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[ad_1] Shanghai Man: Blockchain Week with Vitalik still happening, ‘Bitcoin’ searches on WeChat hit 26M in a day [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] Sequentially, too, RIL reported a 20% rise in revenues and 11.5% growth in net profit, indicating a clear improvement across businesses. [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] The appraisal industry’s lack of diversity — in terms of age, gender and ethnicity — and the growing number of appraisers exiting the profession as they reach retirement age have been well-documented issues. But now that the industry is keenly aware of these problems, what can be done to turn awareness into action to effect positive change for the next generation of appraisers? Before we dissect this question, let’s revisit the numbers. The current state Data from the Appraisal Institute reveals there are around 78,000 active real estate appraisers in the U.S. On the surface, this may seem like a robust number, but when you take into consideration that this number has been dwindling at a rate of 2.6% for the last five years, the reality of the issue sets in deeper. In terms of age and ethnic diversity, there is also room for improvement. Since 50% of active appraisers are between the ages of 51-65, most are nearing retirement. Most appraisers are also white males (77% male, 85% white). This content is exclusively for HW+ members. Start an HW+ Membership now for less than $1 a day. Your HW+ Membership includes: Unlimited access to HW+ articles and analysis Exclusive access to the HW+ Slack community and virtual events HousingWire Magazine delivered to your home or office Become a member today Already a member? log in The post Recruiting the next generation of appraisers appeared first on HousingWire. [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] It was an honor to have Max Lucado in studio recently to talk about his new book, You Were Made For This Moment: Courage for Today and Hope for Tomorrow. We begin the conversation with me sharing about how his children’s book, You Are Special, deeply impacted my life. And then Max shared the really amazing story behind the book which you don’t want to miss! He also shared how he got started writing, about his time in Brazil, how he first made writing a priority while being a missionary, and then we transitioned to talking about his latest book, You Were Made For This Moment. Max shares the powerful story of Esther and the lessons we can learn for modern times from this story in the Bible. We talk about showing up and how God uses that moment of showing up, even when you don’t recognize it. That you never know how those decisions to show up and step out could make such a difference long-term. This podcast episode is packed with encouragement and inspiration and I hope it blesses you as it did me! In This Episode [00:37] – Welcome to The Crystal Paine Show today we have in the studio is Max Lucado. [01:01] – I have actually only read one book by Max Lucado and it was actually a children’s book. [04:54] – Max shares the fascinating story behind that children’s book — which I loved hearing! [05:10] – I ask Max to tell us more about his background. [07:15] – He talked about becoming a Christian and signing up to be a missionary — and I had to have him tell us more about that. [09:24] – How did you start your writing career? [12:19] – How can a good God be allowing all the things that have happened in the world in the last 18 months? [15:14] – What is it about the Esther story that you see that is going to infuse people with hope? [16:13] – Esther is one of the two books in the Bible where the name of God does not appear and yet the fingerprints of God are on every paragraph. [19:03] – Max tells us the story of Esther — and I learn some new facts I’ve never known before, even though I’ve read this book many times! [22:20] – What does that look like practically, for people who they’re saying “I want to do something with my life, I feel like there’s more than just what I am living for right now but I don’t even know how to take the first step”? [26:07] – What encouragement would you have for someone who is feeling scared about stepping out in faith? Links & Resources Books You Are Special (Punchinello) by Max Lucado You Were Made For This Moment: Courage for Today and Hope for Tomorrow by Max Lucado Links & Resources Max Lucado Max Lucado on Facebook Max Lucado on Instagram Max Lucado on Twitter The Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast Other Links Love-Centered Parenting 10 Days to Be a Happier Mom Sign up for the Hot Deals Email List MoneySavingMom.com My Instagram account (I’d love for you to follow me there! I usually hop on at least a few times per day and share behind-the-scenes photos and videos, my grocery store hauls, funny stories, or just anything I’m pondering or would like your advice or feedback on!) Have feedback on the show or suggestions for future episodes or topics? Send me an email: crystal @ moneysavingmom.com How to Listen to The Crystal Paine Show The