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☆ Shopping for a home? There’s a lot working against you right now
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

In recent weeks, as mortgage rates closed in on 7%, affordability has worsened. Nationally, it takes about 36% of the median household income to make the average mortgage payment — more than the recommended 30% allowance for housing. The Mortgage Credit Availability Index fell by 3.1% to 96.5 in May, the lowest level since January 2013, and was essentially unchanged in June. The MBA index that tracks jumbo loans — loans that are larger than conforming loan limits — saw its second monthly contraction, as some financial institutions reduce their appetite for larger loans that aren’t backed by the government. Mortgage rates are expected to drop the second half of this year as inflation continues to cool, with economists and housing analysts forecasting rates to end the year around 6%.

Persons: Nick Gaylord, “ I’ve, ” Gaylord, it’s, “ I’m, ”, Gaylord, “, Black Knight, Knight, ” Joel Kan, Department of Veterans Affairs —, — Organizations: DC CNN, CNN, Mortgage Bankers Association, ICE Mortgage Technology, Federal Housing Administration, US Department of Agriculture, Department of Veterans Affairs, National Association of Realtors Locations: Washington, Minneapolis

[1/2] A general view of the White House in Washington, U.S. June 12, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File PhotoWASHINGTON, July 24 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden would veto Republican-backed defense, health and agriculture spending bills if he were presented with them, the White House said on Monday, alleging House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy was backing away from spending levels agreed to in a debt-limit deal. McCarthy and House Republicans were pushing cuts the Biden administration could not accept, the White House said in a statement on Monday. This year's bipartisan debt ceiling deal keeps fiscal 2024 spending flat at this year's levels, allowing a 1% increase for fiscal 2025. The deal was approved by 149 House Republicans - a strong party majority - along with 165 Democrats.

Persons: Jonathan Ernst, Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Biden, H.R, Kanishka Singh, Jon Boyle, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: White, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, House Republicans, Department of Veterans Affairs, House, Democratic, Republicans, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, H.R, United States, Washington

☆ Remote work has made downtown DC a ghost town as federal office buildings sit mostly empty
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

But unlike many other US cities, much of DC's downtown office space is controlled by a single landlord: the federal government. There are three major issues when it comes to empty federal building space, Marroni said. Many congressional Republicans have also demanded that the Biden administration both restrict telework and get rid of unused office space. The White House Office of Management and Budget asked federal agencies in April to "substantially increase meaningful in-person work" by limiting telework. But there are concerns — including from employee unions — that restricting remote work could hurt the recruitment and retention of federal workers.

Persons: Muriel Bowser, hasn't, —, David Marroni, Marroni, She's, Biden, Scott Perry, they've Organizations: Office, DC, Service, Republicans, Transportation, Infrastructure, GAO, Pennsylvania Republican, White, Office of Management, Department of Education, Department of Veterans Affairs, Post, Trump International Locations: Wall, Silicon, Washington, DC's, Pennsylvania

☆ Former Disney, Marvel exec Ike Perlmutter plans major donation to back Trump for president
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

US President Donald Trump shakes Ike Perlmutter, CEO of Marvel Entertainment, hand before signing an executive order at the US Department of Veterans Affairs April 27, 2017 in Washington, DC. Ike Perlmutter, the former chairman of Marvel Entertainment at Disney , is planning a key donation to back former President Donald Trump's 2024 run for president, according to his spokesman. His wife gave over $2 million to the same pro-DeSantis PAC, according to the records. Disney doesn't have the right to get involved with politics," Perlmutter reportedly told DeSantis in a phone call. Perlmutter told the publication he doesn't remember such a call taking place.

Persons: Donald Trump, Ike Perlmutter, Donald Trump's, Perlmutter, Trump, Perlmutter's, Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ron, DeSantis, Bob Iger, Iger Organizations: Marvel Entertainment, US Department of Veterans, Disney, Trump, PAC, Commission, Department of Veterans Affairs, Marvel, Republican, Florida Republican Gov, DeSantis PAC, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Star Wars Locations: Washington , DC, Florida

Tom Schroeder, the whistleblower accusing Medtronic of a kickback scheme, left, is interviewed by Morgan Brennan, in Kansas City, Missouri. Schroeder said rumors circulated that Medtronic sales representatives were bribing VA staff to purchase an excessive amount of the company's inventory. The veterans hospital purchased more devices than some of the largest veterans medical facilities, according to data the VA's investigation gathered. Medtronic also said that Schroeder has "admitted under oath that he has no firsthand knowledge of any problematic procedure involving Medtronic devices." Douglas Winger, one of the Medtronic sales representatives named as a defendant in Schroeder's lawsuit, won a Medtronic President's Club award in 2016 for his sales.

