Mortgage rates are basically flat again today. The Fed meeting, although not a major policy event, is still in focus for financial market participants right now.
You never know what will happen in the Eccles Building so we could see rates adjust tomorrow when the concluding statement is issued. Read on for more details.
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Market Outlook 4.30.17 from Total Mortgage on Vimeo.
Where are mortgage rates going?
Rates move sideways as Fed meeting begins
The Federal Open Market Committee kicks off its two-day meeting today.
Financial market participants are moving slightly out of bonds and into stocks ahead of the event, pushing up Treasury yields.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which is the best market indicator of where mortgage rates are going, is up a couple basis points to 2.96%.
Mortgage rates tend to follow in the footsteps of the 10-year yield, so we’re seeing some mild upward pressure today.
While the Fed meeting is certainly on investors’ radar, there’s no reason to expect a massive swing in rates tomorrow afternoon.
It’s virtually guaranteed that the FOMC members will vote to keep the nation’s benchmark interest rate, the federal funds rate, unchanged from the prior meeting.
In fact, the language and tone are both expected to be little changed from the previous meeting.
Rate/Float Recommendation
Lock now before rates rise
Mortgage rates are holding at some of the highest levels of the year, but they are poised to continue moving higher.
If you’re considering buying a home or refinancing your current mortgage, it’s more likely right now that rates will rise than fall, so you’re best bet would be to lock in a rate soon.
Learn what you can do to get the best interest rate possible.
Today’s economic data:
FOMC Meeting Begins
The Federal Open Market Committee will begin a two-day meeting today. The event will end tomorrow with a written announcement out at 2pm.
PMI Manufacturing Index
The PMI Manufacturing Index hit a 56.5 for April.
ISM Mfg Index
The ISM Mfg Index came in at a 57.3 for April.
Construction Spending
Construction spending fell 1.7% month over month, putting it up 3.6% year over year.
Notable events this week:
Monday:
Personal Income and Outlays
Chicago PMI
Pending Home Sales Index
Dallas Fed Mfg Survey
Tuesday:
FOMC Meeting Begins
PMI Manufacturing Index
ISM Mfg Index
Construction Spending
Wednesday:
ADP Employment Report
EIA Petroleum Status Report
FOMC Meeting Ends
Thursday:
International Trade
Jobless Claims
Productivity and Costs
PMI Services Index
Factory Orders
ISM Non-Mfg Index
Friday:
Employment Situation
Fedspeak
*Terms and conditions apply.
Carter Wessman
Carter Wessman is originally from the charming town of Norfolk, Massachusetts. When he isn’t busy writing about mortgage related topics, you can find him playing table tennis, or jamming on his bass guitar.
Find yourself a Boston apartment that takes its outside space as seriously as Bostonians take their sports.
There are so many cool neighborhoods in Boston that it’s sometimes hard to narrow your search down. Once you pick a few spots that look good though, you have to start thinking about amenities. Do you want a pool? Do you need a place that’s pet-friendly?
As you think about what features make up the perfect Boston apartment, don’t forget to explore the outdoor space. Having a great spot to hang with friends or just relax, that’s not inside your apartment, is a huge bonus for all renters.
To ease the strain of your search, check out these apartments with some of the best courtyards and gardens in Boston. They’ll keep you headed in the right direction toward finding a gorgeous apartment with a stunning green space.
Source: Rent. / West Square
‘Courtyard perfection’ is the phrase that immediately comes to mind at West Square. This neat and tidy space combines succinct landscaping with umbrella-covered seating. The small lawn space is ideal for picnics or games, while the choices in flowers and greenery really make this space feel calm and complete.
Situated in South Boston, within the D Street – West Broadway neighborhood, this thriving spot has it all. You’re within walking distance of the Red Line, so it’s easy to hop on the subway and explore the entire city, but there’s also plenty to entice you right outside your door. This neighborhood is full of shops, restaurants, a popping nightlife and a diverse assortment of recreational activities. Needless to say, you won’t have a problem keeping busy when you call West Square home.
Source: Rent. / Alcott Apartments
A true gathering place for all, the courtyard at Alcott Apartments is lush and green and full of comfortable seating. Walk across the lawn to grab a seat at the two-top tables beside the rows of mature trees. Settle into one of the rockers, or let your kids sway back and forth on the modern rocking horses. There are umbrella-clad tables for those who need shade and additional seating under the cabanas, which sit beside the state-of-the-art gas grills.
Another jam-packed Boson neighborhood, living in the West End puts you close to so much of the city’s activity. You’re near the Charles River for casual walks as well as boating or rowing. There’s also the TD Garden within walking distance, home to the Bruins, Celtics and plenty of concerts. All around this area are lively pubs, bars and so many delicious pizzerias to boot.
Source: Rent. / Garrison Square
A garden and a courtyard all in one; you’ll find a hidden gem in the center of Garrison Square. This space includes an appealing combination of landscaping and hardscaping, with lots of seating. You can pick what part of the courtyard to enjoy, whether it’s a green space or one that features rocks and slender shrubs. There are even a few fountains adding a relaxing soundtrack to the space and upping the overall calming ambiance.
A more refined section of Boston, the Back Bay neighborhood is home to most of the city’s boutiques, art galleries and designer shops. Cafes dot the area as well. Smack dab in the middle is Copley Square, a nice place to sit on a bench and people-watch. You’ve got also the Boston Public Library right here, which is an absolute treasure to explore.