podcast is available on iTunes, Android, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can listen online through the direct player here. OR, a much easier way to listen is by subscribing to the podcast through a free podcast app on your phone. (Find instructions for how to subscribe to a podcast here.) Ready to dive in and listen? Hit the player above or search for “The Crystal Paine Show” on your favorite podcast app. [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] Dow posts record closing high, stocks gain for 3rd week; dollar dips [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] As the economy opened up, our efforts doubled. We had much recovery and upgrades than incremental slippage in Q2. Our quality of portfolio is getting as pristine as it should be. [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] This week’s HW+ spotlight features Karen Mayfield, head of National Retail Sales at Wyndham Capital Mortgage. In her role, Mayfield is tasked with expanding on the company’s digital roots into the retail mortgage environment. With more than two decades in the industry, Mayfield most recently served as a division lending executive at Citi, where she oversaw up to four of Citi’s six markets. Below, Mayfield answers questions about the industry: HousingWire: To start off, what is your current favorite HW+ article? Karen Mayfield: There may not be just one article but part of my favorite thing about HW is how it’s a true advocate for the industry — from covering market moves to closing the housing gap and the latest in tech. HousingWire: What is the weirdest job you’ve ever had? Karen Mayfield: My weirdest job was also one that may have taught me the best life lesson. I worked as a telephone operator (remember those??) one summer during my late teens. The vast majority of my calls were from the local male prison since prisoners had to call collect. I had been forewarned this would be the case and as a young female with little life experience, I was nervous about taking these calls. My imagination ran wild about what crimes they had committed, how they would sound or treat me. When I think back, I wasn’t just nervous, I was freaking out, as teenagers tend to do. But those nerves subsided quickly. It was a great example of why we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, because the prisoners became my favorite customers. They were happy to hear a different human voice than what encapsulated their every day and excited to be able to connect to the person they were calling. The “mean, scary prisoners” were the only customers who asked how I was doing, or wished me well before connecting their call.  It was an odd job for a teenager to have, but it was a great life lesson to always be open minded. Let people show you who they are before you decide it for them. HousingWire: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Karen Mayfield: If you really want to help your team, don’t let them — or more likely the situation — rile you up.  When there are issues that need to be addressed, or decisions to counter, it’s important to remain rational and maintain productive communication. As you ascend in your career, you realize that how you say something can be more important than what you say. Some of the most effective communicators I’ve seen have incredibly calm demeanors. It’s ironic because often those individuals don’t get enough credit from their team for being their advocate because their team doesn’t see them get upset or passionate and assumes they’re not being “loud enough” to make an impact. And for those who tend to be more passionate, like myself, it’s OK to “get mad,” just not when you are making a case! HousingWire: What’s one thing that people aren’t paying attention to that you think they should be paying attention to? Karen Mayfield: Loan officers. They are the soul of our industry and I’m concerned we’re taking them for granted. I’ve heard peers at other mortgage lenders say “I have a digital customer experience and educational content on-line. So why do I need an expensive loan officer?” It’s not so different from what we thought would happen to the real estate industry 20 years ago.  Having an online portal or sharing the advantages of a fixed rate mortgage on your site is helpful to customers. But just like people still go to the doctor after self-diagnosing on WebMD, people want to talk to an expert about their specific financial situation. I recently left the banking world after 20 years to join a fintech mortgage lender because I’m passionate about using technology to help make loan officers more efficient and effective for a better customer experience. Homebuyers still want to work with people. They may start online, but typically a loan officer gets involved along the way. To attract top young talent, we need to endorse innovation and leverage automation so loan officers can do what they do best — sell. But it’s also just as important to help our industry veterans get on the social media bandwagon, use automated marketing tools and appreciate the digital age vs. competing against it.  To become an HW+ member, click here. For more information on HW+ benefits, click here. The post HW+ Member Spotlight: Karen Mayfield appeared first on HousingWire. [ad_2] Source link

