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☆ Weekly mortgage demand inched up, despite higher interest rates. Here's why.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

After flatlining the week before, mortgage demand rose last week, despite mortgage rates rising for the fourth straight week. Total application volume increased 1.7% compared with the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index. Applications for a mortgage to purchase a home rose 2% for the week but were 1% lower than the same week one year ago. Purchase demand was driven by conventional and FHA loans, with FHA purchase applications seeing a 7% increase. Mortgage rates are about flat so far this week, according to a separate survey from Mortgage News Daily.

Persons: Joel Kan, Matthew Graham Organizations: Mortgage, Mortgage News, U.S Locations: Ukraine, Russia

☆ Homebuilder deal activity is surging, fueled by major Japanese buyers
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-13 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Exceptionally strong housing demand in the U.S. has large homebuilders in the driver's seat and smaller builders ripe for takeover. Whelan says she alone has four more set to close by year end, and there could be more from others. The surge is the result of still-growing housing demand that reignited at the start of the pandemic thanks to record low mortgage rates and sudden new migration. But mortgage rates also caused a historic housing shortage. That dynamic, sometimes called the mortgage rate lock-in effect, has exacerbated the housing shortage.

Persons: Margaret Whelan, Whelan Locations: U.S

☆ This climate startup is challenging Tesla in the race to electrify big rigs
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-12 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Big rigs make up just 10% of the vehicles on the road, but they account for nearly 30% of total vehicle carbon emissions. Now one startup, California-based Range Energy, is focused not on the tractor but the trailer. said Ali Javidan, CEO of Range Energy. "When I push this button to activate the system, the trailer follows me," Javidan said as he demonstrated the system. Range Energy has raised $31.5 million so far, and it is backed by R7, UP.Partners, Trousdale Ventures and Yamaha Motor Ventures.

Persons: Ali Javidan, Javidan, Ricky Souza, Souza, There's, Tyler Engh, Engh, Lisa Rizzolo Organizations: Volvo, Freightliner, Tesla, Range Energy, Energy, Northern, Trousdale Ventures, Yamaha Motor Ventures, CNBC Locations: California, United States, Northern

☆ Weekly mortgage demand tanks 11% as interest rates surge higher
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-06 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Mortgage rates rose again last week, pulling demand from both the refinance and purchase markets. Total mortgage application volume dropped 10.8% compared to the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index. Applications for a mortgage to purchase a home decreased 5% for the week and were just 2% higher than the same week one year ago. Mortgage rates, however, are pricing some buyers out again, and concern over the economy and the election may have some sitting on the sidelines right now. Mortgage rates were essentially flat to start this week, and whatever the results, or nonresults of the election, will surely play into recent volatility.

Persons: Joel Kan, Kan Organizations: Mortgage, Federal Reserve Locations: Alhambra , California

☆ Mortgage rates surge higher on Trump victory, causing housing stocks to fall
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-06 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"The expectation among bond traders coming into the election was that rates would move higher in the event of a Trump victory and especially a red sweep. "The builder stocks are highly sensitive to mortgage rates and mortgage rate expectations. Big builders have been buying down mortgage rates for their customers, but that has been cutting into their margins. Mortgage rates don't follow the Fed, but do react to the central bank's thinking on the economy. Stronger-than-expected economic reports in September and October caused bond yields, and consequently mortgage rates, to move higher.

Persons: Donald Trump's, Matthew Graham, Horton, PulteGroup, Lowe's, John Burns, Trump, Carl Harris, Graham Organizations: Mortgage News, Trump, . Housing, John Burns Real Estate Consulting, National Association of Home Builders, Federal Reserve, National Association of Realtors Locations: U.S, D.R

☆ More homeowners just started pulling cash out of their properties. Here's why.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-04 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. homeowners are sitting on a record amount of equity, but higher interest rates over the past two years have made them reluctant to tap into it. While mortgage rates don't exactly follow the Fed's rate, home equity lines of credit, or HELOCs, are tied to it. "Over the past 10 quarters homeowners have extracted $476B in equity, exactly half the extraction we'd expect to see under more normal circumstances. Homeowners tend to use equity for home repairs, renovation projects and large expenses, such as college tuition. More supply is coming on the market, and primary mortgage rates are higher than they were over the summer.