Persons: Tom Schroeder, Schroeder, Becton Dickinson, Medtronic, Morgan Brennan, Schroder, Boua Xiong, Robert J, texted, Rick Ament, Ament, filet mignon, …, I'm, Brendan Donelon, Donelon, CNBC Donelon, Xiong, Douglas Winger, Winger, Kim Hodgson, Hodgson, Dole, ProPublica, John Laird Organizations: Inc, CNBC, Dole Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dole VA, Department of Veterans Affairs, United, VA's, Department of Justice, Covidien, Dole, Medtronic, Society for Vascular, Drug Administration, FDA Locations: Kansas, United States, Kansas City , Missouri, Dublin, Ireland, Medtronic's, Wichita ., Dole, Covidien, Medtronic, Dole VA

☆ Buying my first home as a 37-year-old veteran and single mother was difficult but totally worth it. The sacrifices I've made will give my child a better future.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I have made many sacrifices along the way but being able to give my child a sense of security is worth it all. Saving for a home purchase was tough as a single motherIn January, I began my home buying journey. I was working for the US government and receiving additional money from the Department of Veteran Affairs for a disability. I was scared during my home buying journey, and there were times that I wanted to give up but I persisted. I've also missed out on family gatherings and pursuing relationships — all so I could save money to buy a home.

Persons: Breanna Dill, Dill, —, that's, it's, I've Organizations: Marine Corps, Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Veteran Affairs, Veterans Affairs Locations: Wall, Silicon, Minnesota, Austin , Texas, Austin, Houston, Houston —, Dallas, United States

☆ America's largest office tenant is embracing remote work, creating more pain for a market already in distress
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Daniel Geiger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The federal government is embracing remote work and cutting back its office footprint nationally. President Joe Biden and Donald Trump might not appear to agree on much, but when it comes to cutting back on office space, they're aligned. Now federal tenants are in for a new phase of belt-tightening as more accept remote and hybrid work, real estate experts say. "The majority of federal offices are still largely vacant on most days," said Darian LeBlanc, the director of government services at Cushman & Wakefield. So far, only the Department of Veterans Affairs has publicly said how it plans to use remote and hybrid work.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Barack Obama, Biden —, Darian LeBlanc, LeBlanc, Rachel Davis, Davis, — Davis, Bob Hunt, Martin Selig, Jesse Lawder, Selig, Shalanda Young, Denis McDonough, Cushman, JBG Smith, Christi, who's Organizations: —, Trump, Cushman &, Washington DC, General Services Administration, Department of Labor, Management, FBI, Securities and Exchange Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, Minerals Management Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, National Transportation Safety, L'Enfant Plaza, state's Department of General Services, National Association of State Locations: Cushman & Wakefield, United States, JLL, Seattle, Washington, L'Enfant, . Tennessee, Nashville, Knoxville, Memphis, Chattanooga, Branscom, California , Illinois, North Carolina, Florida

your moneyThere are still plenty of ways to get your student debt wiped away. That’s because the Supreme Court’s disapproval of the plan does not change laws and regulations that already give many federal student loan borrowers an escape hatch. What follows is a list of ways to eliminate your federal student loan balance aside from paying in full. If you know someone who is struggling with student loan debt, suggest that the borrower review every last option. Bankruptcy DischargeYes, you can discharge your student loan debt by filing for personal bankruptcy.

Persons: Biden’s, —, It’s, Biden, Tara Siegel Bernard, Ann Carrns, Ann, Donald J, Trump, Tara Organizations: U.S . Department of Education, Education Department, Public, Westwood College, Corinthian Colleges, DeVry University, ITT Technical Institute, Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs Locations: forbearance

☆ The Hottest Thing in Real Estate Is a Loan From Two Years Ago
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Conor Dougherty | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

From the pedestrian to the dodgy, it all seems to underscore the manner in which the nation’s real estate market has been frozen by regret. In lieu of acceptance, a determined few are trying to use imagination and fine print to build a portal to the cheap-money days of 2021. In theory, any of the millions of homeowners holding a assumable low-rate mortgage have a valuable perk to sell with their home. Still, real estate agents say it can be hard in practice to transfer them. For instance, homeowners who transfer a V.A.-backed mortgage can lose their ability to get another similar loan unless they can find a V.A.-eligible buyer to take their original mortgage.

Persons: ”, influencers, “ It’s, Scott Trench, Sellers, Michael Fratantoni, Black Knight Organizations: Federal Housing Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Agriculture, Mortgage, Association Locations: U.S

Find a lender that offers the type of mortgage you needNot every lender provides each type of mortgage. VA mortgage lenders . How to compare mortgage lenders at each stage of the processMortgage prequalificationMortgage prequalification is one of the first steps in the homebuying process. Mortgage loan estimateOnce you choose a home, you will apply for a mortgage and receive a loan estimate from a lender. Between the qualification, preapproval, and loan estimate, the loan estimate is the most detailed and official of the three.

