FRIDAY - TRAVELING LIGHT
- Get Away From It All in a ‘Glamper’
- California bounces back as No. 7 economy in world
- San Francisco takes another run at regulating AirbnbWhere the Housing Crisis Continues
- Prolonged Housing Crisis Diminishes Confidence in the American Dream- 5 Ways Families Can Ease the Stress of Moving Day
- Precast Concrete Pavers Make a Versatile Surface in the Garden
Enjoy!
California bounces back as No. 7 economy in world - California’s gross domestic product reached $2.3 trillion in 2014, which allowed its economy to once again be ranked as the seventh largest in the world. California’s economy edged past Brazil’s 2014 GDP of $2.2 trillion, but still fell below the sixth-place United Kingdom. The effects of the recession caused the state’s economic might to fall in the rankings to ninth in 2010 after a harsh drop in economic output after the 2008 financial crisis. However, Chris Thornberg, principal at Beacon Economics LLC, cautioned that if the state does not address the rising cost of housing, it will ultimately cap economic growth.
San Francisco takes another run at regulating Airbnb - people who want stricter controls on home-shares say landlords are taking hundreds of rentals off the market, exacerbating the city's tight housing stock and sky-high prices. Small homes often sell for more than $1 million, and one-bedroom apartments rent for over $3,000 a month.
Where the Housing Crisis Continues - For many lower-income Americans, the housing bust of 2008 was just a prelude to a new crisis. In many areas, housing prices are stuck below their inflated pre-bubble levels, so entire communities continue to struggle with high foreclosure rates and a lack of economic mobility. The disparity between high- and low-income neighborhoods is evident in the numbers. The Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller National Home Price Index for March was over the March 2004 index, and national median home prices are just over what they were 10 years ago. But the numbers in many of our nation’s low-income neighborhoods are far different.
Prolonged Housing Crisis Diminishes Confidence in the American Dream - A new survey of housing attitudes finds that a significant majority of Americans believes the country is still not past the housing crisis that began seven years ago. There seems to be an enduring sense of worry and concern about what the future holds for the country, despite some improvement in the view of the housing situation nationally. Americans believe it is harder than it used to be to attain a secure middle-class lifestyle and significantly more likely for a family to fall from the middle class than to join it.
5 Ways Families Can Ease the Stress of Moving Day - While no one can promise your transition will go without hiccups, a little extra planning can help relieve some of the stress. Before the moving truck pulls up to your house, consider these tips to ensure your moving day goes as smoothly as possible.
Precast Concrete Pavers Make a Versatile Surface in the Garden - You can use concrete pavers in a variety of shapes and colors for your patio, walkway, driveway and more. Some of my favorites:
