MBS RECAP: Disconcertingly Decent Day For Bonds

Posted To: MBS Commentary

Today brought resolution (probably) for a problem that had been greatly benefiting bonds and rates. Earlier this week, the prospect of snap elections in Italy threatened to stand as a de facto referendum on the country's EU membership. Bonds loved this because a systemically-doomed EU is a great motivation for safe-haven bond buying, not to mention a general economic headwind. Today, Italian officials quietly agreed on alternate nominations that would clear up the political gridlock and help avoid the much-feared elections. Perhaps that news broke too late in the day for European markets to react much. Perhaps it was offset by other bond-friendly developments (such as new tariff announcements or troubling revelations for Deutsche Bank). Perhaps it was all a bit too sudden and convenient...(read more)

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Mortgage Rate Volatility Remains a Risk

Posted To: Mortgage Rate Watch

Mortgage rates were effectively unchanged today, despite political developments in Italy providing plenty of justification to move higher. Specifically, Italian lawmakers found a way to move forward with staffing a new coalition government despite an apparent impasse earlier this week. That impasse was an underlying factor for the big drop in rates this week. It could be that the news out of Italy was offset by other developments (tariff announcement and news of Deutsche Bank's "troubled" status with the Fed), or it may have simply been too late in the day for European markets to react. We'll know more about that tomorrow. In addition to sorting out the true impact European politics (read more about why such a thing matters currently in yesterday's article ), tomorrow also bring the task of...(read more)

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601 Beach Crescent in Vancouver

601 Beach Crescent by Pinnacle International is a new 52-storey highrise development located on the east side of the Granville Street Bridge, in Downtown Vancouver. The proposal calls for approximately 300 market homes within the tower, plus a large lot-spanning podium with 152 non-market housing units, with a total square footage of 126,710 square feet. The non-market housing unit mix is 13% studios, 50% one-bedroom, 20% two-bedroom and 16% three-bedroom.

The post 601 Beach Crescent in Vancouver appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

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We’re Totally Obsessed With This New IKEA Hack That Has a Feminist Twist

We all love IKEA for its simple, Scandinavian design and reasonable prices, but that versatility and affordability often makes decorating your home painfully ubiquitous. Instead of unearthing a one-of-a-kind piece—and feeling like a total design pro—you end up with the same furniture as your coworker, best friend, old college roommate, and your favorite influencers. Ugh.

But just because you (rightfully) love IKEA doesn't mean your space needs to fall into basic territory. A company called Norse Interiors is making replacement parts for Ikea's popular Bestå line—with a feminist twist—and we are obsessed.

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These Tiny Camping Pods Could Be the Next Glamping Trend

If you're anything like me, your Instagram feed over Memorial Day Weekend was filled with FOMO-inducing photos of friends camping out in nature's splendor across the country—whether shot from the rear windows of a camper van or RV or from within the confines of a glamping resort. 'Tis the season to rusticate and sleep under the stars, and these tiny glamping pods are the new objet d'envy.

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A Blogger's Cali Bungalow Is the Perfect Mix of Beach & Boho — House Tour

Name: Megan Martinez and Caleb Light-Wills
Location: Santa Monica, California
Size: 1,100 square feet
Years lived in: 2 years, renting

When Megan moved to Los Angeles seven years ago from New York, she didn't feel like she was really home until she found what she now calls her, "Boho Beach Bungalow" two years ago. As a blogger and designer, Megan's home became the perfect canvas to create the beachy vibe she longed for while living on the Westside of LA. She has a yard for her husky, Dakota, and plenty of space to cook, lounge and of course, decorate! She is constantly moving things around in her home, but for the most part, she and her boyfriend have chosen everything in their home together.

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The Best Table Fans — The Guide 2018

Staying cool in the summer is no easy feat, especially when your home lacks the wonderful luxury of air conditioning. Even if you are lucky enough to have the gift of AC, some days it just doesn't cut it, or you'd simply rather have a lighter breeze instead of full blown air conditioning. In any case, table fans are practically a necessity once the temperature hits above 70 degrees. We rounded up our favorites across styles, from the budget-friendly to the seriously luxury, so you can keep your cool all year long.

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15 Online Sources Perfect for The Art Lover on a Budget

I wish I had the kind of disposable income that allowed me to walk into my favorite galleries and buy the work that I love right off the walls, but let's be real, that's just not gonna happen anytime soon. So instead I will rely on the next best (read: affordable) thing: the Internet.

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Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany Buy Most Expensive Brooklyn Townhouse Ever

At $15.5 million, the townhouse that actors Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany just purchased on Brooklyn Heights is believed to be one of the most expensive transactions ever closed in the New York City borough.

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A Small Shared NYC Apartment Is a Feast for the Eyes — House Tour

Name: Jory Sutton and Alex Simon
Location: Washington Heights, NYC
Size: 650 square feet
Years lived in: 3 years, owned

Jory and Alex's 650-square-foot NYC apartment is a feast for the eyes. So much so, the small sneak peek we shared with their house call last year just wasn't a long enough look. With hand-me-downs from family members, vintage pieces purchased at thrift shops, DIY artwork, and different periods and styles of decor, every room has a conversation starter. But while it all comes together to create an eclectic home, the space does not feel frenetic. In fact, their friends compliment them on how their apartment feels "warm, inviting, restful, and tastefully done."

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Here's What's New on Netflix in June

New month means new Netflix. And June is looking to be a good one, what with a bunch of the streaming service's original programming returning and new shows debuting. Check out our must watch picks below.

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The $35 Amazon Lamp Everyone Thinks I Spent a Lot More Money On

After a lifetime of inheriting furniture (and shoving everything else I've inherited in inherited drawers), my life has finally settled down where I can finally buy pieces of my own. But after getting furniture for free (or deeply discounted), it's hard for me to fork up the cold, hard cash (or credit), even if I really like a piece. This had led me to refurbishing my bedroom in short, cheap spurts. I'll pick up a few knobs from CB2 on my way home from work. I'll score a bookshelf from a Wayfair flash sale. I'll borrow my sister's Kohl's credit card for extra discounts and combine with my Kohl's cash to pick up some surprisingly luxe, surprisingly affordable bedding. You get the picture.

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20 New Ways to Use Shelf Brackets You’ve Never Thought Of

Shelf brackets' primary purpose is well known and documented: prop up and secure boards to create wall storage. But did you know that there's an entire outlaw gang of brackets that went rogue? They shrugged off society's expectations about their usefulness and devised entirely new roles for themselves within households and workspaces everywhere.

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Everything That's Leaving Netflix in June

To paraphrase Boyz II Men, it's so hard to say goodbye to our fave Netflix programming (or something like that). Here's everything that's leaving the streaming service in June.

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The 10-Minute Art Hack Hiding in Your Kitchen Drawer

There's no shortage of places to purchase art prints that you love, but sometimes you're on the hunt for something a little more unique—and maybe a little more affordable. If so, this may be the incredibly easy art hack for you.

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Before and After: This Living Room Gets Upgraded with Pattern and Color

Gorgeous hardwood floors, a large window, posh location, a fireplace, and built-ins galore? Yes, please. This Upper East Side apartment's living room was already dreamy as hell, but one bold client-designer team knew it could be so much more.

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"Dire" Supply Levels Pull Pending Home Sales Lower

Posted To: MND NewsWire

Pending home sales, like both new and existing home sales reported earlier this month, posted an April loss. The National Association of Realtors® said its Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) declined 1.3 percent in April , down from its March reading of 107.8 (revised from 107.6) to 106.4. The index, a leading indicator of existing homes sales, had posted modest increases in each of the previous two months. The PHSI is down 2.1 percent from its level in April 2017. It was the fourth straight month the index has lagged on an annual basis. Analysts had expected pending sales to extend their winning streak. The consensus of those polled by Econoday was a monthly gain of 0.4 percent. The range of estimates was from unchanged to a 1.0 percent increase. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, says the...(read more)

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"Dire" Supply Levels Pull Pending Home Sales Lower

Posted To: MND NewsWire

Pending home sales, like both new and existing home sales reported earlier this month, posted an April loss. The National Association of Realtors® said its Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) declined 1.3 percent in April , down from its March reading of 107.8 (revised from 107.6) to 106.4. The index, a leading indicator of existing homes sales, had posted modest increases in each of the previous two months. The PHSI is down 2.1 percent from its level in April 2017. It was the fourth straight month the index has lagged on an annual basis. Analysts had expected pending sales to extend their winning streak. The consensus of those polled by Econoday was a monthly gain of 0.4 percent. The range of estimates was from unchanged to a 1.0 percent increase. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, says the...(read more)

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David Sedaris Has Very Strong Feelings About Candles

When it comes to taboo life advice that one can actually use in their 20s and 30s, beloved humorist and author David Sedaris dishes out some of the best. (Hello, that cautionary-tale tip from Me Talk Pretty One Day that keeps us all from trying on thrift store jeans before they've been washed, amiright?) On The Late Show with Stephen Colbert this week, Sedaris shared a peek of the commencement address he gave at Oberlin College—and his strong feelings about candles.

