When it comes to creating demand, jobs are the critical element. As the number of jobs increase, likewise does effective new demand for housing — with effective demand being not just the desire to purchase but also having the financial ability to do so. In the U.S. today the new supply of housing is failing …Read more
Getting a bigger piece of pie is always easier when the next pie is even larger than the prior. The same is true when it comes to growing demand for goods, services and real estate. More jobs and, to some extent also population (but not as important as jobs) are key metrics for economic growth. …Read more
Given progressive federal income tax rates in the U.S., almost everyone is aware that the more an individual makes, the greater their probable income tax burden (depending on deductions). Where a person lives, however, can also impact potential income taxes given state and in some instances local assessments. We all agree that state and local …Read more
In an idealistic world, as people age their debt would shrink and savings grow to help carry them through their retirement. Unfortunately for many U.S. Baby Boomers, that is more fantasy than reality according to the findings of a study from LendingTree. People born from 1946 to 1964 are defined by the U.S. Census Bureau …Read more
While income tax season is upon us, there is a much broader list of other taxes to consider when measuring the total tax burden. As a resident of Texas, I live in a state that has no personal or corporate state or local income taxes. At first glance that sounds great, but what is important …Read more
Millennials remain the largest homebuying segment for the fourth consecutive year in the U.S. As the largest population demographic ever in the country, where Millennials locate, live and work will impact the economic landscape of the country for decades to come. With a median age of 29, Millennials are not at the peak age of …Read more
Even if you have no mortgage on your home, everyone faces monthly utility bills — except those living off the grid. Depending on where one lives and the type of property (varying with size, climate, energy efficiency, and life style and associated costs), the monthly utility bill can be a material and significant expense. Utilities …Read more
There is one statement that is almost always true among the majority of homeowners: Homeownership is an older person’s game. The key word is majority. While younger people buy housing every day, when the homeownership metric is viewed with respect to age, it is highly correlated. LendingTree examined the 100 largest metros in the U.S. …Read more
This is the time of the year we enjoy the most in giving and sharing with others. How much do we give? Summary statistics from the Charity Navigator (the nation’s largest and most utilized evaluator of charities) include: 2017 U.S. contributed an estimated $410.02 billion to charitable causes, setting a record for the third year …Read more
There is no shortage of the best places to live lists, with each yielding a differing set of winners – with the outcome dependent on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, metrics and relative weightings. A Best Cities to Live Stewart Blog was last included in September 2018 which can be found at http://blog.stewart.com/stewart/2018/09/25/another-top-10-list-best-places-to-live-in-america-2018/ The latest …Read more