharing and co-development of learning materials, tools, training and approaches to support contingency and continuity of operations planning at Higher Education Institution’s (HEI’s), virtual fellowships, comparative analyses, research management and uptake capacity building, integrating sustainable development into operations, sharing SDG learning content and materials, developing SDG-focused research strategies, and co-creating research for impact, community engagement, and partnerships for the goals.  Read Also: upGrad KnowledgeHut launches bootcamp on Data Science [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] Text sign showing hand written words FHA Home loan The spectacular and historic spike in interest rates will hurt most homebuyers, but one group is especially vulnerable: FHA borrowers. Over 80% percent of FHA purchasers are first-time homebuyers, and borrowers of color obtained over 40% of FHA loans last year, according to HUD. The FHA also insured more than twice as many loans to Black and Hispanic borrowers last year as the rest of the mortgage market combined. As interest rates rise, so do the monthly mortgage payments, which could be problematic for low-to-moderate income borrowers, said Alex Naumovych, loan officer at Draper & Kramer Mortgage. “Interest rates typically impact FHA borrowers more directly because these borrowers likely have a maximum debt-to-income ratio,” said Naumovych. A survey published by Freddie Mac on Thursday found that the average purchase mortgage rate reached 4.67%, jumping 25 basis points from the prior week. That was the highest reading since December 2018, the report said. And FHA borrowers on average locked rates at 4.9% on Friday, according to Black Knight’s Optimal Blue OBMMI. A family that can afford a $2,000 per month mortgage could have borrowed $424,000 at the beginning of March, when rates were about 100 basis points lower, but only about $375,000 at a 4.9% rate.  As interest rates have ballooned over the past couple of months, origination volume of FHA loans dipped, said Randy Howell, president at Mortgage Power, Inc. “Over the last 90 days there has been a dramatic shift in FHA and VA originations,” said Howell. “We saw FHA originations drop off practically by 90%.” Multiple LOs told HousingWire that they’ve had to cut pre-approvals for FHA borrowers by about 15% in response to the rise in interest rates. Mark Westcott, a loan officer at CrossCountry Mortgage, said that borrowers who were pre-qualified at 3.5% a few months prior will have to deal with the reality that they will no longer be able to qualify for the same rate. “The only guy who isn’t affected by interest rate growth right now is someone who is buying a million-dollar house, putting down 25% to 30%,” Westcott said. With the housing market still red-hot and inventory at a crisis level, borrowers with cash and conventional almost always win out with sellers. Meanwhile, borrowers with FHA and VA loans often fall to the bottom of the application stack because there is a belief that these loans are more complicated, more onerous for sellers, and less likely to close. One way to cushion the hurt caused by the rise in interest rates is for the FHA to lower its mortgage insurance premiums, said Brian Chappelle, partner at Potomac Partners, a consulting firm with a focus on the FHA. Interest rate growth will “affect borrowers at the margin and therefore have a negative impact on FHA business,” he said. “It underscores the importance of reducing the annual premium (.85%) back to the pre-crisis level of .5%,” said Chappelle. “That will minimize the effect of the interest rate spike.” Howell echoed similar sentiments, noting that the FHA has been building its Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund for years to historic levels and can easily afford to lower the premiums. “For the FHA borrower, I think we’re harming them quite considerably [with the interest rates rising],” Howell said. “To help the problem, HUD can reduce the FHA mortgage insurance premiums, but they’re not doing so, instead they’re saying that they need to build up that cash reserve.” Earlier last year, the Department of Housing and Urban Development‘s Sec. Marcia Fudge said that there are no plans to lower mortgage insurance premiums in the near future. HUD officials explained in their annual report to Congress that the reason for this had to do with an elevated number of delinquent borrowers in the FHA portfolio and that foreclosures could cause home prices to drop. As of December 2021, 7.28% of FHA loans were seriously delinquent, down from a seasonally adjusted high of 12.04% in March 2021, according to FHA’s latest report. “The interest rates have risen so dramatically, that what we’re doing is we’re choking out buyers that would favor FHA,” added Howell. “They already were challenged and needed that program, because of lack of downpayment and perhaps credit scores that needed that extra assistance and with the interest rates rising, the debt ratios are now pushing them even farther out of the housing market.” The post FHA borrowers are getting hammered by rising rates appeared first on HousingWire. [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] Biden urges Putin war crimes trial after Bucha killings [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] Share Market News Today | Sensex, Nifty, Share Prices LIVE: Indian equity markets are likely to open gap-up amid strong global cues. Ahead of today’s trading session, SGX Nifty is in the green indicating that benchmark indices BSE Sensex, NSE Nifty are headed for a positive start. The Nifty futures were trading around 18,186 level on the Singaporean Exchange. Markets in Asia rose in early morning trade as investors look ahead to the Reserve Bank of Australia’s latest rate decision. Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 0.4%, while South Korea’s Kospi edged 0.12% higher. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan traded 0.11% higher. Markets in Hong Kong and mainland China are closed for a holiday. Overnight on Wall Street, the S&P 500 climbed 0.81%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.3%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite outperformed, surging 1.9%. The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Delhi High Court judge who is hearing a bunch of petitions and counterpetitions filed by Amazon and the Future Group against each other, to also hear the US ecommerce firm’s latest plea to stop Future Retail Ltd (FRL) from alienating its stores to Reliance Industries. “The important thing is that this interim application has to be considered,” a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice NV Ramana said. RIL, Future Group shares will remain in focus. Meanwhile, HDFC, India’s largest mortgage financier, will merge into HDFC Bank. It’s a two-step merger that could take 12-14 months and several regulatory approvals to close. HDFC, HDFC Bank shares jumped over 14% on Monday post merger news. Traders mounted bullish bets on HDFC Bank futures on hopes that the merger could lead to further upsides in the stock. [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] How do you celebrate helping 50,000 community heroes buy or sell a home? Well, according to Ruth Johnson, CEO of Homes for Heroes, you honor the massive accomplishment by giving even more. As one of the largest networks in the real estate and mortgage industry, Homes for Heroes was built to give back to firefighters, EMS, law enforcement, military, healthcare professionals and teachers and provide an easier route for them to buy or sell a home. Founded shortly after 9/11, Homes of Heroes reached a milestone in late 2021, helping its 50,000th hero, an officer with the Knoxville Police Department who, along with his family, purchased a 3-bedroom, 3 – bathroom home, located in Knoxville, Tennessee. “I am grateful to this hero for choosing a home in Knoxville, and I am thankful that with the help of Homes for Heroes, he was able to purchase a home and raise his family in the community where he works,” said Nikki Moore, the officer’s real estate specialist and a former law enforcement officer herself. Public servants that are responsible for law enforcement should be able to live in the communities that they serve and protect,” she added. In honor of serving more than 50,000 heroes, Homes for Heroes announced it was doubling the traditional give-back and donated funds to support a national law enforcement foundation, providing the Tennessee Fraternal Order of Police chapter with a $3,000 donation on National First Responders Day to honor the service of the police and members of law enforcement. According to the foundation’s website, they have helped heroes save more than $93 million on their real estate transactions, sold more than $13 billion in real estate to heroes, actively partnered with more than 4,200 like-minded real estate and mortgage professionals who’ve joined in the mission and donated more than $1 million to heroes in need through the Homes for Heroes Foundation. To get involved with the foundation, Johnson explained that real estate agents and mortgage lenders can go to the Homes for Heroes website and fill out a form to schedule an appointment with one of their account executives. If they choose to become an active affiliate member of Homes for Heroes, Johnson said that they go through a 30-day onboarding journey where they are given the resources such as coaching, training and access to everything that they might need. “We like to attract people that resonate with wanting to give back and serve heroes, so that’s a big play for us because it weeds out the people who are just looking at lead generation or making it all about the dollar amount. The good news is that our message will really resonate with those who connect with our core mission and our cause,” Johnson said. “It’s important to us that we have a very controlled onboarding so all Heroes have the best possible experience,” she added. This was originally featured in the March Issue of HousingWire Magazine. To read the full issue, click here. The post Homes for Heroes’ mission to inspire the housing industry appeared first on HousingWire. [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] Telecom operators may be able to start 5G services from August as per the government’s plan as auction and allocation of spectrum would happen on time but lack of fiberised base tower stations (BTSs) may hamper faster scaling up of the services.   According to the department of telecommunications (DoT), just around 34% of mobile towers are connected with fiber. There are around 2.3 million BTSs in the country, of which only 790,000 are connected with fiber.   Fiberisation of mobile networks is essential for providing 5G services as well as to cater to the digital connectivity needs of smart city administration like CCTVs, sensors and other public address systems. Since, the data load on 5G networks will be much higher as compared to 3G and 4G, a fiber backhaul is necessary for seamless connectivity. Although wireless backhaul through spectrum in E-band, etc., can be utilised but it may have capacity issues given the quantum of data. For places with high usage, telecom operators will have to deploy fiber for backhaul to offer seamless 5G services. The telecom industry has been highlighting the problems around laying of fiber to DoT. There have been issues around getting right of way (RoW) permissions as well as charging of exorbitant rates by various local bodies of cities. Since digging to lay fiber is cumbersome, the idea of deploying overhead fiber cable on street furniture has been discussed. In fact, pilot projects have already been initiated at Delhi airport, Kandla port in Gujarat, Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation and Bhopal Smart City where street furniture like traffic signals, light poles, billboards, etc., will be utilised for deployment of telecom infrastructure. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has also come out with a consultation paper on using street furniture for small cell and aerial fiber deployment. The purpose of the pilots is to ascertain how street furniture can be used to fasten the roll-out of telecom networks, specially 5G. The findings from the pilot will enable formulation of regulatory and policy framework in this regard. The telecom industry has been demanding use of electricity poles for deploying small cells, which will be a key driver for effective 5G deployments. Small cells can handle high data rates and can be deployed inside the buildings, too. But there are certain challenges in the deployment like access to right of way, procedural simplification, provision of high capacity backhauls and availability of stable power that needs to be addressed. Further, challenges of laying aerial optical fiber, which serves as the backbone for small cell towers, have been highlighted by the industry which has demanded sharing of existing infrastructure like electricity poles, street lights etc. [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] As we usher in a new era of galvanized homebuyers who are well-researched before making a move, personalizing the shopping experience is imperative to breakthrough. Educate your outreach by keying into shopping behavior and you can empower your mortgage marketing in the new year. Market outlook Although the rate of home price growth is slowing, appreciation remains robust. Supply shortages continue to put upward pressure on prices while rising 30-year rates continue to put downward pressure on refinance volumes. The refinance boom of 2021 has given way to the purchase market of 2022. The 30-year fixed-rate average clocked its 2021 high just before Thanksgiving, and the first few weeks of the new year registered the highest average rate since the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to consumer rate watchers. Though mortgage rates have gone up slightly, they still hover at bargain lows for consumers who are considering homebuying. Besides, we all know that buying a home is subjective, with personal finances and life events often weighing in more heavily than market conditions. A new generation of buyers Not only is the market pendulum swinging from refinance to purchase, but we are also seeing a marked shift in who is buying. According to CoreLogic, millennials accounted for 51% of home-purchase mortgage applications in 2021. In fact, millennials have made up the largest share of home purchase mortgage applications since 2016. There is also an emerging influx of high-net-worth younger consumers buying high-end homes. Millennials, the 72 million Americans now ages 26 to 41 years old, are the most educated generation in history, have higher earnings than other generations, and are set to inherit more than any prior generation, according to Brookings Institute research. For lenders looking to win this next generation of customers, it’s more important than ever to understand the market and services this clientele needs. This younger generation of digital natives is entering one of the more expensive times of their lives with new higher-value homes and expanding families. With the trend of younger Americans purchasing expensive homes set to continue, there is an untapped opportunity to serve this demographic as they make big life purchases and create valuable long-term customers. At the other end of the spectrum, multigenerational and mixed family households have become more common, as Americans are increasingly “doubling up” to reduce housing costs. This trend is exacerbated perhaps by the aging of America and the growing desire to age in place. Regardless of the motivations behind the multigenerational trend, the traditional “nuclear family” is no longer the dominant household structure. And, sadly, the nation’s housing supply hasn’t kept up with demand. Economic indicators tell us we may be able to expect more purchase activity. Tappable equity, the amount available to homeowners while retaining at least 20% equity in their homes, rose by 32% last year, surging to an all-time high of $9.4 trillion as cash-out refinance borrowers pulled the largest quarterly volume of equity in 14 years, according to Black Knight’s October 2021 Mortgage Monitor. With the tsunami of refinance activity calming, it is worth noting that substantial equity also empowers new home purchases. Using data to inform your marketing Consumer shopping behavior has permanently changed, consumer expectations have changed, and our industry needs to adapt to those changes to stay competitive. Harvard Business Review conducted an oft quoted Lead Response Management Study a decade ago and follow-up studies by other organizations have since confirmed a whopping 78% of customers buy from the first company to connect with them, responding to their query. Are you familiar with the cocktail party analogy? You may have a chance at earning someone’s attention if they step in mid-conversation if the topic happens to be of interest to them. But your chances of earning their attention are much better if you talk directly to them about something they care about. This translates to the experiences consumers are having online with your brand. Behavioral data that informs lenders when their consumers are visiting mortgage-related websites can help “fill in the blanks” of information about clients and prospects to help you better understand their needs. Meet qualified leads and current customers where they are. Today’s homebuyers are in-market for what you are offering, and they’re signaling (through comparison shopping and engagement) that now is the time to give them the information they need. Marketers that embrace external data like intent-based behavior, can meet consumers where they are to create well-tailored and well-timed online experiences that meet consumer’s high expectations and drive positive outcomes for the business. Keeping preferences and permissions in mind, mortgage marketers can shift from only knowing and using static, personal information to responding to actions and signals like page views, form submissions, sign-ups, etc. Lenders can improve on recapture rates by using consumer predictive data to determine when a borrower is likely to be mortgage shopping, and marketing to them with the right content, at the right time. This behavioral data can inform lenders when their consumers are visiting mortgage-related websites, giving them the ability to better time their engagements, increase customer retention and capitalize on new acquisition opportunities. Direct mail response rates, for example, are typically two to three times higher for consumers flagged as in-market versus those who are not. And a recent Forrester study suggests companies utilizing consumer insight tools increase customer engagement and consistently close new business, resulting in as much as a 191% ROI over three years. Our job as mortgage professionals is to help consumers when and how they need us. This is especially important in a seemingly perpetual pandemic market where behaviors of both consumers and those in the housing industry are changing. Partnering with fintech companies that provide behavioral data can add value by informing lenders when their consumers are visiting mortgage-related websites, and lenders can see which of their consumers are in-market, approximately 100 days prior to a credit trigger or an MLS trigger and up to 180 days before a closed loan. These shopping