[ad_1] Each week, Cut the Crap Investing founder Dale Roberts shares financial headlines and offers context for Canadian investors.  The U.S. earnings beat just keeps coming  For week one of the earnings season, 41 S&P 500 companies reported their third-quarter results, and 80% beat earnings expectations, according to FactSet. While reports have been strong, investors are looking for commentary from corporate America about supply chain issues and inflation.  Last week’s earnings season was just the spark the markets needed, after giving back the gains of the Summer of 2021.  And moving through the week ending October 24, that beat record ticks up to 84%.  Of S&P companies that have reported Q3 results, 84% posted earnings that topped expectations, close to a record high. But beats were mostly shrugged off by stock traders, and misses got punished by the widest margin since Bloomberg started tracking the data in 2017. @lena_popina — Lisa Abramowicz (@lisaabramowicz1) October 21, 2021 The S&P 500 (IVV) closed up for several sessions into this week, coming within a hair of a new all-time high. The U.S. market has wiped out its 5% pullback.  When I track the earnings reports on Seeking Alpha, I mostly see beat after beat.  Here’s a look at some interesting sectors and stocks:  Airlines reported that they are still not profitable, and their load capacities are still well below 2019 levels.  Southwest Airlines (LUV) beat on earnings (meaning they lost less than expected). Though revenue increased to $4.68B (+161.5% Y/Y) compared to a very challenging quarter in 2020. Revenues are still down 17% compared to the pre-pandemic quarter of 2019.  Y/Y = year over year.  Here’s a comment on Seeking Alpha from Southwest Airlines CEO Gary. C. Kelly. He suggests traffic is picking up heading into the holiday travel season.  “Our 2022 capacity planning reflects more conservative staffing assumptions, as well, all compared to historical norms. With respect to our fourth quarter 2021 revenue outlook, while there are lingering effects from the summer COVID-19 surge and recent operational challenges, we are encouraged with renewed momentum in leisure and business traffic, revenues, and bookings—especially over the holidays.”  And below was offered on CNBC there were some solid numbers in the consumer staples sector and healthcare.  “Johnson & Johnson also beat third-quarter earnings expectations by 25 cents per share. The health care stock rallied 2.3%. “Procter & Gamble continued the bullish trend with better-than-expected earnings, but its shares dipped nearly 1.2%. The consumer products giant said it is raising prices to cover rising commodity and freight costs and warned that inflation may continue. “Elsewhere, Walmart shares gained 2.1% after Goldman Sachs added the big-box retailer to its conviction buy list, saying the stock could rally nearly 40%.” I hold JNJ and WMT.  And of course, all eyes were on Tesla, the superstar poster child for the electric vehicle (EV) market.  Tesla (TSLA) reported record sales and profits, even as the company and the automotive sector faced incredible challenges due to supply chain issues.  The automaker reports that it produced 237,823 vehicles in Q3 (+64% Y/Y) and delivered 241,391 vehicles (+73%). With new production set to come online, Tesla is certainly poised to deliver more than 1,000,000 vehicles annually in 2022 and beyond.  It delivered earnings of $1.44 per share.  On forward guidance, the company offered that it projects 50% annual growth in deliveries. In this space we’ve looked at Tesla and the rich valuations, but the growth story continues to dazzle Wall Street and retail investors.  Here’s a previous look at Tesla earnings from April of 2021.  Tesla stock is within striking distance of the all-time highs reached early in 2021. Here’s a Tesla stock performance chart.  Source: Seeking Alpha. In one of my wife’s accounts, we have exposure to the EV and battery market and Tesla by way of the BATT ETF. That ETF has finally started to move again in our favour. Tesla is the top holding in BATT, at 8.2%.  Source: Seeking Alpha Here’s a tweet from Liz Sonders at Charles Schwab that shows the performance of sectors in the U.S. market, year to date.  In S&P Composite 1500®, only 4 industries are down YTD; Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels in lead, +63%; Wireless Telecommunication Services most notable laggard, -11%; not surprising to see Airlines among laggards⁦@SPDJIndices⁩ ⁦@SPGlobal⁩ pic.twitter.com/c8nNDS1goa — Liz Ann Sonders (@LizAnnSonders) October 20, 2021 The first bitcoin ETF in the U.S.  The week ending October 24 also saw the launch of the first bitcoin ETF in the U.S. The price of bitcoin rallied to a new all-time high.  The “problem” with the ETF is that it is futures-based. It does not hold bitcoin directly but instead holds futures contracts. In many ways the ETF is anti-bitcoin because it is anti-scarcity.  