šŸ“ˆ Homebuyer Blues

Mortgage rates are so high theyā€™re giving homebuyers altitude sicknessā€”and nobodyā€™s lining up to climb that mountain. Meanwhile, the UKā€™s betting on green jet fuel, and Disneyā€™s making streaming moves bolder than your exā€™s Netflix password. Letā€™s get into it!

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The lowdown

Hereā€™s what you missed while you were living your best life:

  • āœˆļø UK pushes green aviation. A new sustainable aviation fuel mandate takes effect, aiming to slash emissions and propel the countryā€™s green aviation efforts. As debates rage over the feasibility of green energy, this law puts pressure on airlines to adaptā€”or face turbulence ahead.

  • šŸ“ŗ Disney buys Fubo. Disney is shaking up the streaming world by acquiring Fubo, a sports-heavy platform known for bundling live TV and on-demand content. The move strengthens Disneyā€™s hand in the fight to dominate streaming bundles as cord-cutters look for all-in-one solutions.

  • šŸ“‰ Bridgewater cuts jobs. Hedge fund giant Bridgewater Associates is trimming 7% of its workforce as it retools to stay competitive in a tighter market. The layoffs are a stark reminder that even financial powerhouses arenā€™t immune to shifting economic tides.

Featured story

Mortgage Rates Surge, Homebuyers Retreat

Ouch! Mortgage rates have soared to their highest levels since July, hitting 6.99% for a 30-year fixed loan and crushing fragile demand. Applications to buy a home dropped 7% last week while refinancing saw a slight bumpā€”but only because levels are so low, they skew the stats. With home prices still sky-high, buyers are sitting out, and the market is feeling the strain.

Higher rates and cautious consumers create a tough reality for the housing market, often serving as an economic bellwether. Even with more homes for sale than last year, affordability keeps the sidelines crowded. Analysts expect more rate-driven pressure as the Federal Reserveā€™s next moves and employment data could nudge rates higher.

The outlook? Grim for now, but a potential rate reprieve could bring relief later in 2025. Until then, the housing market is in survival mode, and buyers will need deep pocketsā€”or nerves of steelā€”to jump back in.

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