Source: Rent. / Avalon at Newton Highlands
Surrounded by a stunning garden space, the Avalon at Newtown Highlands makes landscaping a top priority. You’ll find carefully designed beds of greenery everywhere you turn. With a combination of mature trees, cropped bushes and flowers blooming here and there, there’s natural beauty to greet you at every turn. Benches spaced throughout make it easy to enjoy the view.
Set within Newton, living here requires a commute if you want to head into Boston proper, but you’re only about 10 miles away. Public transportation does extend out to some areas, so it’s easy to get in via train if you can’t hop on the highway. A quieter place to live, there’s also a good chance you’ll see a lot of students in this area as Newton is home to quite a few colleges and universities, including UMass Amherst and Boston College.
Source: Rent. / Piano Craft Guild
The aged brick facade and cobblestone path give the garden at Piano Craft Guild an old-world feel. It’s the history of the city seeping through among the leafy bushes and healthy trees in the raised beds throughout this area. There’s a definite character here, making it an ideal spot to seek out a little peace and relaxation.
Another perfectly walkable slice of Boston, the South End is a diverse and family-friendly neighborhood that combines all the pieces that make this city so great. There are unique restaurants and bars, trendy spots and low-key hangouts and a funky art scene. While it’s easy to head closer to the center of Boston on foot, you’re also near the Orange and Green subway lines.
Source: Rent. / Third Square
Across the Charles River, in Cambridge, you’ll find Third Square. This apartment community has a massive ground-floor green space and courtyard. You’ll also find a sweet gardening area complete with raised soil beds for planting flowers, herbs and veggies. The whole area has close-cropped grass and a few trees and bushes to enhance the space.
Located in Kendall Square, this area is near the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is also home to many tech companies. There’s a great food and drink scene and an underlying indie vibe throughout the area as well.
Source: Rent. / Christopher Columbus Plaza
With a courtyard that’s more focused on water than greenery, you’ll get something a little different at Christopher Columbus Plaza. This centrally-located community uses the local style to create a beautiful courtyard with soothing pools of water and sprouting fountains. This is also where you’ll find the community grills for some outdoor cooking. A few mature trees also offer up some shade and light landscaping gives the suggestion of nature.
Living in the North End of Boston is quite a treat. This is the city’s Little Italy, so there’s no shortage of wood-fired pizza, fresh seafood and amazing homemade pasta. What’s also great about this area is its proximity to the waterfront and its ever-present local history. Along the cobblestone streets, you’ll find Paul Revere’s house as well as Old North Church.
Source: Rent. / Prism Apartments
It’s a jam-packed courtyard at Prism Apartments in Cambridge. This large space has it all, including a modern fire pit surrounded by tons of seating. Strings of lights help keep this spot bright even as the sun sets and a wood panel separator breaks it off from the rest of the courtyard for a more intimate feel.
Within this area, you’ll also find plenty of tables for dining alfresco and a dual grill cooking station. There are also additional pockets of seating and plenty of string lights overhead.
Source: Rent. / Lofts at Kendall Square
An industrial overhead framework gives this garden space at the Lofts at Kendall Square a little something special. With curvy beds of bright green line the walkway below, bushes, small plants and large rocks combine to create a welcoming and calming spot.
Situated between the Charles River and Harvard Square, living here puts you in an excellent spot to enjoy the beauty of the city while easily getting around. Whether you need to head deeper into Cambridge or shoot across the river to Boston, you can see it all from right here.
Find an apartment with one of the best gardens in Boston
Boston is a busy and beautiful city and living here may prompt you to want an apartment that gives you a quieter spot to retreat to. Finding awesome courtyards or gardens in Boston that provide a little escape from the city’s bustle can prove essential, so keep an eye out. This is one feature you’ll definitely want in your next Boston apartment.
Featured Image Source: Rent. / Alcott Apartments
Lesly Gregory has over 15 years of marketing experience, ranging from community management to blogging to creating marketing collateral for a variety of industries. A graduate of Boston University, Lesly holds a B.S. in Journalism. She currently lives in Atlanta with her husband, two young children, three cats and assorted fish.
For the first time in what seems like a long time, we’re actually excited for this year’s holiday of love! It could be that there is extra love in the air with the wee one on the way or it could totally just be the hormones! but Valentine’s Day has us smitten with the idea of sending a little appreciation someone’s way. And nothing says appreciation more than a small, yet thoughtful gesture or two!. We have a few ideas up our sleeves more on that coming later!, but thought it would be helpful to throw out a hint, just in case someone ahem!! happens to be reading this. Any of these little lovelies would SO make our day!!
Get Your Shop On:
1.) Kiss Kiss Tee 2.) BKR Heart Water Bottle 3.) White + Silver Aether Cone 4.) Chuck Taylor by Comme Des Garcons 5.) Hearts Wool Silk Scarf 6.) Fragile Hearts Plate 7.) Staub Mini Heart Cocottes 8.) Garance Dore ‘XO’ Card 9.) Heart and ‘Be Mine’ Spatulas 10.) Love Letter Trays
We’re sure to give extra kisses if we receive this adorable Kiss Kiss Tee. How cute would it be with a blazer and these Chuck Taylors for a casual, but totally pulled together day look? Talk about a perfect match!
We’re also crushing hard on these Fragile Hearts plates. They’re edgy with just the right amount of fem. Plus they’re on sale! And these cute spatulas will surely aid in whipping up more weekend pancakes and tasty sweets! Just sayin.’
