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I’m tripping over their bodies,” said Sydney Seiler, the U.S. national intelligence officer for North Korea from 2020 to 2023. “Kim Jong Un is selling North Korean soldiers as cannon fodder mercenaries,” South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun said last month. It’s an entirely new environment for the North Korean soldiers, who live in one of the most isolated and repressive countries in the world. The Russian military is teaching the North Korean soldiers about 100 key military terms, but “North Koreans are having a difficult time learning Russian,” South Korean lawmakers Lee Sung-kwon and Park Sun-won said last month. North Korean soldiers’ inexperience could be another point of friction and a major factor in how they are deployed.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, Putin, ”, Sydney Seiler, Seiler, Gavriil, Joe Biden, Yoon Suk Yeol, Shigeru Ishiba, Kim, “ Kim Jong, Kim Yong, hyun, John Hardie, Lee Sung, Bruce Bennett, ” Hardie, Bennett, ” Bennett, Edward Howell, “, ” Howell, Stella Kim Organizations: Ukraine, North, NBC News, U.S, The State Department, Korea’s National Intelligence Service, NBC, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Getty Images, Economic Cooperation, South Korean Defense, Pentagon, Politico, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, North Korean, South Korean National Intelligence Service, AFP, Getty, Korean, Battalion, Russian Ministry of Defense, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, South, Sun, Rand Corp . Communication, Chatham House Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, Ukraine, Moscow, Russia, U.S, North Korea, Russian, Kursk, Korean, Korea, Washington, Pyongyang, Getty Images North Korea, South, Asia, Lima , Peru, The U.S, California, Ukrainian, London, Seoul, Hong Kong

☆ As the housing affordability crisis deepens, Airbnb and Vrbo face backlash
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-28 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —It’s been more than six years since Irvine, California, banned short-term rentals — and the city’s mayor hasn’t looked back. “I certainly don’t think it’s a major driver of the housing affordability crisis,” Nieuwerburgh said. “The reality is that there just simply aren’t enough short-term rentals out there to really make a difference,” Yedinsky said. In Irvine, although Mayor Khan said the ban had been well received, Irvine’s housing affordability issues aren’t yet solved. Each Airbnb or other short-term rental host must pay a fee to the city to operate as a short-term rental business.

Persons: CNN — It’s, hasn’t, “ It’s, ”, Farrah Khan, ” Irvine, Michael Seiler, College of William & Mary, “, ” Theo Yedinsky, Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh, ” Nieuwerburgh, I’m, Airbnb, ” Yedinsky, ” Vrbo, Sieler, Khan, ” Khan, “ We’re, —, Dan Enright, ” Enright, Enright Organizations: CNN, College of William &, Public, Research, Harvard Business, Columbia University, Telluride Locations: Irvine , California, Irvine, Orange County, Telluride, Colorado’s Rocky, Virginia, New York City

☆ As North Korea, Iran and China support Russia’s war, is a ‘new axis’ emerging?
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-24 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The remains of an unidentified missile, which Ukrainian authorities claimed to be made in North Korea, is seen at a site of a Russian strike in Kharkiv, Ukraine on January 2. China, Russia and Iran have also held four joint naval drills since 2019, and China is by far Iran’s largest energy buyer. Beijing also carefully manages its relationship with North Korea – which is almost wholly economically and diplomatically dependent on China. “Russia, North Korea, Iran is the type of grouping that China least wants to openly associate itself with,” said Tong Zhao, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. An Iranian military boat patrols ahead of the start of a joint naval drill of Iran, Russia and China in the Indian Ocean in May.

