The Federal Reserve slashed interest rates by a half percentage point, or 50 basis points, on Wednesday, its first rate cut since March 2020. Even before the Fed rate cut, some homeowners had already taken advantage of recent declines in mortgage rates to refinance. Refinance activity increased to 46.7% of total applications during the week … Read more
A potential buyer walks in to view a home for sale during an open house in Parkland, Florida, May 25, 2021. Carline Jean | Tribune News Service | Getty Images Owning a home can provide a way to build wealth that will transfer from one generation to the next. But more than $32 billion in … Read more
A majority of Americans, 95%, said they plan to look for a new job this year, according to a January 2024 survey by job site Monster. Money is a big reason, with 45% of workers saying they need a higher income. Data from the Federal Reserve shows that job switchers increase their salaries more quickly, on average, than … Read more
An employee checks the external casing with a spirit level in a modular house at the Tophat factory in Foston near Derby, UK, on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images The idea of using pre-assembled components in housebuilding is far from new. Modern tech-enabled versions of modular housing promise a faster, … Read more
A construction site with new apartments in newly built apartment buildings. Patrick Pleul | Picture Alliance | Getty Images Germany’s housebuilding sector has gone from bad to worse in recent months. Economic data is painting a concerning picture, and industry leaders appear uneasy. “The housebuilding sector is, I would say, a little bit in a … Read more
A group of renters in the U.S. say their landlords are using software to deliver inflated rent hikes. “We’ve been told as tenants by employees of Equity that the software takes empathy out of the equation. So they can charge whatever the software tells them to charge,” said Kevin Weller, a tenant at Portside Towers … Read more
Laguna Beach, California Luciano Lejtman | Moment | Getty Images When most people think of Laguna Beach, California, they think of its scenic coves and beaches. But the small coastal city — with a population of around 22,600 — is also pioneering a new model for elder care. About 77% of adults ages 50 and … Read more