Persons: Andy Walden, Walden Organizations: Los Angeles , California ., ICE Mortgage Technology, Federal Reserve, Fed Locations: Chatsworth, Los Angeles , California, Los Angeles , California . U.S

☆ Mortgage demand stalls as interest rates surge higher ahead of election
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Mortgage rates rose last week for the fourth time in five weeks, causing another pullback in refinancing. Total mortgage application volume was essentially flat, falling 0.1% compared with the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index. Government refinances accounted for a large part of the decrease, dropping 12 percent over last week," wrote Joel Kan, an MBA economist, in a release. Real estate brokerages have reported a surge in interest from homebuyers recently, as the supply of homes for sale has increased. Mortgage rates moved higher to start this week.

Persons: Government refinances, Joel Kan, brokerages, Matthew Graham Organizations: Mortgage, Mortgage News Locations: Atlanta , Georgia, refinances, Government

☆ Pending home sales took an unexpected leap higher last month, but rates are now much higher
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

These so-called "pending" sales were at the highest level since March and 2.6% higher than September of last year. Since pending sales are based on signed contracts, representing people out shopping during the month, it is the most current indicator of buyer demand. "Further gains are expected if the economy continues to add jobs, inventory levels grow, and mortgage rates hold steady." Regionally pending sales were higher year over year in the Northeast and West and flat in the Midwest and South. The levels of mortgage demand are still historically low, and sales, while higher, are as well.

Persons: Lawrence Yun, Selma Hepp Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Analysts, Mortgage News, Realtors, Mortgage, Association Locations: Northeast, West, Midwest, homebuyers

☆ Stratospheric, AI-enabled robotic cameras on balloons could help you get your insurance claim check faster
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-22 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

New technology, however, using drones, artificial intelligence and weather balloons aims to modernize and accelerate that process. Near Space Labs, a Brooklyn, New York-based startup, invented "Swifts," or stratospheric, AI-enabled robotic cameras that fly on weather balloons. The giant weather balloons fly twice as high as airplanes cruise. Insurance and reinsurance companies, like Swiss Re, are using Near Space to help them understand and price risk. In addition to Third Sphere, Near Space Labs is backed by Crosslink Capital, Wireframe Ventures, IAG Firemark Ventures, Toyota Ventures and Leadout Capital.

Persons: Helene, Milton, Rema Matevosyan, Matevosyan, Shaun Abrahamson, Lisa Rizzolo Organizations: Space Labs, Labs, Swifts, Insurance, Swiss, Crosslink, Wireframe Ventures, IAG Firemark Ventures, Toyota Ventures, Leadout, CNBC Locations: Brooklyn , New York

☆ Amazon goes nuclear, to invest more than $500 million to develop small module reactors
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-16 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Amazon Web Services is investing over $500 million in nuclear power, announcing three projects from Virginia to Washington State. Amazon is the latest large tech company to buy into nuclear power to fuel the growing demands from data centers. "Amazon and X-energy are poised to define the future of advanced nuclear energy in the commercial marketplace," said X-energy CEO J. Clay Sell. Last spring, AWS invested in a nuclear energy project with Talen Energy , signing an agreement to purchase nuclear power from the company's existing Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, a nuclear power station in Salem Township, Pennsylvania. AWS also purchased the adjacent, nuclear-powered data center campus from Talen for $650 million.

