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Yesterday I visited Sacramento to speak to an audience of real estate agents and originators in a joint MGIC/Golden 1 Credit Union event. The mood was good, and much of the discussion was about rent (give or take a little, 50 percent the U.S. is paying 50 percent of their income in rent) and products offered by depositories and portfolio lenders. Attendees also remarked how fast 2022 is moving. We’re fast approaching Memorial Day, marking the unofficial start of summer. Radio stations start playing summer-themed songs (“I thought I knew what love was, what did I know? Those days are gone forever, I should just let them go…”) Time does indeed fly, and it is important to keep things in perspective. Fairway Independent’s Jennifer S. sent over this tweet from Congress. “The median annual pay during the Great Depression was 22 percent of the cost of an average home. Today it’s 14 percent. That means that pay relative to home cost made it easier to buy a home during the Great Depression than right now.” Originators have their work cut out for them in becoming subject matter experts for their clients in this rate and affordability environment! (Today’s podcast is available here and this week’s is sponsored by Matchbox LLC, igniting ideas for the mortgage industry. Expertise in assisting clients through transition periods with Technology, Capital Markets, and Education.)