But if someone hiiiiiint!! is seeking a little extra love and affection come Valentine’s Day, our hearts beat fast for the Aether Cone music player. It’s sleek design and streaming capabilities make it perfectly simple to take straight from the box to the dining table to set the mood for an intimate Valentine’s Day dinner – the most epic girls’ night. You can sit back and let it stream, or you can tell it exactly what you want to hear! Literally, like out loud. It can understand your voice commands! Not to mention, the Aether Cone is a gift that anyone him or her would totally love to receive! Something tells us he won’t dread shopping for this gift!
So for all of the lovers out there who plan to get a little groovy come February 14, we’ve gathered a quick list of our favorite smooth and sexy R&B love songs. You can tell the Cone you want to listen to “By Your Side” by Sade and it not only will play the soulful tune, but it’ll also play related songs to set the mood!
And for all of our singles, may you fancy a little “No Scrubs” by TLC, “Single Ladies” by Beyonce and “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Laupner? ‘Cause we know how it is!
While we’re at it, here are more V-Day gifts that we’re in looooove with…
This post is in partnership with Aether. You can follow Aether on Instagram here. All thoughts and opinions are 100% our own. Thank you for supporting posts that keep Apartment 34’s doors open!
In an effort to get a pulse on the industry and learn more about the tools available to help real estate agents grow their businesses, I sat down with Robert (Bob) Burns, Real Estate Coach, Trainer and Consultant with Leader’s Edge Training, to discuss the resources they offer for real estate professionals.
While there’s no shortage of training available in the marketplace for agents, I quickly learned that for those real estate agents who want to take their career to the next level there is a vacuum in the real estate training space that few – besides Leader’s Edge – are addressing.
In our discussion, Bob shared the fact that “there’s a whole other side of this conversation [i.e. agent training] that’s not talked about nearly enough, and that’s management…the management side of the real estate business. There’s little to no training available.”
Why is this important?
As an agent, maybe you’re thinking that’s no big deal…I’m great at selling, how hard can it be to manage a brokerage?
Ask anyone who’s done it though, and you’ll quickly realize that it’s a lot tougher. For example, how do you know if your commission plan is truly competitive in the marketplace?
Or if you have the right financial reports with the key information you need to manage the brokerage well? Are things slipping through the cracks, or are you on top of every little thing that needs done?
Maybe you were in management before you got into real estate. That’s great, but were you managing employees or independent contractors?
It’s different, you know…the dynamics are definitely not the same.
For example, if you were a sales manager in the retail industry the methods and processes you used to manage employees will not be the same as the ones you need as the manager of a brokerage firm.
“It becomes not about telling people what to do and having, you know, all of that discipline and structure,” said Bob, “it really is an exercise in leadership in generating followership, and building relationships and trust so that these independent contractors that are like, herding cats, will actually follow you to where you want to bring your organization. And that’s a whole other skillset for most people to develop.
“So I love working with managers to help them with their leadership skills, to build followership and also with the nuts and bolts of actually managing their service delivery, their financials, their process…all the stuff that’s required as kind of foundational to their business so they can do the fun leadership stuff and getting people to follow them and recruit agents to their firm and retain them so they stay and help their agents build their business.”
Interested in learning what makes him tick, I asked Bob about how he got into the business.
“I have basically only ever worked in the real estate business. I came out of college with an education background that I didn’t want to use. I found out that education wasn’t for me and I went in an interview with a local real estate company in South Minneapolis – Coldwell Banker Burnett.
“They walked me through the process to get licensed. I became licensed and started my career as a 20 year old kid trying to live in an apartment, trying to help people with their most valuable asset – their home – so I had to learn fast.
“What I love the most about it [real estate] is that your output is pretty much in proportion to the input. In other words, the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. The harder you work, the more you earn and the better you do.”
[PULL QUOTE HERE] “It’s really a meritocracy, and I love that about real estate.”
“Anyone with the right drive, and the right work ethic can come into real estate and make a respectable living for themselves and their family.”
But what should real estate agents expect from the training offered by Leader’s Edge Training?
There are four components to the training; learning, practice, implementation and accountability.
“With adult learners,” said Bob, “especially in a professional environment, we’ll tend not to just learn something for the sake of learning…it needs to be applicable.”
Agents who enroll in the training offered by Leader’s Edge will not only learn something new, they’ll have the opportunity to learn in a very specific way that will help them really retain what they learn.
They’ll learn through implementation and practice, in an environment where it’s safe to practice the skill before the stakes get high.
Also, agents will experience accountability.
Unlike other training programs there’s no “here’s what you need to know, go do it and have a nice day,” agents receive true accountability that will help them implement what they’ve learned in a practical way.
Their coach will question them…“did you do what you said you would? How did it go? What worked? What didn’t work?”, etc.
Bob noted that continuing education for most agents is thought of as “more of a passive, ‘getting my hours in’ type of learning.” Highlighting what makes him different, he notes that, “The training that I provide is more about making a behavioral change in your business, so you can run a more successful practice.”
If you’re an agent who wants to “create change and growth in your business, that leads to making more money and helping more people,” you’re just the kind of agent who would benefit from Leader’s Edge Training.
“The core program that I deliver with Leader’s Edge Training is a “six week, one day a week in-person course,” said Bob. “It’s an advanced course in real estate; everything you need to know and then some to run a successful business. We do before and after measurements; we’re very big on measurement.
“The average participant increases their business 217% versus what they were doing before they took the class,” continued Bob.
“The other component to it, is that while they’re with me during that six week period of high accountability, high motivation – and this really positive environment – the average participant in the class that I deliver will close six transactions that can be traced back to the activities they did with me in the course. It’s very, very measurable.”
In addition to the training, Leader’s Edge offers agents two other resources that can help them grow their business; an app and a podcast.