☆ Midtown Atlanta shooting: A military vet is in jail, his mother apologized, and hospital patients and staff are traumatized
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Ryan Young Gary Tuchman Elizabeth Wolfe Sara Smart Holly Yan | Ryan Young | Gary Tuchman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

The suspect, Deion Duwane Patterson, 24, was armed when he was arrested Wednesday evening, Cobb County Police Chief Stuart VanHoozer said Thursday. “Just be careful.”A mother of two was killedAmy St. Pierre was killed in the Atlanta shooting, medical examiners confirmed. Generous supporter of worthy causes, she was the social conscience of our family.”The family of Amy St. Pierre, who was killed in the Midtown Atlanta shooting, said she was their pride and joy. On Friday, two of the victims were still in critical condition in the ICU, said Robert Jansen, chief medical officer at Grady Health System. They need help.”‘The impact … is something you can’t imagine’The rush of shooting victims who arrived at Grady Memorial Hospital is not uncommon, the chief medical officer said.

☆ My Dead Father Had a Secret. Do I Tell Our Family?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Kwame Anthony Appiah | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

If you are your father’s legal representative, you can also apply for a “discharge upgrade.” But the terms of your father’s separation don’t tell you much about him. Perhaps he was bisexual; he had a long marriage with your mother — and there’s the child he had while stationed in England. Because you’ll probably never have decisive evidence about his sexuality, the only sure thing you can tell your siblings is what’s written on that paperwork. Not knowing your mother, I won’t second guess your decision to not tell her. My partner texted the woman to ask if she was OK or needed help, but she brushed it off.

☆ Veterans File 500,000 Claims for Toxic Exposure
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Ben Kesling | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

President Biden said that he will fight budget cuts that could imperil the processing of veterans’ claims. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg NewsVeterans have filed half a million claims for benefits stemming from toxic exposure while serving, the Department of Veterans Affairs said Wednesday, part of the largest expansion of VA coverage in a generation. The many claims come after the VA and veteran-service organizations let veterans know about benefits and healthcare coverage for those exposed to burn pits, radioactive material, herbicides and other toxins after passage last summer of the PACT Act. The bipartisan legislation was launched in response to criticisms that the Department of Defense and the VA had not done enough to recognize the effects of burn pits and other toxic exposures or to fund research and treatment of those who had been exposed.

☆ George Santos insists he's donating his congressional salary, but he won't say where it's going: 'I owe you no explanation'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Rep. George Santos has pledged several times to donate his entire congressional salary. "I owe you no explanation to what I do with my salary," he told Insider at the Capitol on Thursday. Two weeks ago, spokeswoman Naysa Woomer told Insider that "updates will be available at a later time," declining to provide further details. Pointing out that he's not legally required to disclose his salary donation details, Santos said that he still planned to make a salary donation announcement, but without any details. In May 2021, he again wrote on Twitter that he would "not accept a congressional salary at all."

☆ VA Pauses Rollout of $16 Billion Health Record System
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Ben Kesling | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough says he believes a contract should have marked accountability. The Department of Veterans Affairs is holding up further rollout of a problem-plagued, multibillion-dollar electronic health record system as the contract is renegotiated. Officials from the VA and Oracle Corp., which last year acquired the company that developed the system, are in discussions about changes in the contract designed to provide the VA with a record system.

☆ A mom took out over $77,000 in student loans to send her son with autism to college. He got his debt wiped out — but she's still paying hers off with no end in sight.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Marsha Wipperman, 59, took on parent PLUS student loans so her son with autism could attend college. "I'm going pay it. So I just signed away on my parents loans because that's what a parent does." Marsha Wipperman took on $77,000 in PLUS loans for her son. 'I've done 100% what I needed to do at that time'Parent PLUS loans gave Wipperman's son the opportunity to attend college, and she wouldn't have done it any other way.

VA loan borrowers with mortgages that close on or after April 7, 2023, will pay a reduced funding fee. Because it's often financed, a reduced funding fee can lower the amount VA loan borrowers pay in interest. The VA funding fee is a one-time cost that many VA loan borrowers must pay when getting a mortgage. This means that if a borrower defaults on a VA loan, the VA will compensate the lender. For first-time VA loan borrowersDown payment amount Old funding fee New funding fee Less than 5% 2.3% 2.15% 5% or more 1.65% 1.5% 10% or more 1.4% 1.25%For subsequent VA loan borrowersDown payment amount Old funding fee New funding fee Less than 5% 3.6% 3.3% 5% or more 1.65% 1.5% 10% or more 1.4% 1.25%VA cash-out refinanceOld funding fee New funding fee First use 2.3% 2.15% Subsequent use 3.6% 3.3%Other types of VA loansFunding fees for other VA loans remain unchanged.

