Did You Know? Americans can expect to inherit $72.6 trillion over the next quarter century, more than twice as much as a decade ago, in the latest indication of how soaring markets are poised to bolster the next generation of the ultra-rich. Almost 50% of all U.S. wealth transferred from the end of 2020 through 2045 will come from the top 1.5% of households, according to estimates. Using trusts and other techniques, the wealthiest Americans can shield the bulk of their fortunes from the federal government’s 40% estate and gift tax levy.
Did You Know? Is the new look for a man's suit to wear one without a shirt? It appears so if you have been watching the recent Awards Shows.....hopefully this look does not make its way to real estate land.....yikes! (WSJ)
Did You Know? Elon Musk just became Twitters biggest shareholder. I love following him on Twitter and the man never ceases to amaze me. (Time)
Did You Know? Are higher interest rates having their desired effect already? The top-selling car makers Toyota and GM saw Toyota’s U.S. sales slide nearly 15% in the just-ended quarter, while GM was down roughly 20%. Not unlike the real estate world, inventory shortages are the problem: In the first quarter, 41% of all new vehicles were sold within the first week of sitting on a dealer lot, compared with 20% in the first quarter of 2021. Semi-conductor shortages are mostly to blame. New COVID shutdowns in China won't help. (WSJ)
Did You Know? Driverless cars will soon become a more common sight in San Francisco. Waymo, Google’s sister company, is sending fully autonomous vehicles onto the streets of the city, marking its first attempt to send cars without any human control into a major metropolitan area. (WSJ)
Did You Know? New surveillance technology — whether it’s the ability to track drivers via license plate readers or monitor the neighbors with doorbell cameras — promises to both fight crime and stoke fears of discrimination. Short-term rental platforms have transformed local tourism economies and exacerbated housing affordability and gentrification. Shared mobility apps and delivery services have brought a similar mix of positive and ill effects, providing a lifeline for urban residents during the pandemic but also snarling traffic and adding vehicle emission as they undergird a low-paying gig economy. (BLOOMBERG)
Did You Know? In the U.S, there are 1.5 million miles of lead pipes still in the ground, and about 750 water main breaks a day. Source makes a hydropanel that takes in water vapor from the air and packs it into a form that’s about 10,000 times more concentrated than in the atmosphere. Using the warmth of the sun, the system converts the molecules into liquid water, which is collected in a reservoir inside the panel and then released as pure water. Unsafe water kills 1.2 million people per year. (CNBC)