“The ‘Agent Success’ app that we developed allows you to put in your business goals as a real estate agent,” said Bob. “And it breaks those goals down into quarterly, monthly and weekly activities that you need to complete on a regular basis to reach those goals.
“So if you want to make a certain amount of money in real estate, you put in those goals; you put in how many weeks a year you want to work, and then every day when you wake up the app tells you exactly what to do, how many calls you need to make, how many mailers you need to do, how many doors you need to knock on, how many social media posts you need to make…it spells it all out for you.
“And you can keep track of your activities as you do them, much like a fitness app such as My Fitness Pal or Fitbit or whatever…you can track your activities. And it will kind of assign you points based on the activities that you’ve done. And if you do those activities, you’ll reach your goals and the app help you get to where you want to go.
“It’s available in the iTunes Store and in the Android Google Play Store. We’ve opened it up to everybody; it’s not just Leader’s Edge clients…we want to contribute to the growth of the real estate industry as a whole.
“We’ve made it available for free to all real estate professionals… they can go out and download it and start using it today.”
Without question, in my experience most real estate professionals love to help others achieve success. One such way they can do that is by sharing their knowledge through podcasts.
Bob’s podcast is called “How They Won” and is available on a number of platforms.
“Every week I interview top real estate professionals, mostly real estate agents,” said Bob, “but also people connected to the real estate industry…and they share the secrets of their success.
“The interviews are typically around 30 minutes, and while some episodes have gone as long as 60 minutes I try to keep it 30 to 40 minutes so you can listen as you walk around your commute or on the treadmill or the elliptical at the gym.
“There’s been a tremendous response…real estate agents like to learn from each other.
“And the other thing about about “How They Won”… as I was doing my market research, I noted that there are a handful of real estate podcasts that are out there.
“I’m a big podcast fan…I love podcasts…but the real estate podcasts that are out there, in general, with the exception of a very, very small few, from a quality and organization standpoint, I just find very difficult to listen to.
“So my goal with “How They Won” was to launch something that was of a very high, professional, listenable quality,” continued Bob, “and that was organized and succinct in a way that listeners could actually implement in a short period of time.
“For their time investment, I wanted them to be able to actually implement some of the things that they learned in the podcast.”
At the time of this writing we’re facing a moratorium on physical gatherings, so I asked Bob how he was adapting to the changes brought by the Coronavirus epidemic.
“What I’m doing right now, is a lot of what’s called mindset and motivational work. It’s very hard in this environment for people to do the right things; to hold themselves to a certain standard. They lose track of the discipline of running their business. You’re not going to close as many real estate transactions in this kind of environment.
“So the focus has shifted from a lot of action-based tasks (e.g. make these contacts, knock on these doors, or send out this mailer,) to more of a ‘where are you’, ‘where’s your head at today’. As a real estate agent what are you thinking about? How can we implement some structure in your day so that when we do wake up to a sunrise in the first day of a post COVID-19 real estate market you’re ready…you won’t miss a beat when the light turns green again.”
Taking the cue, I asked a question that I’m sure is on a lot of peoples’ minds; especially those of us in the real estate industry.
“What do you think the real estate industry as a whole is going to look like…at least for the United States after we get the ‘all clear’ so to speak?”
“It’s really hard to say,” said Bob. “I think it comes down to some basic economic factors. The biggest driver historically of real estate, contrary to what almost every written article wants you to believe, is not interest rates.
“Interest rates are not the biggest driver of the real estate market…it’s employment.
“Just like, you know, the old adage in real estate is ‘location, location, location’… the economics of this industry is ‘employment, employment employment’.
“So depending on how quickly we can get home buyers and home sellers back to work is going to shape whether this is a V shaped recovery or a U shaped recovery.
“For example, if you want to buy a house, typically you’re going to need a mortgage to buy it. Mortgage Lenders aren’t going to lend you money if you don’t have a job.
“So these four levels that we’re seeing in these layoffs; if we’re able to kind of sustain those small, medium and large businesses through however long this is, whether it’s weeks or months, if we’re able to keep those businesses open and they’re able to bring their workforce back to work, then I think this whole thing will have a very little impact on the real estate business as a whole.
“It’ll be a setback, but we have a whole bunch of built-up demand happening behind this dam. And when we’re back open for business, all of that pent-up demand is going to be satisfied. And we’re going to see a fast and full recovery.
“If on the other hand, we’re not able to keep these small, medium, large businesses to the point where they’re able to bring their workforce back in, and these unemployment claims that we’re seeing are permanent rather than temporary, I think it’s going to be a much slower recovery as new businesses have to become established to take the place of businesses that didn’t survive.
“And those business have to grow organically, and eventually get back to the point where they can have a payroll where we did pre COVID-19, then I think you’re looking at a much more protracted recovery or a much, much longer recovery if that happens.”
So what should agents be doing now, as we’re in a state of flux?
Unfortunately, we’re in uncharted territory right now, but one things that is vital for every agent to consider is to take the time to work on their mindset.
Social distancing, and in some cases, stay-at-home orders can wreak havoc on your mindset if you let it.
Pay attention to what you read, and what you listen to. Take care of yourself, your family, and your business and when possible, take advantage of this time to expand your knowledge so that you can hit the ground running when the time is right.
Anita Clark is a Warner Robins Real Estate Agent helping buyers and sellers in middle Georgia with all of their home buying or selling needs.Whether she is selling new construction homes, assisting first-time buyers, or helping military relocating to Houston County, she always puts her customers needs first.
Barry Sternlicht’s Starwood Capital Group is nearing an agreement to sell a portfolio of single-family rental homes to Invitation Homes Inc.