From April of 2021, here’s a must-read, when we looked at Bitcoin, David Bowie bonds and scarcity cred. That ETF has no bitcoin street cred.  And of course, here’s a post that will help you make sense of bitcoin.  I checked in with bitcoin expert and enthusiast Greg Foss. Foss is a must follow on Twitter. You can also follow this guy, too (ha!).  On the new bitcoin ETF Foss offers this in an email exchange (with me): “A futures based ETF is better than nothing for the US market,” he writes. “The reason for approving futures versus spot is the regulatory angle. CME futures fall under a regulatory dome that globally traded BTC cash does not. Concerns of cash market manipulation (unfounded imo) are avoided with a futures product.  “The problem is that the futures curve is in contango (upward sloping). So the fund buys three-month futures and as that future rolls down the curve towards the spot price, there is bleed. There could be substantial tracking error compared to cash markets.” The ETF is a PR win for bitcoin but a scarcity loss. Money could flow to an ETF that does not hold bitcoin. That said, the bitcoin story is bigger than the unfortunate “bitcoin” ETF

[ad_1] Business News Live Updates: Stock Market and Federal Reserve  The New York Times Federal Reserve tightens ethics rules to ban active trading by senior officials  Yahoo Finance Powell Says Supply-Side Constraints Have Worsened, Creating More Inflation Risk  The Wall Street Journal Strong Bullish sentiment in gold as Powell talks down inflation threat  Kitco NEWS Stock market news live updates: Stocks retreat after Powell remarks on inflation and tapering, Nasdaq lags as Snap’s outlook disappoints  Yahoo Canada Finance View Full Coverage on Google News [ad_2]

[ad_1] The cost of real estate has surged dramatically over the last decade, but especially over the last 12 months. In fact, a recent report from the National Association of Realtors showed the median existing-home sales price rose at a year-over-year pace of 17.8% from August 2020 to August 2021. If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines and waiting until you can afford the home you want, rising real estate prices can seem particularly troubling. You might also be rethinking your strategy and goals, or trying to figure out whether you can spend more than you originally thought. You probably have dozens of questions swirling through your head as well. For example: How much can I afford for a house? Also, how much will a mortgage company actually lend me? Unfortunately, what the mortgage company says and what you can comfortably afford aren’t always the same. This guide aims to explain how to figure out how much house you can actually afford, and not just what the mortgage company says. If you’re ready to dive into the real estate market before prices head to the moon, read on to learn more. #ap10881-ww{padding-top:20px;position:relative;text-align:center;font-size:12px;font-family:Lato,Arial,sans-serif}#ap10881-ww #ap10881-ww-indicator{text-align:right}#ap10881-ww #ap10881-ww-indicator-wrapper{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-end}#ap10881-ww #ap10881-ww-indicator-wrapper:hover #ap10881-ww-text{display:block}#ap10881-ww #ap10881-ww-indicator-wrapper:hover #ap10881-ww-label{display:none}#ap10881-ww #ap10881-ww-text{margin:auto 3px auto auto}#ap10881-ww #ap10881-ww-label{margin-left:4px;margin-right:3px}#ap10881-ww #ap10881-ww-icon{margin:auto;padding:1px;display:inline-block;width:15px;cursor:pointer}#ap10881-ww #ap10881-ww-icon img{vertical-align:middle;width:15px}#ap10881-ww #ap10881-ww-text-bottom{margin:5px}#ap10881-ww #ap10881-ww-text{display:none}#ap10881-ww #ap10881-ww-icon img{text-indent:-9999px;color:transparent} Ads by Money. We may be compensated if you click this ad.Ad #ap10881-w-map{max-width:600px;margin:20px auto;text-align:center;font-family:”Lato”, Arial, Roboto, sans-serif}#ap10881-w-map #ap10881-w-map-title{color:#212529;font-size:18px;font-weight:700;line-height:27px}#ap10881-w-map #ap10881-w-map-subtitle{color:#9b9b9b;font-size:16px;font-style:italic;line-height:24px}#ap10881-w-map #ap10881-w-disclosure{margin-top:10px;font-size:12px;color:#9b9b9b}#ap10881-w-map #ap10881-w-map-map{max-width:98%;width:100%;height:0;padding-bottom:65%;margin-bottom:20px;position:relative}#ap10881-w-map #ap10881-w-map-map svg{position:absolute;left:0;top:0}#ap10881-w-map #ap10881-w-map-map svg path{fill:#e3efff;stroke:#9b9b9b;pointer-events:all;transition:fill 0.6s ease-in, stroke 0.6s ease-in, stroke-width 0.6s ease-in}#ap10881-w-map #ap10881-w-map-map svg path:hover{stroke:#1261C9;stroke-width:2px;stroke-linejoin:round;fill:#1261C9;cursor:pointer}#ap10881-w-map #ap10881-w-map-map svg g rect{fill:#e3efff;stroke:#9b9b9b;pointer-events:all;transition:fill 0.6s ease-in, stroke 0.6s ease-in, stroke-width 0.6s ease-in}#ap10881-w-map #ap10881-w-map-map svg g text{fill:#000;text-anchor:middle;font:10px Arial;transition:fill 0.6s ease-in}#ap10881-w-map #ap10881-w-map-map svg g .ap00646-w-map-state{display:none}#ap10881-w-map #ap10881-w-map-map svg g .ap00646-w-map-state