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Is it time to freak out about the stock market and the economy?
With inflation surging, the war in Ukraine roiling global markets and the after-effects of the pandemic still clogging supply chains, everyday investors have been jittery. But some had their nerves pushed to the edge this week after the Dow Jones Industrial Average took a swoon on Wednesday of more than 1,100 points, followed by a loss of ...Read more

Airbnbs outnumber New York City apartments in hot market
The number of short-term rentals in New York City is outpacing the number of available apartments, putting a pinch on renters who are looking for space in a hot housing market.
The total number of short-term rentals of entire homes in the city’s five boroughs — those listed on Airbnb Inc. and Expedia Group Inc.’s Vrbo — is more than 13...Read more

Real estate Q&A: Are homeowners who want to paint bound by obsolete rules?
Q: The guidelines in our homeowners association have not been revised for decades. A question came up about exterior paint colors. Are the homeowners still bound by the most recent, although antiquated, guidelines? — Ken
A: If the rules and guidelines were valid back then and nothing invalidated them, they are still enforceable.
Community ...Read more

Suburbs far outpace urban areas in US home value growth
The urban real estate market has been running hot in the U.S. since last summer. But the suburbs have been even hotter, according to an analysis from Zillow Group Inc.
From January 2013 through June 2021, urban homes have generally been gaining dollar value more quickly. But a switch happened after July 2021 as the economy recovered from the ...Read more

How an aging Tudor's ADU reunited a family and brought them closer together
LOS ANGELES — Eight years ago, Rion Nakaya was living in Oakland with husband Michael Cosentino and their two children when her mother, Maggie, lost her partner of 37 years.
Like many Gen Xers, Rion, 47, faced a familiar challenge from 400 miles away: trying to monitor the welfare of a parent who is mobile and comfortable at home but on a ...Read more

CD rates are poised for a comeback. Now, if only inflation would calm down
Following CD rates in recent years has been a lot like watching paint dry at the bottom of a barrel: little perceptible change in rock-bottom returns.
Yields on certificates of deposit have been in the tank for years, particularly since the pandemic began. But things are about to change.
"The next 12 to to 24 months will be a period of rising ...Read more

Federal student loan interest rates will increase for the 2022-23 academic year
Federal student loan interest rates are set to rise for the 2022-23 academic year, following the U.S. Treasury Department’s 10-year note auction on Wednesday afternoon. The new rates will be 4.99 percent for undergraduate loans, 6.54 percent for graduate Direct Unsubsidized Loans and 7.54 percent for PLUS loans. These rates will go into effect...Read more

Series I bonds pay record 9.62% interest rate -- here's how to buy them
If you’re looking for an investment with a high interest rate, inflation protection and the safety of government backing, then Series I bonds could be an attractive addition to your portfolio. The interest rate on these bonds increases as inflation rises, ensuring that your payout keeps pace with rising prices and that you don’t lose ...Read more

5 top mistakes to avoid during a market selloff
Stocks, cryptocurrencies and even bonds have tumbled in 2022 as investors react negatively to rising interest rates, soaring inflation and the Russia/Ukraine conflict.
The S&P 500 index has fallen about 16 percent so far this year, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite is down around 26 percent. Popular cryptocurrencies Bitcoin and Ethereum ...Read more

Money markets are insulated, for now, from the stablecoin mess
US money markets have so far proven resilient amid growing turmoil in so-called stablecoins, although investors remain alert to the risk of problems spilling over into key parts of the world’s financial plumbing.
Some stablecoins are backed by assets like Treasury bills and short-term corporate IOUs — key elements of the dollar funding ...Read more

Colorado's most beloved hot dog stand hits the market for $1.5 million
Though it may seem unlikely, this isn’t the first time the Coney Island Boardwalk, the iconic bun-shaped restaurant, has arrived at a crossroads in Colorado.
Ever since it first went splat on West Colfax Avenue in Denver in 1966, the Brooklyn transplant and hot dog stand has become a local roadside legend.
It's now nestled in the mountains ...Read more

'Meme' and tech stocks are crashing, so how are experienced investors hanging on?
t's a perfect storm for the stock market this year: geopolitical turmoil, high inflation, and higher interest rates in 2022.
And that's driven out many market newcomers, including "meme" stock investors, whose holdings soared and swooned from social media.
"This is a meme stock flush-out, especially for those who were leveraging up to buy ...Read more

Real estate Q&A: What's the best way to leave my house to my sons from first marriage?
Q: I am a remarried widow and live with my husband. I bought our home before our marriage, and only my name is on the deed and mortgage. We agreed to leave the property to my three sons from my first marriage, who would sell the property and divide the proceeds. Should all three sons be added to the deed, or just one son responsible for ...Read more

New California home buyers could soon get government cash for down payment
California could soon help first-time home buyers with their down payments and mortgage costs under a proposed $1-billion program to make homeownership more financially feasible for low- and middle-income residents.
Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) first introduced the idea last year of the state stepping in to help more ...Read more
United Wholesale Mortgage shares jump on record purchase volume as profit drops 47%
United Wholesale Mortgage Holdings Corp. on Tuesday said net income dropped 47% year-over-year in the first three months of 2022 as interest rates increased and housing inventory remains constrained.
The Pontiac-based lender that originates mortgages only through independent brokers posted a net income of $453.3 million on $38.8 billion in loan...Read more

Bitcoin's Unraveling Tops 55% From Peak With Drop Below $30,000
Bitcoin extended losses, dropping below $30,000 for the first time since July 2021, putting its decline from a November record high to more than 55% amid a global flight from riskier investments.
The world’s largest digital token fell as much as 3.1% to $29,992 in Asian trading. Ether fell as much as 3.7%, while Solana dropped 8.2% and ...Read more

For the Love of Pets: Giving back to pets and rescues
Looking for ways to contribute to your favorite animal charity, beyond making a cash donation? Here are some generous alternatives to consider when you want to support a nonprofit cause you love.
Bequests for wills or trusts
Bequests are simple to implement and easy to change. You maintain the use, benefit, enjoyment, and control of your ...Read more

Bitcoin's Unraveling Tops 50% From Peak With Drop Below $32,000
Bitcoin extended losses, dropping below $32,000 for the first time since July 2021, putting its decline from a November record high to more than 50% amid a global flight from riskier investments.
The world’s largest digital token fell as much as 7% on Monday and traded at around $31,924 as of 12:46 p.m in New York. Ether fell as much as 7.7%,...Read more

Black homeownership in Pittsburgh has declined as the cost of city houses becomes less affordable
It took nearly 20 years, but Rhonda Holland became a homeowner in January. She achieved the milestone after helping her daughter get through college — and then deciding once and for all that she would remain in Pittsburgh.
"I didn't feel there were any obstacles to buying a home. It was all just my motivation," said the 56-year-old Gateway ...Read more

Do you have a will? Without an estate plan, families can struggle to sort it out
Amid the grief of losing a loved one, families are dealt additional burdens when the person did not leave behind a will or estate plan.
Without one, it can open the door to family disputes or significant court costs to settle an estate. But only a little more than half of Americans over 55 have a will, according to a 2019 survey by Merrill ...Read more
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