The transaction would include roughly 2,000 homes and value the properties at about $400,000 each, one source told Bloomberg, which first reported the story. The deal hasn’t been finalized and may not go through.
If it does however, it would generate funds for Starwood Real Estate Income Trust, which is facing redemptions, Bloomberg reported. The REIT said in a March filing that it recognized a nearly $80 million impairment charge on various single-family rental properties “due to an increased probability of a near-term disposition.”
For Invitation Homes, the deal further illustrates the return of Wall Street firms to the SFR market, as highlighted by HousingWire in June. The publicly traded company had more than $1.3 billion in unrestricted cash and undrawn credit facilities at the end of March, which could be enough to complete a deal without seeking new debt or equity, Bloomberg reported.
In early June, Pretium Partners agreed to buy 4,000 D.R. Horton rental homes in a $1.5 billion deal.
[Note from editor: The “Mastermind Showcase” highlights companies and news from members of the GEM. Today’s showcase: RentZap.]
A lister of rental homes in the Phoenix area, RentZap enables home seekers to view professionally verified homes with on-demand showings available 7:30am to 6:30pm, any day of the week, accessed by answering a few questions and sending a photo ID.
RentZap works with home owners and property managers to market and lease homes quicker and more conveniently than traditional channels, alleviating most property manager’s biggest barriers to free hours to take on more listings.
What we like: Verifying rental listings is an effective strategy for increased certainty in the real estate ecosystem.
It’s difficult to visit any news site without seeing some mention of cryptocurrency. Most people sit there and simply think, nope, crypto’s way too much risk for me. And they’d be right. Crypto is an incredibly volatile asset, but, there’s a “safer” way to invest in it.
An investment in blockchain ETFs (blockchain is the technology cryptocurrencies run through) is a great way to diversify your portfolio. It’s also an excellent way to participate in the growth of this emerging technology while limiting your exposure to the potential risk that comes with cryptocurrencies and other ICOs.
In this article, I will discuss how investing in blockchain ETFs works, as well as the best ways for you to invest today.
What’s Ahead:
A step-by-step guide on how to invest in blockchain ETFs
If you decide to purchase a blockchain ETF, it’s a good idea to make sure you are buying one with an established track record of returns. Below, I’ve outlined a basic, step-by-step guide to investing in blockchain ETFs.
1. Open a brokerage account
To invest in a blockchain ETF, the first thing you need to do is open a brokerage account. If you already have one, that’s great. Otherwise, head on over to your preferred broker and open an account with them. Just make sure that you take note of any fees that the account charges.
You’ll also want to ensure they sell the specific blockchain ETF you’re looking to invest in. It’s important to remember that every brokerage account is different. Some may offer special promotions or have discounts on certain fees for new customers. You’ll want to consider this when choosing your broker.
2. Determine the amount you want to invest
Once you’ve opened a brokerage account, you should determine how much you’re willing to invest. Remember that a blockchain ETF is typically priced based on the total value of assets it holds. This means that if a share is worth $100 and an ETF has 100 shares, then each individual share would be worth $1.
It pays to do some research into what type of blockchain ETFs other investors are investing in and how much they’ve invested – this will give you a sense of where a good starting point is.
Public, for instance, allows you to track and follow other people’s investments. So, you can follow someone who knows the blockchain space and replicate their investments if you wanted.
Whatever you decide, make sure you don’t invest more than you can afford to lose. While blockchain ETFs may be “safer” than buying something like cryptocurrency directly, there’s still the potential for risk.
3. Find the ticker symbol of the blockchain ETF you want to buy
Okay, now you’ve figured out where you’re going to invest and how much you’re going to invest. So it’s time to search for the specific blockchain ETF you want to buy.
The first step is to find the ticker symbol of the blockchain ETF you’re looking for. This will be a short three- or four-letter abbreviation representing the fund and its corresponding company – it’s typically listed in small print at the top left corner of your screen. It looks like this: BLOK, for the Amplify Transformational Data Sharing ETF, if that’s one you’re interested in.
A quick Google search for “blockchain ETFs” should give you a list of some out there – so do your due diligence, and find one that looks the most appealing to you.
Once you’ve found it on your screen in front of you, look for a small box that says “symbol” or “ticker symbol.” It should be right under the fund’s name. Copy this string of letters into your browser by highlighting them with the cursor as selected, then paste it into your brokerage’s search bar.
4. Place an order for that ETF
Once you’ve located the blockchain ETF you want to invest in, it’s time to place an order. You have a few different options for order types when buying a blockchain ETF:
Market order – Market order is an order to buy or sell a security at the current best price available in the market.
Limit order – A limit order is an instruction to buy or sell a security at the specified price below or above the current market price.
Stop limit order – When you place stop and limit orders together, they work as one large trade with two parts: first, if the price reaches your set “stop” point, it will execute your “limit” instructions.
Do whatever makes the most sense for you and your investment goals, but don’t worry about the differences too much. The key here is to get invested in a blockchain ETF.
5. Set up automatic contributions and investments (if you can)
By now, you’ve hopefully invested in a blockchain ETF. But you’ll want to keep the momentum going. To do that, set up an automatic investment plan.
You can automate your investments so that when you set a new goal, say buying a house or saving for retirement, every week or month, the predetermined amount gets invested in blockchain ETFs on your behalf- and you never have to worry about it again.
This is also one of those things where doing something simple now could save you from some major hassles later. Because, before long, blockchain will be everywhere.
What is a blockchain ETF?
A blockchain ETF is a security that tracks the performance of blockchain-based assets. ETFs are composed of individual securities, such as stocks, bonds, or commodities.