Persons: They’ve, Lloyd Austin, George W, Bush’s, ”, Kim Jong, Kim, there’s, what’s, Bashar al, Assad, Israel –, Xi Jinping, Putin, Alex Gabuev, Sofiia Gatilova, Xi, Loup, “, Tong Zhao, Zhao, Sydney Seiler Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Korean, Moscow’s, US, North, West, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, China’s, National University of Singapore’s Middle East Institute, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Iranian Army, AP, UN, National Defense Strategy, NATO, Center for Strategic, International Studies Locations: Hong Kong, Russia, Ukraine, United States, Tehran, China, Iran, North Korea, Washington, Europe, Pacific, Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, Imperial Japan, Iraq, South Korea, Pyongyang, Syria, Beijing, Moscow, Berlin, Kharkiv, Kazan, Israel, Jean, South, Taiwan, “ Russia, ”, Iranian, Asia, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, North Asia, Sydney

☆ Housing affordability: Kamala Harris wants to take on corporate landlords and rent increases
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-21 | by ( Samantha Delouya | Rachel Wilson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

While rent prices are undoubtedly rising, it’s unclear how much of the jump is due to corporate investors who buy up multiple properties. “Community after community feels taken advantage of by Wall Street investors and corporate landlords who have bought thousands of single-family homes during recent downturns,” Harris’ policy platform reads. A CNN analysis found that rent increases recently outpaced wage growth in cities with a meaningful presence of big investors. Ownership by corporate landlords, which CNN calculated by combining limited liability entities, real estate corporations and real estate investment trusts, stood at 16%. The number of single-family homes under construction dramatically decreased after the 2008 financial crisis, and construction never really returned to pre-recession levels.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Harris, ” Harris, Michael Seiler, College of William & Mary, “, we’re, ” Seiler, Laurie Goodman, ” Goodman, Donald Trump, ” Jared Kushner, Trump’s, CoreLogic, Goodman, “ There’s, ” Organizations: CNN, White House, Wall Street, College of William &, Urban Institute, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Housing Finance, Center, SSRS, Republican, Census Locations: United States, Atlanta, Jacksonville , Florida, Charlotte, North Carolina, Zillow

☆ Plan to buy a home in the next year or two? Here are 5 steps to take now to get your finances ready
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Mortgage lenders will consider lots of different metrics and circumstances when assessing your creditworthiness. Check your credit reports and credit scoresTwo other factors lenders will consider are your credit history and credit score. Kill the credit card debtA key way to improve your credit score is to reduce your credit card debt. “The minute they pull your credit score, it is going to [reflect] what is on my credit card that day,” MBA’s Seiler said. “Because there are many variables that affect an individual consumer’s credit score, we can’t say a specific number of months,” FICO’s Zeibert said.

Persons: ”, Avi Adler, Sara Zuckerman, Margaret Poe, Poe, you’ll, Eddie Seiler, Joe Zeibert, You’re, ” Adler, MBA’s Seiler, ” FICO’s Zeibert, “, ” Seiler, Zuckerman, Adler, ” Zuckerman Organizations: New, New York CNN, Long & Foster, Consumer Financial, Bureau, Mortgage, Association Locations: New York, annualcreditreport.com, TransUnion

According to financial coach Hillary Seiler, you still need to spend less than you earn, even if that requires adjusting your budget. To make it from paycheck to paycheck, many are finding themselves spending more money and carrying credit card debt. "People never want to hear this one piece of advice, but it's important to spend less than you earn in any economic environment, but especially now." AdvertisementHere are three ways to start spending less than you earn:1. Review and adjust your spending habitsLook at how you spend your money. "You can earn more interest on your money now, and that will help it grow much quicker."

Persons: Hillary Seiler, Hilary Seiler, Seiler, doesn't Organizations: Business

☆ A New Surge in Power Use Is Threatening U.S. Climate Goals
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Brad Plumer | Nadja Popovich | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +14 min

Nathan Howard for The New York TimesIn California, electric vehicles could soon account for 10 percent of peak power demand. AP Photo/Mike StewartIn interviews, utility executives say gas is needed to back up wind and solar power, which don’t run all the time. Gas plants can sometimes be easier to build than renewables, since they may not require new long-distance transmission lines. “It’s going to take a diversified fleet.”Mr. Mitchell noted that Georgia Power was planning a large build-out of solar power and batteries over the next decade and would offer incentives to companies to use less power during times of grid stress. The tech companies and manufacturers that are driving up electricity demand could also play a major role, experts say.