But unspent COVID aid is a small target, with less than $80 billion unspent as of January, White House budget figures show. CARPENTERS, VETERANS AND MEDICAL RESEARCHReclaiming unspent COVID funds would have real-world repercussions. A clawback could also affect veterans' healthcare, as the Department of Veterans Affairs has yet to spend $4.6 billion of the money it received for COVID-19 related care. Republican governors of Nebraska and Arkansas last year rejected a second round of aid for people behind on their rent. Republican Senator Rick Scott in January urged governors and mayors to voluntarily return that money to help pay down federal debt.

☆ If Student Loan Forgiveness Is Overturned by the Supreme Court, Refinancers Are Waiting
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Thomas Gokey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

The PSLF program cancels federal student loans for people who work in public-service jobs for 10 years, and the impact of relief is profound. In the process, borrowers forfeit many protections that come with federal student loans, including the chance to get their loans canceled. In one survey, more than one-third of respondents who refinanced their federal student loans said they eventually came to regret it. President Biden announced a plan to cancel $10,000 in student loan debt, but if you privately refinanced, you won't benefit. Most private student loans allow for some kind of "cosigner release" so no one else is on the hook for your loans.

☆ Student-Debt Relief: Why Refinancing Your Student Loans Is a Trap
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Thomas Gokey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

The PSLF program cancels federal student loans for people who work in public-service jobs for 10 years, and the impact of relief is profound. In the process, borrowers forfeit many protections that come with federal student loans, including the chance to get their loans canceled. Recent changes to the law require private student loans to be discharged if you die, but that isn't the case with older loans. Most private student loans allow for some kind of "cosigner release" so no one else is on the hook for your loans. Refinancing companies make the system worse for everyonePrivate refinancing companies don't just hand out their loans to anyone.

☆ The VA Program That Has Homelessness Down Among Veterans
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Ben Kesling | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

DENVER—Nationwide, the homeless population has been slowly rising during the past few years, up more than 5% since 2017. But among veterans, the number has declined by more than 17% over that period, a drop advocates attribute to an aggressive and well-funded “housing first” policy. The approach is in full swing in a program that operates out of a nondescript brick building in an industrial area of Denver. Lauren Lapinski , a licensed clinical social worker with the Department of Veterans Affairs, arrived at Denver’s VA Community Resource and Referral Center before dawn one day earlier this month—after having been up late the night before canvassing strip malls and alleys as part of an annual homeless count.

☆ VA Surpasses Goal to House Homeless Veterans
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Ben Kesling | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The VA has refocused on a homelessness-prevention model that secures reliable shelter before turning to other issues. More than 40,000 homeless veterans were placed in permanent housing last year, the Department of Veterans Affairs said Thursday, exceeding its target in a renewed push to address the longstanding problem of veteran homelessness. Veterans make up 7% of the general population but represent 13% of the adult homeless population, according to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.

☆ VA says it exceeded goal for housing homeless veterans last year
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Aaron Gilchrist | Aaron Gilchrist Is An Anchor For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced Thursday that it surpassed its 2022 goals for housing veterans experiencing homelessness. Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough set a goal of housing 38,000 veterans by the end of last year. The number of veterans experiencing homelessness in the U.S. has decreased by 11% since January 2020 and by more than 55% since 2010, according to the VA. The method prioritizes getting veterans into housing, then providing support services, including health care and job training, as well as any needed mental health or substance dependency interventions to help veterans stay in housing. Veterans experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness can call the National Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838).

☆ FDA doesn't see increased risk of stroke for seniors who received Pfizer's omicron booster
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The CDC's Vaccine Safety Datalink, which monitors serious reactions to vaccines, showed a possible risk of stroke in late November. The FDA launched an extensive review of federal data after investigators at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention detected a possible risk of stroke for seniors who received Pfizer's booster. The Food and Drug Administration hasn't found an increased risk of stroke for seniors who've received Pfizer's omicron booster shot, a federal health official said Thursday. The FDA reviewed CMS data from 4.25 million seniors who received Pfizer's omicron booster and did not identify any increased stroke risk. The Department of Veterans Affairs has also conducted preliminary review of its database and did not identify an increased stroke risk, Forshee said.

☆ A Navy officer explains how she built a $1 million real estate portfolio with $14,000 — and shares 5 ways that anyone can start buying property with little or no money down
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Before purchasing her first property, Snider had been living in military-base housing and wanted her own space. However, she was able to use a VA Loan, backed by the Department of Veteran Affairs, for her first purchase, which required no money down. Her new monthly mortgage payment would amount to $1,600, plus utilities which were about $150 to $200 a month. "I realized, oh well, I got this asset for free and now somebody's paying my rent," Snider said. Altogether, the three properties Snider now owns add up to a total value of $1.1 million, according to Zestimate.

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