Persons: It's, there's, Matthew Garman, Bob Blue, Glenn Youngkin, Youngkin, Garman, Ken Griffin, Clay Sell Organizations: Amazon, Services, Washington State, AWS, Dominion Energy, Nuclear, Google, Kairos, Constellation Energy, Microsoft, Dominion, Gov, Energy, Fund, Citadel, Ares Management Corporation, NGP, University of Michigan, Talen Energy, Susquehanna Steam Electric Locations: Virginia, Washington, Dominion's, SMRs, U.S, Northern Virginia, Loudon County, Washington State, Northwest, Maryland, Salem Township , Pennsylvania, Talen

☆ Weekly mortgage demand tanks 17%, after interest rates hit the highest level since August
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-16 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Mortgage interest rates rose last week for the third straight week, hitting the highest level since August. Total mortgage application volume fell 17% last week compared with the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index. Refinance demand, which is most sensitive to weekly rate moves, fell the hardest, down 26% week-to-week. Applications for a mortgage to purchase a home fell 7% for the week but were 7% higher than the same week one year ago. The recent rise in mortgage rates may have slowed the resurgence in refinancing, but homebuyers may be less concerned about interest rates today and more concerned about the shape of the economy in the coming months.

Persons: Joel Kan Organizations: Mortgage

☆ Weekly mortgage demand drops as interest rates hit the highest level since August
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An abrupt turn higher for mortgage interest rates caused weekly demand from both potential homebuyers and current homeowners to drop. Total mortgage application volume fell 5.1% last week compared to the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index. "In the wake of stronger economic data last week, including the September jobs report, mortgage rates moved higher," said Mike Fratantoni, chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association. Last year at this time, mortgage rates were 131 basis points higher. Mortgage rates moved sharply higher last Friday, following the release of the stronger-than-expected monthly employment report, according to a separate survey from Mortgage News Daily.

Persons: Mike Fratantoni, Fratantoni, Matthew Graham Organizations: Mortgage, Association, Mortgage News Locations: Los Angeles , California

☆ How one startup is making cleaner asphalt by decarbonizing natural gas
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-08 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

"Modern Hydrogen produces clean hydrogen without renewable power. We can do this because we split apart natural gas into clean hydrogen and solid carbon," said Tony Pan, CEO of Modern Hydrogen. Natural gas is a cleaner fuel than oil, but it still emits harmful carbon dioxide when burned. Clients put the Modern Hydrogen system, which looks like a large box, where they would normally use their natural gas. Modern Hydrogen is backed by Gates Frontier, At One Ventures, National Grid Partners, NextEra Energy, Miura Group and Irongrey.

Persons: Tony Pan, Chris Kroeker, Pan, Lisa Rizzolo Organizations: Monolith, Natural Gas, Gates Frontier, One Ventures, National Grid Partners, NextEra Energy, Miura Group, National, CNBC Locations: Seattle, U.S, Canada, Japan, Long, , New York, New York

☆ Zillow adds climate risk data to home listings as threats rise
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-04 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

As concerns about flooding, extreme temperatures, and wildfires grow, this tool also helps agents inform their clients in discussing climate risk, insurance, and long-term affordability." But climate risk firm First Street, which incorporates the effects of climate change into its property risk scores, shows nearly 12% of homes in the state at flood risk. Each for-sale listing on Zillow now displays First Street risk scores for flood, fire, wind, air and heat. This is especially true for the flood risk, because climate change is already intensifying the severity of rainfall, even in minor storms. More than 80% of buyers now consider climate risk when purchasing a home, according to a survey by Zillow.

Persons: Skylar Olsen, Hurricane Helene, Ed Kearns, We've, Zillow, Kearns Organizations: FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Government, First Locations: North Carolina, Carolina

☆ Mortgage rates spike after stronger-than-expected jobs report
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-04 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The average rate on the 30-year-fixed mortgage jumped 27 basis points Friday morning following the release of the government's monthly employment report. Mortgage rates do not follow the Fed, but they loosely follow the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury. For mortgage rates, it is all about what the expectation is next for the Fed. "MBA's forecast is for longer-term rates, including mortgage rates, to remain within a relatively narrow range over the next year," Mortgage Bankers Association's chief economist Michael Fratantoni wrote after the jobs report was released. "This news will push mortgage rates to the top of that range, but we do expect that mortgage rates will stay close to 6% over the next 12 months."