Persons: ”, Daniel Brooks, Nathan Howard, Lauren Justice, Biden’s, “, Tyler H, Norris, Mr, John Wilson, Ken Seiler, Seiler, Devin Hartman, Duke, Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy’s, it’s, we’ve, Georgia Power, It’s, Greg Buppert, Megan Varner, Mike Stewart, Aaron Mitchell, “ It’s, Mitchell, Heather O’Neill, Brian Janous Organizations: Electric Power Research Institute, The New York Times, Duke University, Biden, Utilities, North American Electric Reliability Corporation, Boston Consulting, Dominion Energy, Nationwide, R Street Institute, The New York Times Soaring, Duke Energy, Georgia, Southern Environmental Law Center, AP, Dominion, Georgia Power, Advanced Energy, Microsoft Locations: America, California, Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina , Tennessee, Kansas, Northern Virginia, Arizona, Texas, Illinois, New Jersey, York City, PJM, “ Texas, Ashburn, Va, Dalton , Ga, Dalton, Duke

Hillary Seiler works with NFL players to help them build solid financial habits and create wealth. AdvertisementPrioritize good credit so you can get the best interest rates and avoid obstacles to buying a home. Hillary Seiler, founder of Financial Footwork, helps clients improve their finances, including working with many NFL players to establish good financial habits and preserve their wealth. Seiler says the strategies she shares with NFL clients can be used by anyone to build wealth and financial stability. Prioritize a good credit scoreCredit has always been important, but now in a high interest rate environment, good credit is crucial.

Persons: Hillary Seiler, Seiler, Read Organizations: NFL, Business

☆ Mortgage rates edge closer to 7%, dampening start of spring homebuying season
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington, DC CNN —Mortgage rates climbed for the fourth week in a row, inching closer to 7% just as peak homebuying season gets underway. Since reaching a 20-year high of 7.79% in October, mortgage rates have been slowly falling. The average mortgage rate is based on mortgage applications that Freddie Mac receives from thousands of lenders across the country. Last week, mortgage applications dropped 5.6% from the week before, according to the MBA. Higher home prices pushed loan amounts higher in January, offsetting what was a monthly decline in mortgage rates, said Edward Seiler, MBA’s associate vice president for housing economics.

Persons: Freddie Mac, ”, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s, Khater, Bob Broeksmit, Mike Fratantoni, Edward Seiler, MBA’s, Lawrence Yun Organizations: DC CNN —, “, Federal Reserve, Mortgage, Association, National Association of Realtors Locations: Washington

Hillary Seiler, founder of Financial Footwork, says a personal loan can make sense if you want to consolidate debt. According to Hillary Seiler, a financial coach and founder of Financial Footwork, a personal loan could be a great option, depending on your situation. AdvertisementHere are 3 times a personal loan can be a good idea:1. You have multiple debts to consolidateDebt consolidation is one of the most popular reasons to get a personal loan. AdvertisementIf you have a payday loan, for example, it's likely to carry a much higher interest rate than a personal loan from a bank.

Persons: they're, Hillary Seiler, —, Seiler Organizations: Service, Consumers, Business

Inflation is still having an impact, and consumers are definitely feeling it at the grocery store. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. I have seen this myself when I go to the grocery store and buy five items … for $65. They are typically going to be cheaper than the grocery store,” Seiler says. Check your pantry firstThis last tip is one that we all can and should do before even making a shopping list.

