Tis the season to have some fun, right? How about we start with this interesting musical duo? While the CFPB’s proposal addressing the selling of data has garnered some attention, with the Winter Solstice less than three weeks away and it isn’t exactly the season when home buying picks up. Nor are interest rates or insurance costs cooperating. But those two aren’t the only obstacle. Clever found that the true cost of buying a home includes an additional $31,975 in home-buying expenses for buyers on top of their down payment. And that figure doesn’t include the average of $12,944 in commission buyers may pay their agents if the seller doesn’t. On average, home buyers spend the following amounts on repairs and renovations ($13,498), furniture, fixtures, and appliances ($6,446), closing costs ($4,754), concessions to the seller ($3,943), moving costs ($2,670), and private mortgage insurance ($387 annually). (Today’s podcast can be found here and Richey May is sponsoring this week’s. Richey May’s consulting, cybersecurity, business intelligence, and automation services are designed by mortgage experts to help you continue to drive growth and increase profitability. Hear an interview with Union Home Mortgage and WithLove Charity’s Tay Schiebe about #GivingTuesday and the ways you and your organization can make a difference both in and beyond your community.) Lender and Broker Software, Services, and Products Join ICE for the Mortgage Monitor webinar where you’ll gain critical insights into U.S. housing and mortgage market trends. The information presented in this preeminent, widely attended monthly webinar is based on the most current data available from ICE’s vast mortgage, housing and property data assets, including the largest servicer-contributed loan-level database in the industry. Learn how borrower demand, housing affordability, interest rates, available equity, and other factors may impact your lending strategies. Register for the next webinar which will be hosted this Thursday, December 5, from 2 – 3 p.m. ET.