Persons: Matthew Graham, Michael Fratantoni Organizations: Mortgage News, Federal Reserve, Treasury, Mortgage, Association's

☆ Red hot refinance demand retreats after tiny bump higher in mortgage rates
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-02 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Mortgage rates moved ever so slightly higher last week, but it was enough to take a little heat out of what had been a briefly red hot refinance market. That caused total mortgage application volume to fall 1.3% for the week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index. The rate was 139 basis points higher the same week one year ago. As a result, mortgage rates were up modestly," said Mike Fratantoni, MBA's SVP and chief economist in a release. Mortgage rates moved very slightly lower again to start this week, as bond yields dipped following escalations in the bombing in the Middle East conflict.

Persons: Mike Fratantoni, Fratantoni Organizations: Mortgage, MBA's

☆ Mortgage refinance boom takes hold, as weekly demand surges 20%
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-25 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A steady decline in mortgage rates to two-year lows has current homeowners rushing to take advantage of potential savings. Applications to refinance a home loan surged 20% last week compared with the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index. "As a result of lower rates, week-over-week gains for both conventional and government refinance applications increased sharply." Mortgage applications to purchase a home rose just 1% for the week and were 2% higher than the same week one year ago. Mortgage rates haven't moved much to start this week, and will likely wait for more pressing economic data later this week and at the start of October.

Persons: Joel Kan, Kan Organizations: Mortgage Locations: San Rafael , California

☆ Startups are using ‘rock dust’ to make agriculture carbon friendly
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-24 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Agriculture is responsible for more than 10% of global carbon emissions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. But while agriculture is a massive carbon offender, it could now be part of a solution, as startups are trying new ways of using nature to save itself. Startups like Lithos, UNDO Carbon and California-based Eion are experimenting with several types of carbon-absorbing rocks that can accomplish what lime does while permanently removing carbon from the atmosphere at the same time. "We apply a rock dust onto farms, and that helps farmers condition the soil or make the soil better for improvements," said Anastasia Pavlovic, CEO of Eion. "Then over time, that manages to secure and sequester carbon, permanently removing it from the atmosphere."

Persons: Anastasia Pavlovic, Eion, " Pavlovic, Dan Prevost, Prevost, Elon, Pavlovic, Lisa Rizzolo Organizations: U.S . Environmental Protection Agency, Farmers, Eion, Midwest, CNBC Locations: California, Norway, Mississippi, Illinois

☆ Weekly mortgage demand surges 14% higher as interest rates hit two-year low
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-18 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Mortgage rates came down again last week, and with the expectation that they could fall further, mortgage demand suddenly jumped, especially for refinancing. The Federal Reserve is expected to make its first interest rate cut in four years on Wednesday, and while mortgage rates don't follow the Fed exactly, they are influenced by policy. "The most important takeaway is that lower mortgage rates are not only not remotely guaranteed by [the] Fed rate cut. Even with this large jump in volume, it is coming off a very low base, as the vast majority of borrowers have loans with interest rates well below 5%. "Homebuyers are seeing improving affordability conditions, sparked by lower rates and slower home-price growth."

Persons: Jerome Powell's, They're, Matthew Graham, Joel Kan, Kan Organizations: Federal, Mortgage News, Mortgage, Labor, Fed, Association

☆ How one climate startup aims to use AI to protect the power grid
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

As fires intensify in the western United States, utility companies are on the front lines, working to protect the power lines that serve millions of customers. And as the frequency of fires and severe storms increases, so does the amount of technology that utility companies use to keep things running. National Grid, which services customers in much of the northeast, is both a client of and investor in AIDash through its venture capital arm, National Grid Partners. In addition to National Grid Partners, AIDash is backed by Duke Energy , Edison International, Shell Ventures, Lightrock and SE Ventures. As part of the green transition, and as more industries make the switch to all-electric power, grid capacity and reliability will become even more vital.