Persons: Hillary Seiler, —, Seiler, “, ” Seiler Organizations: Service, NFL, Business

☆ US raises concerns about cozying relations between Russia and North Korea
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Katie Bo Lillis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

In January, high-ranking North Korean and Russian diplomats met in Moscow in advance of what North Korean state media says is a forthcoming visit to Pyongyang by Russian President Vladimir Putin himself — his first in more than 20 years. Trade with Russia could also further weaken the sanctions regime the US has placed on North Korea, also accelerating its economy and potentially bolstering its arms development program. As always with North Korea, deciphering how the hermit kingdom may respond is like reading chicken bones. For weeks, a blog post on an influential North Korea watchers website written by two former analysts circulated within the US government. If anything, some analysts believe, North Korea’s public statements signal that North Korea is abandoning its reunification policy in pursuit of peace on the peninsula.

Persons: Kim Jong, Vladimir Putin, —, Biden, Jake Sullivan, Kim, ”, “, ” Jeffrey Lewis, Lewis, ” Lewis, Sydney Seiler, Seiler, ” Kim doesn’t, “ That’s, “ Kim, it’s, We’re, ” Seiler, we’ll Organizations: CNN, North, Russia, Intelligence, White House, DPRK, Democratic People’s, Middlebury Institute of International Studies, North Korean, National Intelligence Council, US Locations: North Korea, Washington, South Korea, Russia, Moscow, Pyongyang, Russian, Korea, Democratic People’s Republic, Soviet Union, United States, North, China, Beijing, Japan, Korean

☆ The best evidence yet that banning Airbnbs will make rent go down
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Katya Schwenk | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

The case of IrvineWhen the city of Irvine took on short-term rentals in 2018, Airbnb seemed unstoppable. Its tentacles had spread to cities across the globe, converting entire neighborhood blocks, in the most dramatic cases, to short-term rentals. Plenty of cities had passed ordinances banning short-term rentals, only to see Airbnb listings continue to pop up. That's consistent with data on short-term rentals in Irvine, which showed that by January 2021, the number of listings in Irvine had halved. As the Berlin and Boston studies found, when houses or apartments are pulled off the long-term market to be used as short-term rentals, housing supply decreases.

Persons: it's, that's, Banning, Irvine, Airbnb, Michael Seiler, College of William & Mary, Seiler, Murray Cox, Ken Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Cox, Airbnbs, Alicia Glen, Sarah Saadian, It's, we're, Saadian, Katya Schwenk Organizations: —, New, Real Estate Economics, College of William &, Irvine, New York's, Housing Coalition, The Locations: New York City, New York, York City, Irvine , California, Orange County, Real, Irvine, Plenty, Airbnbs, . New York City, Berlin, Boston, Burlington , Vermont, Summit County, Colorado, New, Airbnb, Phoenix , Arizona

☆ Microsoft product chief Panos Panay is leaving the company
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Panos Panay, Microsoft's chief product officer, talks about Windows 11 at the Windows 11 launch event that was streamed live on June 24, 2021. Microsoft's product chief, Panos Panay, will leave the software and hardware maker, executive vice president Rajesh Jha told employees on Monday. The shakeup represents a changing of the guard after more than a decade of sales of Microsoft's Surface PCs, which Panay has presented to consumers at company events. Team,After nearly 20 years at the company, Panos Panay has decided to leave Microsoft. Best,RajeshWATCH: The Microsoft Surface Go is a good computer, but a very bad tablet

Persons: Panos Panay, Panos, Rajesh Jha, Yusuf Mehdi, Satya Nadella, Mehdi, Charles Simonyi, Jha, I've, I'm, Pavan Davuluri, Brett Ostrum, Nino Storniolo, Linda Averett, Ken Pan, Ralf Groene, Aidan Marcuss, Carlos Picoto, Stevie Bathiche, Robin Seiler, Ruben Caballero, Anuj, Shilpa Ranganathan, Jeff Johnson, Ali Akgun, Mikhail Parakhin, Terri Chudzik, Erin Kolb, Mike Davidson, Let's, Rajesh Organizations: Windows, Microsoft Locations: Panos Panay, Panay, New York

“But in terms of the logic of North Korea, they make sense." Worrisome possible outcomes include Russia helping North Korea beef up “its pretty antiquated ... museum-ready” conventional forces or its weapons of mass destruction, Seiler said. “North Korea was clearly developing capabilities that would enhance its position vis-à-vis South Korea. ‘I WAS BROUGHT TO TEARS'Among his experiences in North Korea that stood out, Seiler pointed to watching a landmark 1983 Korean television show. Unscripted, the show turned into an emotional, marathon, 453-hour live broadcast that reunited Korean families divided under Japanese colonization or during World War II and the Korean War.

