Why Do Americans Love McMansions? A recent report on CNBC delves into the question of why Americans are so drawn to McMansions. These large homes first gained popularity in the 1980s and have continued to be in demand as buyers seek spacious residences with various amenities. Despite criticisms of their construction quality and design, McMansions […]
The Impact of Consumer Spending on U.S. GDP The Visual Capitalist says consumer spending represents 68% of U.S. GDP, with much of this used for housing, transportation, and healthcare costs. Today’s graphic shows the average annual expenditures of Americans, based on data from the Consumer Expenditures Survey 2023 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Stay safe
The way in which Americans allocate their finances Read More »
Affluent Home Buyers Using Rent-to-Own Deals A recent report in the Wall Street Journal (reposted on Realtor.com) says real-estate agents are reporting that affluent home buyers are using rent-to-own deals to finance their homes. Interestingly, they say rent-to-own transactions offer well-to-do buyers substantial benefits such as (in new construction) the ability to discover construction defects
Wealthy home buyers are increasingly embracing the concept of rent-to-own. Read More »
Top 15 Fastest Growing States We’ve seen a lot of recent posts about where people are moving to & from. Today’s graphic from Realtor.com shows us the top 15 states with the fastest growing populations. They say last year the U.S. saw its population surge at its highest rate since 2001, overwhelmingly driven by an
Is it Better to Buy or Rent in 2025? Is it better to buy or rent? That’s an age-old question that really depends on a lot of variables – especially an individual’s station in life. According to their 2025 Rental Affordability Report, ATTOM says both owning & renting remain difficult for average U.S. workers, commonly
Super Bowl 59 Preview: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles This Sunday, February 8th, the highly anticipated Super Bowl 59 will take place in New Orleans, LA. The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will face off in a battle for the top NFL crown. Are you ready for the super deluxe happy fun bowl?
Does a resident of your hometown participate in Super Bowl 59? Read More »
American Automobile Association (AAA) Holiday Travel Forecast The American Automobile Association (aka AAA) says that over 119 million people will be traveling this holiday season –a record number. In addition, AAA expects nearly 117 million people will drive to their holiday destinations. AAA calculates the holiday season from Saturday, December 21 to Wednesday, January 1.
NAHB Eye on Housing Report: Student Housing Construction Investment on the Rise A recent report from the NAHB’s Eye on Housing reveals that private fixed investment in student dormitories increased by 2.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of $3.9 billion in Q3 of 2024. The report highlights the rebound in private fixed investment
U.S. Government Reports National Housing Vacancy Rates for Q3, 2024 The U.S. government is reporting that the national vacancy rates for Q3, 2024 were 6.9% for rental housing and 1% for homeowner housing. The national homeownership rate for Q3 2024 was 65.6%. In addition, approximately 89.9% of the housing units in the United States in
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrates Diversity The U.S. Census Bureau reminds us that Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from September 15 to October 15, honors the contributions of Americans with roots in Spain, Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Spanish-speaking nations of the Caribbean. This celebration highlights the diversity that enriches the cultural tapestry of the
The Hispanic Population in America is Continuously Increasing Read More »