Persons: Abhishek Singh, AIDash, Singh, Andre Turenne, Turenne, Lisa Rizzolo Organizations: CNBC, Grid, National Grid Partners, AIDash, Duke Energy, Edison International, Shell Ventures, Ventures, National Grid Locations: United States, U.S, California, AIDash, United Kingdom, New York, Massachusetts

☆ Mortgage rates hit lowest level since February 2023
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-11 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

According to a report by the National Association of Realtors, pending home sales fell 1.5 percent in October to their lowest level in 20 years. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)Mortgage rates fell for the sixth straight week last week, but mortgage demand still seems to be waiting for something bigger. That is the lowest level since February 2023 and nearly a full percentage point lower than the same week one year ago. Total mortgage demand, however, rose just 1.4% for the week, according to the MBA's seasonally adjusted index. Mortgage rates continued to move lower to start this week, according to a separate survey by Mortgage News Daily, but the monthly release of the Consumer Price Index, a measure of inflation, on Wednesday could impact the direction of rates more sharply in either direction.

Persons: Justin Sullivan, Joel Kan, Kan, Matthew Graham Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Mortgage, Association, Treasury, Federal Reserve, Labor, Mortgage News Locations: CALIFORNIA, Larkspur , California

☆ Home listings are up more than 60% in some cities. Here's where
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-06 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Nationwide, active listings in August were up 36% compared with the same month last year, according to a new report from Realtor.com. "The widely anticipated Fed rate cut has already ushered in lower mortgage rates, but it seems that some buyers and sellers are waiting for additional declines." Regionally, active listings rose 46% in the South, 35.7% in the West, 23.8% in the Midwest and 15.1% in the Northeast. More supply and longer selling times are finally translating into lower prices. Part of that is due to the mix of homes on the market, as more smaller homes are being listed.

Persons: Patrick T, Fallon, PATRICK T, FALLON, Danielle Hale, Ralph McLaughlin Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Getty, Nationwide, Mortgage, Association, Midwest Locations: Los Angeles , California, United States, AFP, Tampa, San Diego, Miami, Seattle, Denver, West

☆ This water treatment startup is already a unicorn, and has $225 million in VC funding
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-27 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

While it might seem like humans and animals consume most of the world's water, heavy industry uses up to half of it. That's why business sectors are looking for new ways to recycle water, especially in the face of increased drought. The global water and wastewater treatment market is expected to reach half a trillion dollars by the end of this decade, according to Statista. "Other technologies can recover maybe 50 to 60% of water, but we can recover 99% of water," Govindan said. It claims to save 1.7 billion gallons of water daily, or the amount consumed by 48 million people.

Persons: Prakash Govindan, Anurag Bajpayee, Govindan, Gradiant, Mark Danchak, Warburg Pincus, Lisa Rizzolo Organizations: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT, BMW, Pfizer, Adnoc, General Innovation Capital Partners, G Investments, Clearvision Ventures, CNBC Locations: Statista, Veolia, Boston

☆ Mortgage refinancing surges 35% in one week, as interest rates hit lowest level in over a year
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-14 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

It appears to have taken a few weeks for current homeowners to realize mortgage rates had dropped dramatically. Applications to refinance a home loan surged 35% last week, compared with the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's seasonally adjusted index. While rates dropped just 1 basis point last week, they were down 33 basis points in the past four weeks. They were also 62 basis points lower than the same week a year ago. Mortgage rates started this week essentially flat, but that could change with the release of the government's monthly inflation report, the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Persons: Joel Kan, Matthew Graham Organizations: Woodland, Lifestyle Homes, Mortgage, FHA, Index, Mortgage News Locations: Cold Springs , Nevada

☆ This startup will sell methane-eating microbes to Whole Foods
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

While some companies are trying to reduce methane emissions, others are trying to capture and remove it as it's produced. These naturally occurring microscopic organisms live in the soil and eat methane as food for survival. Much like yeast that eats sugar in bread and produces substances that make it rise, mems eat methane and produce fertilizer. This would mitigate methane emissions and enable the grocery company to make climate-friendly claims for their milk and other products. In addition to Cavallo Ventures, Windfall is backed by Prelude Ventures, Amazon Climate Pledge Fund, Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Mayfield.

Persons: Josh Silverman, I've, Silverman, We've, we've, Brett Morris, Lisa Rizzolo Organizations: Investors, Cavallo Ventures, Foods, Prelude Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, CNBC Locations: California, Mayfield

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