Persons: Kim Il Sung, Syd Seiler, Seiler, Kim, Don’t, “, Kim Jong, —, Nicolae Ceausescu, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, Kim “, ” Seiler, ”, Putin, China's, ‘, it's Organizations: WASHINGTON, Associated Press, U.S, Korean, KOREA Locations: U.S, North Korea, South Korea, Romanian, Korea, RUSSIA, Russia, Ukraine, United States, Taiwan, Korean

☆ Home affordability is the worst it has been since 1984
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington, DC CNN —Buying a house requires a much bigger slice of people’s income now — making this the most unaffordable housing market since 1984, by one measure. The number of cost-burdened renters increased by 1.2 million, to a record 21.6 million households, between 2019 and 2021. In all, 40.6 million households were housing-cost burdened in 2021, including 20.3 million who were severely burdened. Affordability picture remains grim this yearHopeful house hunters continued to face challenging affordability conditions in July as rising mortgage rates and historically low housing inventory pushed prices higher, said Edward Seiler, the Mortgage Bankers Association’s associate vice president for housing economics. “Unfortunately, given today’s lack of inventory and affordability levels, it may take years before home affordability returns to more ‘normal’ levels,” he said.

Persons: Black Knight, Knight, “, ”, Andy Walden, Edward Seiler, Seiler, Joel Kan, Walden, ” It’s Organizations: DC CNN, Federal Reserve, Black, Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, Mortgage, Moody’s Investors Service Locations: Washington

☆ The Supreme Court makes almost all of its decisions on the 'shadow docket.' An author argues it should worry Americans more than luxury trips.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

The Supreme Court makes nearly all its decisions on the emergency relief docket or "shadow docket." What is the Supreme Court 'shadow docket?' Capitol Police watch an abortion-rights rally from behind the security fence surrounding the Supreme Court on June 23, 2022. Public trust in the Supreme Court is at a historic lowNadine Seiler attends a rally for voting rights while the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments in the Moore v. Harper case December 7, 2022. The dangers posed by the shadow docket are more perilous than the wrongs of individual justices, Vladeck argues, because the shadow docket's ills are inherently institutional.

Persons: Steve Vladeck, —, Vladeck, Sonia Sotomayor, Clarence Thomas, John Roberts, Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Scott Applewhite, mifepristone, William Baude, Nathan Howard, it's, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Anthony Kennedy, Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Joe Biden's, Chip Somodevilla, Roe, Wade, Obama, Bush, Trump, Nadine Seiler, Harper, Drew Angerer, stokes Organizations: Service, Supreme, Supreme Court, AP, University of Chicago, Capitol Police, Getty, Former, — Locations: United, Joe Biden's State, Texas, U.S, Moore

☆ Nearly all of the Supreme Court's decisions are made on the 'shadow docket.' It poses an even bigger ethical concern than luxury trips and disclosure forms.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

The Supreme Court makes nearly all its decisions on the emergency relief docket or "shadow docket." What is the Supreme Court "shadow docket?" The court's emergency docket is where justices make quick decisions to address emergency relief requests and other procedural matters. But the vast majority of orders that reach the emergency docket are of little interest to the general public. The dangers posed by the shadow docket are more perilous than the wrongs of individual justices, Vladeck argues, because the shadow docket's ills are inherently institutional.

