|
Did You Know?
US Property values increased 27% between January 2020 and July 2024 resulting in higher property taxes for many, especially new buyers who are often forced to pick up the tab for local spending via higher taxes. Now several states are looking at ways to reduce - or eliminate - real estate taxes altogether: how will these areas pay for schools, roads, police, fire, etc? In Florida, real estate taxes account for 18% of county revenue, 17% of municipal revenue and 50-60% of school-district revenue. Would boosting sales tax rates and tourism taxes compensate for this? If those without kids are not contributing to school costs will those with kids have to pay more for schooling?(WSJ)
Did You Know?
Most areas of the US have been adversely impacted by drug use. Overdoses surged 35% between 2019 and 2020, then 16% between 2020 and 2021, but there is some good news: overdoses saw a 25% DECLINE last year. The decline was amongst fentanyl use and all other drugs too. Here are some alarming stats:
- The highest cocaine use per capita by city: Phoenix, Mesa, Omaha, Oklahoma City, Las Vegas, Tulsa, Wichita, Colorado Springs, Tucson and Fresno. Miami has the LOWEST cocaine use per capita Detroit has the lowest Meth use. And El Paso the lowest Heroin use. Where is the highest use of pot? Omaha.
- ALL US states have a pot use per capita about 55% or higher!
- US taxpayers bear a significant financial burden related to drug and alcohol use, estimated at over $820 billion annually, encompassing healthcare, criminal justice, and lost productivity.
- Want to evaluate drug use by state? Click HERE.
Did You Know?
Will the Federal Government release federally owned land to build more homes? Only a small portion of U.S. government-owned land is near cities with housing shortages. About 47 million acres, or 7.3% of all federal land, falls within metropolitan areas that need more homes. (WSJ/NAR)
Did You Know?
Total births for the year fell to 3.596 million, a 2% decline from 2022, the lowest in almost 40 years when the US population was about 100 million people smaller....healthcare costs and general cost of living has contributed to this. Teen birth rates declined by 4% from 2022 and have sunk by 68% since 2007. (Bloomberg)
Did You Know?
A blacklist is maintained by Fannie Mae and includes condo associations that the mortgage finance giant thinks don’t have adequate property insurance or need to make critical building repairs. Being on the list can make it harder for potential buyers to get a mortgage. 10 US states have 120 or more condos or co-ops on this list with Florida having 1,398. (WSJ)
Did You Know?
Wall Street is offering what are dubbed private rooms, gated venues that take the core benefit of a dark pool — the ability to hide big equity deals so they won't impact prices — and add exclusivity, specifying exactly who can partake in any trade. More than 50% of all US stock trading now happens away from public exchanges….. This sounds like a conflict to me.
Did You Know?
GEN Z (Between 1996 and 2010)is focused on both physical wellness but also Financial wellness. They are improving in multiple areas: their addiction to social media may be partially responsible for producing some upsides as follows:
- More frugal, more health-conscious
- Only around a third drink regularly
Did You Know?
People who are good at navigating conflict don’t have the mindset that disputes are bad. They see them as opportunities for listening, debating, and learning.....without the desire to score points.
- Try to understand their motivation: Ask questions and express genuine curiosity as to how they came to their conclusion.
- Validate that motivation: Even if you don’t agree with their point, you can affirm that you understand how they got there.
- Emphasize your personal connection: Instead of peppering them with facts, be vulnerable and tell them why you disagree with them on a personal level. (Harvard/CNBC)
Did You Know?
Is the department store dying? Sadly Neiman Marcus is closing their founding store in downtown Dallas at the end of this month where founder Stanley Marcus welcomed the who's who of Texas and made them faaaabulously chic! Macy's on Herald Square is teetering....and then along comes PRINTEMPS the exquisitely chic Parisian department store to the Financial District in Manhattan ......opening this coming week. It includes one of the most exceptionally beautiful Art Deco rooms in the world - The Red Room - once a banking hall for Bank of New York Mellon that features 2,5 million red and gold mosaics….
Did You Know?
PAY-flation? This factoid may explain the growing wealth disparity even WITHIN the same classes....there is rich and then there is REALLY rich. Often they are (deceptively) lumped under one umbrella. Goldman Sachs collectively awarded four of its top executives a 30% pay raise for their work in 2024, far greater than the bank’s overall workforce. Goldman’s profits in 2024 rose 71% to $13.5bn .....boosted by higher investment banking fees. Holy Cow!
Did You Know?
Mike Bloomberg wins again...... the top 50 donors increased their charitable giving by nearly a third to $16.2 billion in 2024....and Bloomberg topped the list with $3.7 billion....about 3.5% of his net worth. Only 19 of the richest Americans on the Forbes 400 list donated enough to appear in the Philanthropy rankings.
|
