Author: josh
If you’re thinking about buying a home in a rural or eligible suburban area, a USDA loan could help you get there with no down payment and a low interest rate. Whether you’re browsing homes for sale in Lexington, KY or homes for sale in Spokane, WA, understanding how USDA home loans work can help you find the right property and financing option. This Redfin article explains what a USDA loan is, the requirements borrowers must meet, which homes qualify, and how to buy in an eligible area. What is a USDA loan for a house and how does it…
The billionaire behind the retail empire that once blanketed shopping malls with names such as Victoria’s Secret and Abercrombie & Fitch told members of Congress on Wednesday that he was “duped by a world-class con man” — close financial adviser Jeffrey Epstein. Les Wexner also denied knowing about the late sex offender’s crimes or participating in Epstein’s abuse of girls and young women. “I was naive, foolish, and gullible to put any trust in Jeffrey Epstein. He was a con man. And while I was conned, I have done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide,” the 88-year-old retired founder of…
In This Article Despite stock markets hovering around record highs, investors are feeling jittery. You can see it in consumer confidence collapsing to its lowest level since 2014, as well as in the mass flight into precious metals as a safe haven, with gold up 74% over the last year and silver up 139%. On the other “side of the coin,” high-risk investments like Bitcoin are crashing, with Bitcoin down 46% from its all-time high. Meanwhile, recession and inflation risk both remain higher than usual, due to softening labor markets, trade wars, and heightened geopolitical risk. Where Billionaires Are Investing…
If you’re thinking about selling your home, one of the first questions you might ask is: do I need a real estate agent? The short answer is no — you can sell on your own. That said, it also means handling pricing, marketing, negotiations, and paperwork yourself. For many sellers, working with a real estate agent can simplify the process and improve the overall outcome. As you look to sell your home in Seattle or Chicago, this Redfin article will teach you the benefits of working with a real estate agent for a better home-selling experience. What does an agent…
Appointing board directors as CEOs was once a “break glass in case of emergency” strategy reserved for scandal, illness, or sudden resignation. While it remains a minority path compared with traditional internal promotions, it is no longer an anomaly. New data from Spencer Stuart highlights the shift. Of the 168 new S&P 1500 chief executives appointed in 2025, the highest annual total since 2010, 19 were drawn from their own company boards, the most since 2020. Spencer Stuart classifies directors as outsiders because they lack day-to-day operating responsibility. Even so, more boards are turning to them. The increase comes amid…
In This Article Everyone hears “five Airbnbs in five years” and immediately pictures some kind of motivational speaker montage. You know the one: Scrolling Zillow at midnight with one eye open. Signing five mortgages while pretending you understand what “debt service coverage ratio” means. Buying 37 throw pillows from HomeGoods because apparently that’s what makes a house “Instagrammable.” Chugging cold brew like it’s a performance-enhancing drug. Yelling “CASH FLOW” into the void and hoping the universe manifests a check. And then year two hits: The hot tub breaks and costs more to fix than your first car. Your cleaner quits…
U.S. home prices rose 0.3% from a month earlier in January on a seasonally adjusted basis, and increased 2.1% year over year. Prices fell month over month in 14 major metros, with the biggest declines in Warren, MI, San Antonio and Minneapolis. U.S. home prices crept up 0.3% month over month in January on a seasonally adjusted basis, following a 0.2% gain in December. Prices rose 2.1% from a year earlier, down from December’s 2.4% increase. Year-over-year price growth has now slowed for nearly 12 consecutive months. var divElement = document.getElementById(‘viz1771271247438’); var vizElement = divElement.getElementsByTagName(‘object’)[0]; if ( divElement.offsetWidth > 800…
Key takeaways A flat-rate real estate agent charges a fixed fee instead of a percentage-based commission, often saving sellers thousands — especially on higher-value homes. Flat-fee services vary widely: from full-service flat fee real estate agents to basic MLS listing packages where you do more of the work. While flat fee brokerages offer predictable pricing and cost savings, they can also come with trade-offs like less personalized support and potential additional fees. Understanding the differences between flat-rate realtors and traditional commission-based agents will help you decide which approach fits your selling strategy. For decades, selling a home almost always meant…
A new artificial intelligence video generator from Beijing-based ByteDance, the creator of TikTok, is drawing the ire of Hollywood organizations that say Seedance 2.0 “blatantly” violates copyright and uses the likeness of actors and others without permission. Seedance 2.0, which is only available in China for now, lets users generate high-quality AI videos using simple text prompts. The tool quickly gained condemnation from the movie and TV industry. The Motion Picture Association said Seedance 2.0 “has engaged in unauthorized use of U.S. copyrighted works on a massive scale.” “By launching a service that operates without meaningful safeguards against infringement, ByteDance is…
Most people have never thought about it. Instead, they slowly build their rental portfolio to 10 or (at the most) 20 units. And while we love the slow-and-steady approach, Jose Martinez is doing something much more—buying 10+ unit portfolios in a single transaction. He only needed a few “deals” to reach financial freedom.No risky creative financing or buying a bunch of $50K houses in the middle of nowhere. Jose’s portfolio rakes in steady rent, and now he’s a full-time real estate investor. And he did it all in just four years—starting in 2022.Two secrets helped him do this so quickly:…