Persons: Steve Vladeck, —, Vladeck, mifepristone, William Baude, Nathan Howard, it's, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Roe, Wade, Obama, Bush, Trump, Nadine Seiler, Harper, Drew Angerer, stokes Organizations: Service, Supreme, Supreme Court, University of Chicago, Capitol Police, Getty, — Locations: Texas, U.S, Moore

☆ Homeowners now have less equity than a year ago, the first annual decline in a decade
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The average US homeowner with a mortgage has less home equity now than 12 months ago. Equity per borrower slipped 1.9% from the same time last year, CoreLogic data shows. It's the first annual decline in homeowner equity since 2012. In total, homeowners with a mortgage cumulatively lost $108.4 billion in home equity since the first quarter of 2022, about a 0.7% drop. On Thursday, the National Association of Realtors said prices for existing homes fell in 3.1% May, the largest annual decline in since late 2011.

Persons: —, Edward Seiler Organizations: Service, Associated Press, National Association of Realtors

☆ Housing market inventory keeps declining and that's bad news for homebuyers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

We're revisiting housing inventory today because it's one of the key sticking points that's keeping home prices elevated and buyers wary. Get this: The housing market today has 39% fewer homes for sale than before the pandemic. Mortgage rates are currently about double what they were in 2021, when ultra-low rates fueled a home-buying boom. That could help influence mortgage rates to go even higher this year. People who are sitting on the sidelines, waiting for mortgage rates to decline, should know that's unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future."

Persons: I'm Phil Rosen, Jerome Powell, Joe Raedle, There's, Powell, Redfin's Chen Zhao, Edward Seiler, Tweet, JIM WATSON, Morgan Stanley, Steve Eisman, Larry Summers, Richard Branson's, Phil Rosen, Max Adams, Hallam Bullock Organizations: realtors, Mortgage Bankers Association, US, Getty, Fed, FedEx, Nvidia, Bloomberg, Treasury, Virgin Galactic Locations: homebuilding, New York, London

☆ The housing market has about 40% fewer homes for sale than before the pandemic, and listings keep falling
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The current housing market offers 39% fewer homes for sale than pre-pandemic, Redfind said. Homeowners are unwilling to part ways with low mortgage rates secured before borrowing costs went up. Mortgage rates are now hovering close to 7%, nearly double where they were at in 2021, when ultra-low rates fueled a home-buying boom. "People who are sitting on the sidelines, waiting for mortgage rates to decline, should know that's unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future. Edward Seiler, the associate vice president for housing economics at the Mortgage Bankers Association, told Insider earlier that the housing market has never been this unaffordable for new buyers.

Persons: Redfind, —, Chen Zhao, Redfin, Edward Seiler, Seiler Organizations: Service, Federal Reserve, Mortgage, Mortgage Bankers Association Locations: homebuilding

☆ UBS just reshuffled its leadership ranks after buying Credit Suisse. See the new power players in charge of the $1.7 trillion Swiss banking behemoth.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Michelle Abrego | Kaja Whitehouse | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

The merger between Credit Suisse and UBS creates a new Swiss banking behemoth with $1.7 trillion in assets. Investment bank leadersThe president of UBS's investment bank, Robert Karofsky, circulated a memo on Monday announcing his new leadership team. Ebert, co-head of markets at Credit Suisse, was also named head of Credit Suisse for the Investment Bank, reporting to Karofsky. UBS global wealth management president Iqbal Khan revealed the appointments to its critical wealth business in an internal memo titled "Becoming a global wealth powerhouse." Members of the current Credit Suisse wealth management leadership team will report to both Yves-Alain and to their respective UBS global wealth management regional leader.

