Month: January 2016
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Homeownership Rising in the U.S.
After increasing in the third quarter for the first time in two years (from a 48-year low), American homeownership rose for a second consecutive quarter from 63.7 percent to 63.8, the Census Bureau announced Thursday. Fueled by job growth and flexible lending, these successive increases, albeit minuscule, are welcome news after a span of incessant…
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The Effect of Oil Prices on Real Estate
As housing starts showing improvement, a new worry has crept in: can the dip in oil prices impact the recovering real estate market? At $30 per barrel, oil costs are the lowest they have been in almost 12 years and this could mean that gas prices will soon show a decline too, which will be…
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Cities Where You Can Pay Off Your Mortgage the Fastest
What are my payments, what is the interest rate and how long will it take me to pay this off? Those are the big three factors we all consider when we have settled on a significant new purchase and especially the biggest purchase of most people’s lives, a new home. The lowest the answer to…
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The Need to Build Resilient Infrastructure and Housing
In the wake of winter storm Jonas that has left many Northeastern states under more than two feet of snow, the necessity to make our infrastructure more resilient to natural disasters becomes eminent.
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Women’s Progress Through Homeownership
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Selected Economic Characteristics, based on 2010-2014 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 30.9 percent of American families headed by women with no husband present are below the poverty level. As women make advancements in the American workforce—by progressing to executive roles, achieving higher pay and eliminating longstanding barriers—the percentage of…
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Mortgage Rates Drop Further: Is This Hope for Potential Homebuyers?
According to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) for this week, mortgage rates have continued to drop for the third week in a row. The organization polls approximately 125 banks and lenders nationwide regarding fees, rates and closing discount points for different mortgage products like the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM), 15-year FRM and the…
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Picking the Right Accommodation: Hotels Vs Airbnb
Airbnb, a San Francisco based “community marketplace” for travelers has revolutionized the way people choose to stay during a business trip or vacation. The human aspect of the deal is probably what attracts most travelers who prefer to live like a local rather than a tourist. But is the company staying true to their original…
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The Struggle with Housing Affordability
The theme for the 2016 housing market is “the challenge of housing affordability coupled with expected modest economic growth,” according to a recent report from Fannie Mae’s Economic and Strategic Research (ESR) Group. The research group asserts that continued labor market demand will result in higher wages and job security in the coming year, and…
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Honoring the Life and Work of Martin Luther King Jr.
Most admired for his “I have a dream…” address, Martin Luther King Jr. was a prominent Baptist minister and civil-rights activist who left a lasting impression on the nation’s dealings with race. He had an important role to play in the creation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of…
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Diversity in the Workforce: The Latest Report
The Professional Diversity Network released its latest Diversity Jobs Index and Report (DJR) that provides an insight into the job market for the fourth quarter of 2015. It also presents data on the involvement of women in the workforce and employment trends among diverse employee groups.