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How tariffs could impact the housing market
Mortgage rates could go up because of a trade war between the United States and Canada, Mexico and China, according to real estate experts.
Tariffs also could potentially increase prices on building materials, and more, and inflation invariably means mortgage rates will go up.
Nicholas Irwin, research director for UNLV’s Lied Center for Real...Read more
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The surprisingly smooth process of turning offices into apartments in Philadelphia's first big conversion project
The first major office-to-residential conversion of the post-pandemic era in Philadelphia is set to be completed this spring.
Alterra Property Group is on schedule to finish the conversion of 1701 Market St. from an office building to apartments by Memorial Day. Units will begin leasing in March.
For all the talk of transforming empty offices ...Read more
Real estate Q&A: Can association's new tree block owner's ocean view?
Q: Can a community association plant a tree on the common property that will obstruct a single owner’s view of the ocean? — Roy
A: Homeowners, including those living in a community association, ordinarily have no legal right to a certain view.
However, like most issues involving legal rights, the specific facts of the situation can make a ...Read more
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A Los Angeles ADU is inspired by West African textiles and a fresh take on modernism
LOS ANGELES -- As an urban planner, Marina Martos Dabel was dreaming about adding an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, long before she and her husband, Dr. Pascal Dabel, purchased their Silver Lake home in 2016.
“I always wanted to get my hands on a backyard rec room or ADU project,” Marina says. When it came to the stylish addition the ...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: Forget the Mayonnaise for Removing Water Rings on Furniture
Dear Mary: How can I get rid of white water rings on wood tables? Thanks! -- Amy
Dear Amy: There are homemade remedies, but I've had only marginal results using things such as mayonnaise or other household products to remove the infuriating white marks you describe.
I suggest you save yourself a lot of time and frustration with a Homax White ...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: Binder Clips Useful to Organize the Home
As I rifle through my virtual mailbag where readers send their best ideas for how to save time and money, some invariably arrive without the sender's name. Not all are worthy of passing along, but now and then, one of these orphans is just too good to cast aside. Today I have a collection of these no-name submissions that are up for adoption.
...Read more
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A major Bay Area real estate firm is leaning into private listings. Critics contend buyers and sellers will be hurt
Today's housing market mostly operates out in the open — in one place, buyers surfing Zillow or Redfin can see nearly every home listed for sale.
But in recent months, one of the industry's largest brokerages, Compass, has been pushing for more sellers to list their homes "privately" — meaning they can only be viewed by buyers represented ...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: How to Turn Scrap Gold Into Cash Without Getting Ripped Off
I promise not to ask if you remember when the price of gold was fixed at $35 an ounce or when U.S. currency was tied to the gold standard (hint: The Gold Standard Act was passed on March 14, 1900, but later suspended). Things have changed drastically over the years, with gold now hovering around $1,800 per ounce.
Let's turn to your jewelry box,...Read more
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Survey: Almost half of loan applicants have been denied over the past 12 months
As interest rates stay elevated and inflation remains stubbornly high, many Americans appear to be finding it tougher to access the financing they need — and it’s posing challenges for both their finances and their aspirations.
Nearly half of Americans (45%) said they have applied for a loan or financial product in the past 12 months since...Read more
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Best online brokers of 2025: Choose the right brokerage firm for you
If you’re starting to invest or looking for a new brokerage account, checking out the best online brokers is a great place to begin. The best online brokers offer low commissions, strong trading platforms, plenty of research and education as well as helpful customer support — all the features to help you succeed as an investor.
We’ve ...Read more
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5 annuity mistakes you do not want to make
An annuity is a financial product that can provide a stream of guaranteed income in retirement. But buying an annuity isn’t always as straightforward as it seems.
With different types, rates and costs to consider, it’s easy to overlook key details. However, these simple mistakes can lock you into an annuity contract you don’t fully ...Read more
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5 popular investment strategies for beginners
When you start investing on your own, the world of investing may seem wide, often with too many choices and confusion on how to start. What if you make a wrong move and regret it? Well, you wouldn’t be alone.
In fact, 77% of U.S. adults have regrets when it comes to their personal finances, according to Bankrate’s Financial Regret Survey. ...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: 23 Easy Ways to Save $5 a Day
Saving money doesn't have to require becoming a miser or even erasing all the fun from your life. In fact, there are so many ways you can choose to not spend just $5 every day -- and instead hide that money away in a safe place. It's about sidestepping sneaky little expenses that can add up faster than loads of dirty dishes after a big ...Read more
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Living on a boat in Seattle used to be cheap. Who still opts for liveaboard life?
When Michael and Rie DePaula decided to relocate to Seattle, they realized they would need to be creative in the hot housing market.
It was 2017, and the couple saw the move as career advancement for Michael, 46, and an English immersion opportunity for their three sons, who had been born and raised in Japan.
Home prices were high and renting ...Read more
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A world away from the Palisades and Altadena, landlords try to sell fire victims on living downtown
With thousands of houses and apartments lost to wildfires in an already tight housing market, landlords in downtown Los Angeles are trying to woo displaced fire victims to a more urban setting far from the burn zones.
A social media campaign has been launched by members of the Historic Core Business Improvement District to get people searching ...Read more
Real estate Q&A: Can HOA stop us from smoking in our home?
Q: Our association adopted a rule banning all smoking anywhere on the premises, including inside individual units, except for a small, designated area outside. The rule was passed by a vote at our annual membership meeting and passed. We have owned our home here for 25 years, and no one ever complained about my wife’s smoking. Can this rule be...Read more
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Office parks were a strength of Atlanta's suburbs. Now, some are tearing them down
What happens to office space in a post-pandemic world has often centered on what to do about high-rise workplaces in the downtowns of major cities, such as Atlanta.
But there is an awful lot of office space in the suburbs, much of it built in the 1980s and 1990s as developers planted office parks far from central business districts but closer ...Read more
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What to learn from rebuilding of Paradise after 2018 wildfire? Plenty, says top insurance executive
LOS ANGELES — The 2018 Camp fire that destroyed most of the town of Paradise caused $12.5 billion in insured damages, making it the costliest wildfire in U.S. history. Now, the multiple Los Angeles County fires are expected to easily surpass that, raising questions about the future availability and affordability of homeowners insurance. Many ...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: Got Debt? Do Something About It!
Doing something about consumer debt is good for your finances -- and just about every other area of your life.
HEALTH
Experts say there's no question that carrying a lot of debt can be stressful, causing all kinds of health issues. It can result in worry, sleeplessness, communication breakdown, depression and anxiety. Credit card debt takes a ...Read more
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Fed pauses interest rate cuts despite Trump's call to lower rates 'immediately'
The Federal Reserve decided to delay additional rate cuts for now and keep interest rates unchanged at its first meeting of the year, giving themselves time to assess whether inflation is cooling and how President Donald Trump’s policies might impact the U.S. economy.
The decision means the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will keep its ...Read more
Inside Consumer
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