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MBS Day Ahead: Bonds Attempt to Consolidate Recent Gains

Posted To: MBS Commentary

Even after yesterday's weakness, bond markets remained in much stronger territory on the week due to the size of Tuesday's move. This is a fairly typical pattern surrounding big, unexpected shifts in trading levels. The first day sets the direction of the move. The second day is basically a throw-away day for adjustment and the third day finally starts showing us where things might start settling down, all things being equal. That "all things being equal" part is important in cases where the big first-day move is driven by an event that's subject to near-term change (like Italian politics, which could change at any moment, as opposed to something like an NFP reading, which couldn't change for at least a month). In other words, any solidification of recent gains remains...(read more)

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MBS Day Ahead: Bonds Attempt to Consolidate Recent Gains

Posted To: MBS Commentary

Even after yesterday's weakness, bond markets remained in much stronger territory on the week due to the size of Tuesday's move. This is a fairly typical pattern surrounding big, unexpected shifts in trading levels. The first day sets the direction of the move. The second day is basically a throw-away day for adjustment and the third day finally starts showing us where things might start settling down, all things being equal. That "all things being equal" part is important in cases where the big first-day move is driven by an event that's subject to near-term change (like Italian politics, which could change at any moment, as opposed to something like an NFP reading, which couldn't change for at least a month). In other words, any solidification of recent gains remains...(read more)

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DTC Product; Credit Box Changes; Jobs and Spending

Posted To: Pipeline Press

At the recent MBA conference, plenty of discussion focused on non-QM lending. But plenty "off the record" discussions among execs mentioned changing LO comp and waiting for competitors to fail. Correspondent investors and warehouse banks all maintain a watch list of mortgage companies who are losing money and appeared to be ready to cut off those customers who cannot restore profitability in the 2nd and/or 3rd quarters of 2018. The STRATMOR Group weighed in on profitability below. Profits and Volume Volume is one thing, but is your company making money? If "yes," then good. Did it make money in the last quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2018? If the answer is "yes" again, that's superb since it seems nearly every other residential lender lost...(read more)

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DTC Product; Credit Box Changes; Jobs and Spending

Posted To: Pipeline Press

At the recent MBA conference, plenty of discussion focused on non-QM lending. But plenty “off the record” discussions among execs mentioned changing LO comp and waiting for competitors to fail. Correspondent investors and warehouse banks all maintain a watch list of mortgage companies who are losing money and appeared to be ready to cut off those customers who cannot restore profitability in the 2nd and/or 3rd quarters of 2018. The STRATMOR Group weighed in on profitability below. Profits and Volume Volume is one thing, but is your company making money? If “yes,” then good. Did it make money in the last quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2018? If the answer is “yes” again, that’s superb since it seems nearly every other residential lender lost...(read more)

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8 Apps Everyone with Wanderlust Needs to Download ASAP

The days are short and the world is wide, my friends—there's so much to see out there and seemingly so little time to do it, which is perhaps why some of us (read: me) have an incurable case of wanderlust.

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Cedar Creek in the heart of South Burnaby

Ledingham McAllister is excited to announce the launch of Cedar Creek, coming soon to the heart of South Burnaby. Inspired by the majestic Cedar, these six-storey, wood-frame residences embody West Coast design and convenient living in the established Edmonds neighbourhood. A fresh new community within walking distance of shopping, education, entertainment, recreation, SkyTrain, and every conceivable amenity for easy and active living.This beautiful collection of 1 bedroom and den to 3 bedroom homes, ranging in size from 635 to 995 sq.ft., all boast overheight ceilings, open floor plans, premium appliances and extensive glazing for the brightest and most livable of homes.