An investment in a blockchain ETF is an indirect way to invest in the technology’s underlying infrastructure and protocols which currently power cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, but will soon be used for much more than just finance.
Right now, you can’t purchase a Bitcoin or cryptocurrency ETF in the U.S., so if you want to invest in blockchain ETFs, they’re best suited as a long-term investment.
The investments are decentralized and transparent, making them immune not just to manipulation but also to fraud. As a result, blockchain technology provides some of the greatest opportunities for investors who don’t have much time to delve into individual companies or venture capitalist firms with different levels of risk.
Two of the most popular blockchain ETFs are the Reality Shares Nasdaq NexGen Economy ETF (BLCN) and the Innovation Shares NextGen Protocol ETF (KOIN). Both of these ETFs track stocks that are involved in the implementation of blockchain technology.
The Reality Shares Nasdaq NexGen Economy ETF is made up of companies like:
Amazon.
Bank Of America.
Facebook.
Google.
The Innovation Shares NextGen Protocol ETF focuses on emerging startups rather than established firms and includes a wider range of investments as well.
Where to buy a blockchain ETF
If you want to buy a blockchain ETF, you can do so through your brokerage account or a robo-advisor.
The easiest way to invest in blockchain ETFs is by using online investment platforms such as E*TRADE.
E*TRADE offers access to specific funds that you couldn’t otherwise buy on exchanges like the Reality Shares Nasdaq NexGen Economy ETF and the Innovation Shares NextGen Protocol.
Many robo-advisors, such as Betterment, also offer access to blockchain ETFs in some of their portfolio options.
If you have a brokerage account with Robinhood or TD Ameritrade, then they may also provide investment funds that include blockchain ETFs within them. Regardless of the platform you are using, buying a blockchain ETF is the easiest way to invest in blockchain.
Benefits vs. risks of buying blockchain ETFs
There are many risks and benefits to investing in blockchain ETFs. But, first, let’s start with the benefits.
Benefits of investing in blockchain ETFs
They have a low cost. The biggest benefit of investing in blockchain ETFs is the low cost. You can invest as little or as much as you want, and it’ll all be allocated to your chosen stocks automatically by a fund manager, who will take care of everything for you.
ETFs are often less risky. There’s also very little risk involved with investing in these types of funds because they are highly diversified.
No minimum amount required most of the time. Another great aspect about them is that there’s no minimum amount required – so even if you only have $20 to spare, that could still make an impact. Finally, one last big upside is getting exposure to many different companies just from one company investment.
Risks of investing in blockchain ETFs
Less consistency. First, you will not get the same consistency as investing in a more traditional fund, like an S&P index fund, for instance. This is because blockchain ETFs (along with crypto) may sometimes move irrationally.
More unknowns. It’s hard to know what companies you’re specifically invested in, so if there is an issue with one company and it causes a domino effect, then your investment might take a hit. For this, I recommend doing deep research on the ETF and seeing which companies it holds and how they’re positioned in blockchain technology.
Higher fees than other ETFs. Finally, the fees can be slightly higher than other ETFs on the market because of how they work. They also have no minimum amount required, which could end up costing you even more money.
Summary
Blockchain ETFs are an exciting new way to invest in blockchain technology while also mitigating your overall level of risk. If you’ve been hesitant to jump into this space because you’re unsure where and how to buy Bitcoin, or if you don’t understand the difference between Ethereum and Ripple, now is a good time to learn more about these types of investments before it’s too late. Always research before jumping into any type of investment.
It’s difficult to visit any news site without seeing some mention of cryptocurrency. Most people sit there and simply think, nope, crypto’s way too much risk for me. And they’d be right. Crypto is an incredibly volatile asset, but, there’s a “safer” way to invest in it.
An investment in blockchain ETFs (blockchain is the technology cryptocurrencies run through) is a great way to diversify your portfolio. It’s also an excellent way to participate in the growth of this emerging technology while limiting your exposure to the potential risk that comes with cryptocurrencies and other ICOs.
In this article, I will discuss how investing in blockchain ETFs works, as well as the best ways for you to invest today.
What’s Ahead:
A step-by-step guide on how to invest in blockchain ETFs
If you decide to purchase a blockchain ETF, it’s a good idea to make sure you are buying one with an established track record of returns. Below, I’ve outlined a basic, step-by-step guide to investing in blockchain ETFs.
1. Open a brokerage account
To invest in a blockchain ETF, the first thing you need to do is open a brokerage account. If you already have one, that’s great. Otherwise, head on over to your preferred broker and open an account with them. Just make sure that you take note of any fees that the account charges.
You’ll also want to ensure they sell the specific blockchain ETF you’re looking to invest in. It’s important to remember that every brokerage account is different. Some may offer special promotions or have discounts on certain fees for new customers. You’ll want to consider this when choosing your broker.
2. Determine the amount you want to invest
Once you’ve opened a brokerage account, you should determine how much you’re willing to invest. Remember that a blockchain ETF is typically priced based on the total value of assets it holds. This means that if a share is worth $100 and an ETF has 100 shares, then each individual share would be worth $1.
It pays to do some research into what type of blockchain ETFs other investors are investing in and how much they’ve invested – this will give you a sense of where a good starting point is.
Public, for instance, allows you to track and follow other people’s investments. So, you can follow someone who knows the blockchain space and replicate their investments if you wanted.
Whatever you decide, make sure you don’t invest more than you can afford to lose. While blockchain ETFs may be “safer” than buying something like cryptocurrency directly, there’s still the potential for risk.