rect{stroke:#1261C9;stroke-width:2px;stroke-linejoin:round;fill:#1261C9}#ap10881-w-map #ap10881-w-map-map svg g .ap00646-w-map-state text{fill:#fff;font:19px Arial;font-weight:bold}#ap10881-w-map #ap10881-w-map-map svg g:hover{cursor:pointer}#ap10881-w-map #ap10881-w-map-map svg g:hover rect{stroke:#1261C9;stroke-width:2px;stroke-linejoin:round;fill:#1261C9}#ap10881-w-map #ap10881-w-map-map svg g:hover text{fill:#fff}#ap10881-w-map #ap10881-w-map-map svg g:hover .ap00646-w-map-state{display:initial}#ap10881-w-map #ap10881-w-map-btn{padding:9px 41px;display:inline-block;color:#fff;font-size:16px;line-height:1.25;text-decoration:none;background-color:#1261c9;border-radius:2px}#ap10881-w-map #ap10881-w-map-btn:hover{color:#fff;background-color:#508fc9} Not sure how much house you can afford? Talk to a mortgage expert today before the market changes! Mortgage experts can help you find the best financing option for your needs, to help you get one step closer to the home of your dreams. Click your state to begin! HawaiiAlaskaFloridaSouth CarolinaGeorgiaAlabamaNorth CarolinaTennesseeRIRhode IslandCTConnecticutMAMassachusettsMaineNHNew HampshireVTVermontNew YorkNJNew JerseyDEDelawareMDMarylandWest VirginiaOhioMichiganArizonaNevadaUtahColoradoNew MexicoSouth DakotaIowaIndianaIllinoisMinnesotaWisconsinMissouriLouisianaVirginiaDCWashington DCIdahoCaliforniaNorth DakotaWashingtonOregonMontanaWyomingNebraskaKansasOklahomaPennsylvaniaKentuckyMississippiArkansasTexas View Rates Today! How Lenders Decide How Much Home You Can Afford When you apply for a mortgage so you can purchase a home, lenders look at an array of important factors including your credit score, your income, and your other debts. They also use a specific metric known as debt-to-income ratio (DTI) to gauge how much they can reasonably lend you. Debt-to-income ratio (DTI) may sound like a fancy term, but it’s really nothing more than your monthly expenses compared to your monthly gross income. You can determine your DTI by dividing your monthly debts by your gross monthly income.  For example, someone with a gross monthly income of $10,000 and monthly expenses of $3,500 would have a debt-to-income ratio of 35%. The calculation used to reach this figure looks like this: $3,500 / $10,000 = 0.35% Enter a general rule known as the “29/41 rule.” Generally speaking, mortgage lenders want to ensure your overall debt-to-income ratio is no more than 41%, and that your housing payment makes up no more than 29% of that amount.  With a gross monthly income of $10,000 (or $120,000 per year), your mortgage payment (including principal, interest, taxes and insurance) should be no more than $2,900, while your total debts combined should cost you no more than $4,100 per month. If you earn half of that, or $5,000 per month, your mortgage payment (including principal, interest, taxes and insurance) should be no more than $1,450, while your total debts combined should cost you no more than $2,050 per month. Which debts count as “other debts?”  This metric can include any debts you have to pay each month, but is usually made up of car payments, payments on credit cards, student loans, and more. With all this being said, you should note that the 29/41 rule is just a general rule of thumb. Some lenders may let you borrow slightly more or slightly less, and some types of home loans (VA loans, FHA loans, etc.) come with different requirements.  Other Home Affordability Factors Now that you know what lenders will look at, you should dive deeply into other factors that can impact how much you can (and really should) borrow. The following details are worth considering as you begin searching for a new home and a new home loan to go with it. Down Payment Your down payment can have a significant impact on the amount of money you can borrow for a home. Obviously, having a larger down payment can help you borrow more since it frees up space in your DTI, whereas a smaller down payment for your home means you can borrow less. Most experts suggest putting down at least 20% on your new home, and for more reasons than one. First, having a down payment of 20% can help you avoid a situation where you’re “underwater” on your mortgage if housing prices go down. Second, putting down 20% or more helps you avoid paying private mortgage insurance (PMI) on your home loan. With a down payment of less than 20%, the PMI you pay typically tacks on another .5% to 1% on your mortgage payment until you have sufficient equity to drop private mortgage insurance. This is money down the drain, but the added costs can also impact the amount of the home loan you’re eligible for. Mortgage Interest Rates Another huge factor that impacts home affordability is the interest rate on your mortgage, but this is one area where you have a tremendous advantage right now. Mortgage rates are nearing record lows, and paying less interest each month means you can afford to borrow more money upfront. How do mortgage interest rates affect your housing payment? Consider this example, which only looks at the principal and interest components of a loan (excluding other costs like property taxes and