The post Cedar Creek in the heart of South Burnaby appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

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MBS RECAP: Obligatory Bounce For Political Moderation in The EU

Posted To: MBS Commentary

Back in 2011/2012, EU-related fears had more to do with certain countries being unable to pay their debt and/or general systemic risk relating to Greece being the first domino in the eventual complete collapse of the union. We got past that. Now the fear has morphed into that of various countries opting to exit the EU (as The UK already did). The focus is currently on Italy in that regard. Yesterday's developments made the risk seem as big as its been--ever, really. An Italian EU exit would be a big deal and markets treated it accordingly. Today's headlines brought a dose of moderation to the political landscape, with most of the stakeholders apparently interested in avoiding the snap elections that threaten to serve as a referendum on Italy's EU membership. To whatever extent the...(read more)

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Mortgage Rates Slightly Higher After Yesterday's Big Drop

Posted To: Mortgage Rate Watch

Mortgage rates were somewhat higher today as politicians struck a more conciliatory tone in Italy. To be clear, we are indeed talking about mortgage rates in the United States in relation to European politics. It's not the first time and it likely won't be the last. The European Union is massive in terms of the size of its economy and its impacts on the global financial system. Threats to the stability of the EU cause shockwaves in financial markets. Those shockwaves have an impact on everything from stock prices to mortgage rates. The latest threat is Italy's would-be government: a coalition between 2 parties that are both less than enthusiastic about Italy remaining in the EU. They drafted a lawmaking gameplan 2 weeks ago, and while it didn't include any specific goals regarding the country...(read more)

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Does Stockholm Have the Most Instagrammable Train Stations in the World?

While Sweden might not have the most extensive public transit system, it certainly might have the prettiest—which some people are actually calling the longest art gallery in the world. Nearly 90% of Stockholm's train stations feature an art installation of some kind, and if these subway stops were part of our commute one thing is for sure: We'd only ever be late to work from gawking and trying to get the perfect shot of each and every one.

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Get the Look: Little Women's Classic Americana Style Made Modern

There's a scene in the new PBS adaptation of Little Women that takes place at the Walden Pond Boathouse. The girls are having a picnic outing with friends. They're running through a lush forest, down to the bank of the pond and jumping into wooden canoes. Beth sits on a blanket on the shore, with a cute boy and a picnic basket. The colors are bright and vibrant, like the girls' moods. This is my ideal type of summer outing… just subtract the petticoats and add a bikini and rosé. #summergoals

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Floral Print Trends Through the Decades

You can't really go wrong with a floral accent or two in a room. Of course, they sometimes feel a little too saccharine, plus there's crazy granny potential there, too. And you definitely don't want to go overboard, unless you're trying to live in a Liberty of London or Laura Ashley ad.

But generally speaking, a flower patterned pillow, chair, dish, piece of art—heck, wall covering or even carpet—can be a classic item that will have tons of decorative bang for your buck and staying power to boot. And around this time of year, there's nothing better than bringing a little bit of floral whimsy into your home.

But floral motifs have actually evolved quite a bit over the years, and we thought it would be fun to travel down decorative memory lane a bit to see where florals have been, are now, and may be going in the design future.

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This Los Angeles Home's French Doors Will Floor You — House Tour

Name: Tracy Bunkoczy
Location: Koreatown — Los Angeles, California
Size: 1,170 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year, owned

A massive leak in her last home—a beautiful Silver Lake rental apartment— forced design executive Tracy Bunkoczy to move a year ago. She had to find a new place to live in a hurry, so when she found this gem—a condo in a gorgeous refurbished French Normandy style building in Koreatown—she decided go all in and buy rather than commit to a new lease. It's a move that meant she had to decorate her new home without spending a ton of money. "If I had unlimited resources I would definitely make some different choices, but I had to create this environment on a budget," Tracy explains.

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How to Fit a Nursery in a Small Space

From sleepless nights spent caring for your crying baby to being on bottle and diaper duty 24/7, parenthood is one of the most challenging milestones you may ever experience—and the last thing a new parent should worry about is setting up the nursery.

In a perfect world, you'd have an expansive wing for your bundle of joy to crawl, coo, and play in. But in reality? You're probably working with a crammed room (if you're lucky enough to have a dedicated room at all). If square footage is at a premium, check out these space-saving tips.

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9 Home Projects That Cost Less Than The Average Tax Refund

The average tax refund this year is about $3,000, so if you're lucky enough to get that much (or even if you get less) and want to invest it in your home, consider one of these nine home improvement projects—many of which can be done in a weekend.

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These Outdoor Finds Will Make Every Day Feel Like a Vacation

Summer is finally just about upon us. While some are lucky enough to have in-ground pools or nearby beaches to retreat to, many of us only get to enjoy the perks of outdoor living when we're on vacation.

But fret not my broke and overheated friends; there's hope to be had. Turns out there are plenty of ways to turn your own yard into a mini-tropical paradise—without breaking your bank account. To prove our point, we rounded up some awesome outdoor finds that cost less than 50 bucks. So read ahead for 10 ways to forge your own backyard staycation.

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