Author: josh

An advisory firm that counsels the largest institutional investors on how to vote at shareholder meetings is recommending investors support Warner Bros. Discovery’s $77.7 billion acquisition by Paramount Skydance but is against a golden-parachute proposal that would see executives collect a total of $1.35 billion after the deal goes through.  In a report issued on Wednesday, Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) said support for the “extraordinary golden parachute” proposal, which it valued at $886.8 million in payments for Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav and $466.2 million for the other executives, wasn’t warranted. ISS took issue with an “excise tax grossup” estimate…

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Getting preapproved for a mortgage is one of the first steps in the homebuying process. It helps you understand how much you can borrow, strengthens your offer, and shows sellers you’re serious. However to get there, lenders need a clear picture of your financial life – which means gathering a few key documents.  Here’s a breakdown of the documents needed for mortgage preapproval, why lenders ask for them, and how to prepare so you don’t hit delays. Documents needed for mortgage preapproval To get preapproved, lenders require documents that verify your income, assets, debts, and identity. Use this checklist to…

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We’re selling off rental properties. Nope, that’s not clickbait; we’re actually getting rid of cash-flowing rental properties from our real estate portfolios.Is there a market crash we fear is coming? Do we think this is the peak of real estate? Have we finally decided to listen to the social media doomers who keep telling us it’s another 2008? Not quite. Instead, our reasoning behind selling might make a lot more sense than you think. In fact, after you listen to this episode, you might decide to sell some rentals. So, what are we doing with the money? Are we going to…

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U.S. President Donald Trump said late Tuesday he’s pulling back on his threats to launch devastating strikes on Iran, swerving to deescalate the war less than two hours before the deadline he set for Tehran to capitulate or else a “whole civilization will die tonight.” Trump said he was holding off on his threatened attacks on Iranian bridges, power plants and other civilian targets, subject to Tehran agreeing to a two-week ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the pivotal waterway through which a fifth of the world’s oil is transported during peacetime. He also said Iran has proposed…

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Key Takeaways: Property taxes help fund essential public services and are based on the assessed value of property, not what you paid for it. New Jersey (1.88%), Illinois (1.88%), Connecticut (1.54%), Vermont (1.51%), and New Hampshire (1.50%) have the highest property tax rates in the country. Hawaii (0.29%), Alabama (0.37%), Utah (0.48%), Arizona (0.48%), and South Carolina (0.49%) have the lowest property tax rates. Buying a home isn’t just about the purchase price. You’ll also need to budget for ongoing costs like property taxes, which can vary widely depending on where you live. Two homes with similar values can come…

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Dave:The rollercoaster of the economy and the housing market keeps rolling on with each day seemingly more confusing than the last. But today, James, Kathy, and I are here to help you understand what is going on in the housing market and the news. Break it all down for you and help you make sense of what you should be doing with your own portfolio. Kathy, how are you? Thanks for being here. Kathy:I’m doing great. I’m here at a conference. So glad I could be at both, here with you and at this conference. Dave:Nice. What are you speaking…

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The Associated Press, one of the world’s oldest and most influential news organizations, said Monday it is offering buyouts to an unspecified number of its U.S.-based journalists as part of an acceleration away from the focus on newspapers and their print journalism that sustained the company since the mid-1800s. The News Media Guild, the union that represents AP journalists, said more than 120 staff members received buyout offers on Monday. The news organization is becoming more focused on visual journalism and developing new revenue sources, particularly through companies investing in artificial intelligence, to cope with the economic collapse of many…

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Owning a home — whether it’s a house in Brooklyn, NY or a condo in Miami, FL — comes with responsibilities that go beyond curb appeal and mortgage payments. From routine maintenance to long-term protection, it’s worth thinking about how to protect your home beyond day-to-day upkeep.  While many buyers focus on financing options like an FHA loan, it’s just as important to think about how to protect that investment once you move in. This Redfin article breaks down how to protect your home from fire with simple, effective strategies. 1. Start where most homeowners forget: The dryer vent When…

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In This Article While real estate is often described as the best way to build wealth, it can also be one of the fastest ways to lose it. Making a good investment often comes down to location. Choose well and ride the equity wave to financial freedom. A poor choice, conversely, can leave you in a money pit. Today’s investment decisions involve more than employment, crime, and future development. Insurance shocks, climate risk, and utility costs can erode net income and the potential for appreciation. Aggregating county-level data from researchers such as ATTOM and the First Street Foundation highlights counties…

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After stocks notched the first positive week since the U.S.-Israel war on Iran started over a month ago, Wall Street is weighing another round of threats and the latest deadline from President Donald Trump. Futures tied to the Dow Jones industrial average fell 158 points, or 0.34%. S&P 500 futures were down 0.23%, and Nasdaq futures lost 0.14%. U.S. oil futures rose 0.38% to $111.96 a barrel, and Brent crude climbed 0.93% to $110.04. The national average gasoline price reached $4.11 a gallon on Sunday, according to AAA, up from $2.98 before the war. In Europe, which depends heavily on Mideast refiners for jet fuel, shortages…

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