3. Find the ticker symbol of the blockchain ETF you want to buy
Okay, now you’ve figured out where you’re going to invest and how much you’re going to invest. So it’s time to search for the specific blockchain ETF you want to buy.
The first step is to find the ticker symbol of the blockchain ETF you’re looking for. This will be a short three- or four-letter abbreviation representing the fund and its corresponding company – it’s typically listed in small print at the top left corner of your screen. It looks like this: BLOK, for the Amplify Transformational Data Sharing ETF, if that’s one you’re interested in.
A quick Google search for “blockchain ETFs” should give you a list of some out there – so do your due diligence, and find one that looks the most appealing to you.
Once you’ve found it on your screen in front of you, look for a small box that says “symbol” or “ticker symbol.” It should be right under the fund’s name. Copy this string of letters into your browser by highlighting them with the cursor as selected, then paste it into your brokerage’s search bar.
4. Place an order for that ETF
Once you’ve located the blockchain ETF you want to invest in, it’s time to place an order. You have a few different options for order types when buying a blockchain ETF:
Market order – Market order is an order to buy or sell a security at the current best price available in the market.
Limit order – A limit order is an instruction to buy or sell a security at the specified price below or above the current market price.
Stop limit order – When you place stop and limit orders together, they work as one large trade with two parts: first, if the price reaches your set “stop” point, it will execute your “limit” instructions.
Do whatever makes the most sense for you and your investment goals, but don’t worry about the differences too much. The key here is to get invested in a blockchain ETF.
5. Set up automatic contributions and investments (if you can)
By now, you’ve hopefully invested in a blockchain ETF. But you’ll want to keep the momentum going. To do that, set up an automatic investment plan.
You can automate your investments so that when you set a new goal, say buying a house or saving for retirement, every week or month, the predetermined amount gets invested in blockchain ETFs on your behalf- and you never have to worry about it again.
This is also one of those things where doing something simple now could save you from some major hassles later. Because, before long, blockchain will be everywhere.
What is a blockchain ETF?
A blockchain ETF is a security that tracks the performance of blockchain-based assets. ETFs are composed of individual securities, such as stocks, bonds, or commodities.
An investment in a blockchain ETF is an indirect way to invest in the technology’s underlying infrastructure and protocols which currently power cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, but will soon be used for much more than just finance.
Right now, you can’t purchase a Bitcoin or cryptocurrency ETF in the U.S., so if you want to invest in blockchain ETFs, they’re best suited as a long-term investment.
The investments are decentralized and transparent, making them immune not just to manipulation but also to fraud. As a result, blockchain technology provides some of the greatest opportunities for investors who don’t have much time to delve into individual companies or venture capitalist firms with different levels of risk.
Two of the most popular blockchain ETFs are the Reality Shares Nasdaq NexGen Economy ETF (BLCN) and the Innovation Shares NextGen Protocol ETF (KOIN). Both of these ETFs track stocks that are involved in the implementation of blockchain technology.
The Reality Shares Nasdaq NexGen Economy ETF is made up of companies like:
Amazon.
Bank Of America.
Facebook.
Google.
The Innovation Shares NextGen Protocol ETF focuses on emerging startups rather than established firms and includes a wider range of investments as well.
Where to buy a blockchain ETF
If you want to buy a blockchain ETF, you can do so through your brokerage account or a robo-advisor.
The easiest way to invest in blockchain ETFs is by using online investment platforms such as E*TRADE.
E*TRADE offers access to specific funds that you couldn’t otherwise buy on exchanges like the Reality Shares Nasdaq NexGen Economy ETF and the Innovation Shares NextGen Protocol.
Many robo-advisors, such as Betterment, also offer access to blockchain ETFs in some of their portfolio options.
If you have a brokerage account with Robinhood or TD Ameritrade, then they may also provide investment funds that include blockchain ETFs within them. Regardless of the platform you are using, buying a blockchain ETF is the easiest way to invest in blockchain.
Benefits vs. risks of buying blockchain ETFs
There are many risks and benefits to investing in blockchain ETFs. But, first, let’s start with the benefits.
Benefits of investing in blockchain ETFs
They have a low cost. The biggest benefit of investing in blockchain ETFs is the low cost. You can invest as little or as much as you want, and it’ll all be allocated to your chosen stocks automatically by a fund manager, who will take care of everything for you.
ETFs are often less risky. There’s also very little risk involved with investing in these types of funds because they are highly diversified.
No minimum amount required most of the time. Another great aspect about them is that there’s no minimum amount required – so even if you only have $20 to spare, that could still make an impact. Finally, one last big upside is getting exposure to many different companies just from one company investment.
Risks of investing in blockchain ETFs
Less consistency. First, you will not get the same consistency as investing in a more traditional fund, like an S&P index fund, for instance. This is because blockchain ETFs (along with crypto) may sometimes move irrationally.
More unknowns. It’s hard to know what companies you’re specifically invested in, so if there is an issue with one company and it causes a domino effect, then your investment might take a hit. For this, I recommend doing deep research on the ETF and seeing which companies it holds and how they’re positioned in blockchain technology.
Higher fees than other ETFs. Finally, the fees can be slightly higher than other ETFs on the market because of how they work. They also have no minimum amount required, which could end up costing you even more money.
Summary
Blockchain ETFs are an exciting new way to invest in blockchain technology while also mitigating your overall level of risk. If you’ve been hesitant to jump into this space because you’re unsure where and how to buy Bitcoin, or if you don’t understand the difference between Ethereum and Ripple, now is a good time to learn more about these types of investments before it’s too late. Always research before jumping into any type of investment.