Persons: Yves, Alain Sommerhalder, Michael Ebert, Robert Karofsky, Ebert, Karofsky, Marco Valla, Valla, Javier Oficialdegui, Mike, I've, George Athanasopoulos, Jason Barron, Ros L'Esperance, Dan Dowd, Taichi Takahashi, Chris Leone, Julie Beavan, Tricia Hazelwood, Jeff Hinton, Kurt Anthony, Laurence Braham, Richard Hardegree, Richard Casavechia, Ozzie Ramos, Jason Williams, Neil Meyer, Ken Tittle, Iqbal Khan, Francesco De Ferrari, Khan, Reuters Yves, Alain, Wiwi Gutmannsbauer, Benjamin Cavalli, Cavalli, Kinner, Amy Lo, Jin Yee Young, Young, Hatecke, UBS's Anton Simonet, Christl, Jason Chandler, Sergio Ermotti, Ralph Hamers, Ermotti, MICHELE LIMINA, Todd Tuckner, Sarah Youngwood, Michelle Bereaux, Stefan Seiler, Christian Bluhm, Damian Vogel, Ulrich Körner Organizations: UBS, Credit Suisse, Suisse, Credit, Wall Street, Investment, Investment Bank, Barclays, Global Banking, Investment Bank Management, Global Markets, Global Research, IB, Resource Management, Staff, MUFG Securities, Reuters, Yves, Deutsche, Switzerland, Swiss Re, Getty Locations: Switzerland's, Swiss, Americas, Asia, Singapore, Switzerland, Europe, Middle East, Africa, America, AFP

☆ The housing market has never been this unaffordable for new buyers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

New home buyers are facing the least affordable market ever, data from the Mortgage Bankers Association shows. A higher reading indicates declining borrower affordability conditions, due to either increasing loan amounts, rising mortgage rates, or a decrease in earnings. Meanwhile, the national median mortgage payment was $2,112 in April, up from $2,093 the prior month, per MBA data. As the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates in 2022, mortgage rates on 30-year fixed loans more than doubled from 3% to above 7%. As of now, with the Fed having made 10 consecutive rate hikes and the June meeting looming, mortgage rates are hovering just under 7%.

Persons: —, Edward Seiler, MBA's, Seiler, Goldman Sachs Organizations: Mortgage Bankers Association, Service, Privacy, Mortgage, Association, Mortgage Bankers, Federal Reserve, Baltimore Locations: Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Florida, California, Louis, Detroit, Chicago

☆ Home buyers are facing the least affordable market on record
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Joe Raedle / Getty ImagesEdward Seiler is the associate vice president for housing economics at the Mortgage Bankers Association. Phil Rosen: The MBA's Purchase Applications Payment Index just hit a new high in April. For new home buyers, this is the worst situation since the end of the Great Recession. Current homeowners that were lucky enough to get a 2.75% interest rate in 2022 are in a great position, but for new buyers looking to buy a first home, or those looking to move to another home, it's a very daunting proposition. In his view, monthly payments for first-time buyers are up roughly one-third compared to last year — and that's going to keep buyers on the sidelines and weigh on demand.

Persons: I'm Phil Rosen —, Joe Raedle, Edward Seiler, Phil Rosen, Jen, Hsun Huang, Huang, Kim Kulish, Gregg Fisher, he's, Jensen Huang, It's, There's, Evercore's Mark Mahaney, Meta, shouldn't, David Rosenberg, who's, Larry Pitkowsky, Max Adams Organizations: Mortgage, Association, Twitter, Nvidia Corp, GPU Technology, Nvidia, Treasury Department, Fed, Tech Locations: San Jose , California, New York

☆ Housing affordability drops as home prices stay elevated and average mortgage costs jumped in March
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Housing affordability dropped in March as low inventory kept home prices elevated, the MBA said. Meanwhile, the average mortgage payment for new applicants increased 1.6% over the month of March. That's largely due to low inventory in the housing market, the MBA said, which has kept home prices high despite downward pricing pressure that usually comes with higher mortgage rates. New listings of homes for sale dropped over 20% in April compared to a year earlier, Redfin reported, marking the steepest drop in housing inventory since the pandemic. Central bankers raised rates over 1,700% in the past year to lower inflation, a move that's influenced mortgage rates to move higher as well.

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