The Dealmaker: 1/10/2017

Pinal supervisors discuss potential bond package with no tax increase. “The hearing… was to discuss and take public input on a bond package that would facilitate a purchase of land west of Casa Grande that would be utilized or leased for future industrial, manufacturing, distribution or similar activities and projects. County Manager Greg Stanley testified before the board Jan. 4 that this move comes in anticipation for a development agreement with Lucid Motors…” More here: http://bit.ly/2j4wkTU

Pollack: Possible economy acceleration awhile off. However, The Monday Morning Quarterback also tosses out this little nugget: “It should be quite an adventure… No matter what happens, the words ‘interesting’ and ‘different’ come to mind when considering the months and years to come.” As for this week’s “Snapshots”… U.S.: Job Gains & Unemployment Rate, Manufacturing, Construction Spending, Retail Sales. AZ: Employment & Construction Prognostications, Arrivals & Departures, Active Listings of Homes, Foreclosures. Catch all the info, here —> http://bit.ly/2i9W4ih

Economists: More condos needed. “The demand for rental apartments remains high as few renters are being tempted to leave apartments to take on homeownership. But industry insiders [among them, NAHB chief economist Robert Dietz] expect that to soon change, and they believe entry-level condos will be key to pressing more renters to make that leap.” See what they’re saying about it at REALTORMag. http://bit.ly/2jzDa4r

HOUSING IS FUNDAMENTAL – Student housing continues to grow, may face decline in 2018. Multi-Housing News looks at a “Kroll Bond Rating Agency… report summarizing current trends in the student housing industry.” The key takeaway? “[I]f university enrollment does not return to positive growth… and high school graduation rates begin to decline, student housing fundamentals could be negatively affected, which would have a negative impact on transaction activity.” http://bit.ly/2i9XhWM

FHA mortgage costs to fall. “[The FHA] is cutting annual mortgage insurance premiums on most new mortgages by 0.25 percentage point. On the largest loans… the premium will drop by 0.45 of a point.” Further details — including how “the move caught mortgage analysts by surprise” along with when these “lower costs” will go into effect — in The Wall Street Journal. http://bit.ly/2jzLWj9

Refinancable population declines even as equity rises. “In its current edition of the Mortgage Monitor, covering data from November 2016, Black Knight Financial Services looks at the changing landscape of refinance lending.” In turn, in this report for Mortgage News Daily, Jann Swanson looks at what’s behind this data that shows “the population of borrowers which is both likely to qualify for refinancing and has an incentive to do so has fallen to just 2.8 million, a 65 percent drop from October and the lowest level seen since 2008.” —> http://bit.ly/2ifgftg

The First Arena Polo Party Arrives Saturday and Sunday at Barrett-Jackson – http://bit.ly/2jalv02

Get ready to love where you work: Rose Law Group is hiring a Commercial Litigator – http://bit.ly/2hRxUZH