Federal regulators have finalized new guidance on how banks should handle distressed commercial real estate.
Adobe Stock
Federal regulators say banks should include short-term accommodations in their toolkits for dealing with distressed commercial real estate loans.
The Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and National Credit Union Administration issued a joint statement on commercial real estate accommodations and workouts on Thursday. The missive updatesguidance first released by the regulators in 2009, amid a rash of bank failures driven by — among other things — bad real estate loans.
The statement notes that banks should step in to address distressed loans before lenders default or have to go through a so-called “workout” process, which can entail renewing or extending loan terms, extending additional credit or restructuring credit with or without concessions. The agencies noted that short-term modifications — which suspend, extend or defer repayment terms — can be an effective way to address issues before more significant accommodations are needed.
“These actions can mitigate long-term adverse effects on borrowers by allowing them to address the issues affecting repayment ability and are often in the best interest of financial institutions and their borrowers,” the statement reads.
The new policy statement also updates the 2009 guidance to incorporate accounting changes that have taken place during the intervening years, including requirements that banks estimate current expected credit losses for all their assets.
It also gives examples for how loans should be classified and accounted for once they have entered a workout process.
The inclusion of guidance around short-term accommodations and accounting best practices was the result of public commentary fielded by regulators since proposing rule changes last August. In total, the agencies received 22 comments from banking organizations and credit unions, state and national trade associations and individuals.
Otherwise, the finalized guidelines are largely similar to the policy proposed more than a decade ago. The statement urges banks to engage with troubled commercial real estate borrowers early and have policies in place for dealing with accommodations in a safe and sound manner.
Regulators also note that examiners won’t punish banks for working with borrowers in this way. Similarly, borrowers will not be criticized for engaging in these types of pre-workout remedies.
The guidelines for handling distressed commercial real estate loans have been in the works for years, but they have taken on a renewed importance in the current market, as rising interest rates and falling occupancy rates squeeze some commercial property owners — especially for offices in central business districts. Last summer, the FDIC said it would more thoroughly scrutinize banks’ commercial real estate loans.
The issue is acute for smaller and midsize banks, which tend to have higher concentrations of commercial real estate debt on their balance sheets. Analysis by the property advisory firm CBRE suggests that more than 300 banks in these size categories have enough commercial real estate loan exposure to wipe out their tier 1 capital.
Large banks also have significant commercial real estate exposures, albeit not as concentrated. In its annual stress test report, released this week, the Federal Reserve noted that the 23 large banks examined in this year’s test hold roughly 20% of office and downtown retail debt in the country. Under the Fed’s severe stress scenario, the banks were projected to lose $65 billion on their commercial real estate loans, or 8.8% of average balances.
“The large projected decline in commercial real estate prices, combined with the substantial increase in office vacancies, contributes to projected loss rates on office properties that are roughly triple the levels reached during the 2008 financial crisis,” the Fed wrote in a statement accompanying the stress-test results.
Despite the forecasted losses, all the banks examined passed this year’s stress test. Still, the scenario demonstrated the magnitude of distress banks could face.
Mortgage applications jumped 8.5% for the week ending March 4, as mortgage rates dropped for the first time in three months as a result of Russia’s war in Ukraine, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported on Wednesday.
Borrowers’ demand for mortgages increased across the board. The MBA‘s seasonally adjusted refi index rose 8.5% from the previous week, with a larger gain in government refinances. Meanwhile, the purchase index was up 8.6% in the same period.
Compared to the same week one year ago, mortgage apps overall dropped 35.8%, with a sharp decline in refi (-49.9%) compared to purchase (-7.4%). The survey, conducted weekly since 1990, covers over 75% of all U.S. retail residential mortgage applications.
According to Joel Kan, MBA’s associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting, the “war in Ukraine spurred an investor flight to quality, which pushed U.S. Treasury yields lower.” Consequently, mortgage rates declined for the first time in 12 weeks, he said.
The trade group estimates that the average contract 30-year fixed-rate mortgage for conforming loans ($647,200 or less) decreased to 4.09% from 4.15% the week prior. For jumbo mortgage loans (greater than $647,200), rates dropped to 3.79% from 3.88% the week prior.
The survey showed that the refi share of mortgage activity decreased to 49.5% of total applications last week, from 49.9% the previous week. VA apps rose to 10.4% from 10.2% in the same period.
How should the current market impact lenders’ tech adoption?
HousingWire recently sat down with Polly CEO Adam Carmel to discuss how lenders can break old habits and redefine the mortgage process through innovation and modern, advanced technology.
Presented by: Polly
The FHA share of total applications increased to 8.7% from 8.6% the prior week. Meanwhile, the adjustable-rate mortgage share of activity rose from 5.3% to 5.2%. The USDA went from 0.4% to 0.5%.
Regarding purchase applications, Kan said prospective buyers acted on lower rates and the early start of the spring buying season. He added: “The average loan size remained close to record highs, with higher-balance loan applications continuing to dominate growth.”
Experts told HousingWire that the turmoil could lower mortgage rates at least in the short-term, because investors often flee to safer options during periods of conflicts, such as U.S. Treasury notes, bonds and mortgage-backed securities.
On Thursday, Freddie Mac PMMS Mortgage Survey showed its rates at 3.76% for the week ending March 3, down from 3.89% in the previous week. Buyers on average bought 0.8 mortgage points.
“Looking ahead, the potential for higher inflation amidst disruptions in oil and other commodity flows will likely lead to a period of volatility in rates as these effects work against each other,” Kan said in a statement.