Mortgage Rate Roller Coaster

Daily Upsider on January 8, 2024

As we enter 2024, the 30-year mortgage rates have been on a downward trend for the past several months, providing a much-needed respite for prospective homebuyers and homeowners alike. This decline in rates comes after a period of historically high levels, which had negatively impacted the affordability of homes and the ability of individuals to refinance their mortgages.

Throughout 2023, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate had reached levels not seen in almost 30 years. However, since the peak in October 2023, when rates nearly touched 8%, the trend has reversed. In the last week of December 2023, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate had dropped to 6.61%, marking the ninth consecutive week of decline and reaching its lowest point since May 2023. This downward trend has been the most significant drop in rates since November 2008-January 2009.

While there have been slight increases in the 30-year mortgage rates in the first few days of January 2024, when compared to the rates seen earlier in 2023, the current rates are still significantly lower. For instance, a 30-year fixed mortgage rate of 6.64% in late December 2023 would result in a monthly payment that is approximately $275 less than an 8% mortgage for a $300,000 loan.

The recent decline in mortgage rates has been a welcome change for the housing market, as it has encouraged potential homebuyers to re-enter the market after a period of uncertainty. Lower rates have also made it more feasible for homeowners to refinance their existing mortgages, potentially saving them thousands of dollars over the life of their loans.

Looking ahead, it would be a great development if this trend of declining mortgage rates continues.

2024 Movies to Get Excited For

Daily Upsider on January 8, 2024

2023 was a pretty lackluster year for moviegoers. While there were a few standouts like Godzilla Minus One, and a few big hits like the “Barbenheimer” combo (Barbie and Oppenheimer), there was not much else to write home about.

How about 2024? What movies do we have to look forward to? This year is looking to be all about sequels, prequels, and spinoffs, and reboots. We have a Mad Max prequel, another Godzilla movie (not by the makers of Minus One unfortunately), Bad Boys 4, Kung Fu Panda 4, and Despicable Me 4.

There are many more, such as a squeal to Gladiator, and interestingly another Karate Kid with Ralph Macchio reprising his role as Danial, and Jackie Chan reprising his role as Mr. Han from the 2010 Karate Kid remake.

So far, the ones I am excited for are Dune: Part Two and, with some apprehension, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. Deadpool 3 will also probably be good if you like that kind of movie.

Are there any particular movies you are excited for? If you want to see a list of “anticipated” movies scheduled for release this year, you can find them below. (You have to scroll down a bit after opening the link)

Young Boy on a Mission to Clean the Seine

Daily Upsider on January 4, 2024

Many are enchanted by the Seine’s romantic charm in France, but the river now hides discarded wastes of city dwellers. A young Parisian, Rafael Marinho, takes action against this pollution. Every Saturday, he and his father use a powerful magnet on the riverbanks to extract metal debris.

Initially done for fun, Rafael turned this into a regular effort, viewing it as a necessary task neglected by adults. Over two years, they’ve removed almost 20 tons of discarded metal, including 50 bicycles. Rafael displays his favorite finds in a pop-up museum by the river, each accompanied by an imagined story.

Items like a safe, revolver, and motorbike suggest tales of a fleeing gangster. With over 20,000 Instagram followers, Rafael aims to inspire others. Even President Emmanuel Macron has praised his river-cleaning initiative.

Eyes in the Skies

Daily Upsider on January 4, 2024

Drones are a very cool technology, but they can be as dangerous as they can be useful. Dedrone’s City-Wide Drone Detection a product that creates a virtual shield over a defined geographical area, it quickly notifies law enforcement of any drone intrusion.

The system identifies drone locations by monitoring a combination of signals, such as radio frequency, ADS-B data (commonly used in planes), and RemoteID beacons.

This drone detection technology has been put in place to safeguard a variety of places, such as New York City’s energy provider Consolidated Edison, Barcelona’s police force, and a unknown number of airports.

Naomi Osaka Makes Winning Return

Daily Upsider on January 4, 2024

Naomi Osaka, former world No. 1, marked a successful return to tennis after a year away prioritizing mental health and becoming a mother.

She defeated Tamara Korpatsch in the Brisbane International’s first round. Osaka’s last match was at the 2022 Pan Pacific Open, withdrawing due to abdominal pain. Despite being unranked after 15 months without competition, she played impressively, securing a straight-sets victory with a powerful serve. Osaka acknowledged her growth, expressed gratitude for fan support, and looks forward to facing Karolína Plíšková in the second round.