FRIDAY - fall back
- Beyond The Fires, What The Napa Valley Wine Economy Can Teach Us
- West Coast Markets Leading Nation in Home Value Growth
- Social benefits of homeownership
- House Republican tax reform plan will slash mortgage deduction
- Fed holds interest rates steady
- 9 Real Ways You Can Help After a House Fire
- 10 Decluttering Projects You Can Do in 15 Minutes or Less
Enjoy!
Beyond The Fires, What The Napa Valley Wine Economy Can Teach Us - It is a story of a local economy, very different from the other economies of the nearby Bay Area and most of the state. Rooted in the local wine industry, the Napa economy has become one of unusual craftsmanship, environmental stewardship and a valued local agricultural labor force. Before the media caravan moves on completely from the Napa Valley, let's add a few words about these values, and what they can teach those of us outside Napa.
West Coast Markets Leading Nation in Home Value Growth - Booming West Coast markets Seattle and San Jose, Calif. are leading the nation in home value growth. After one of the most competitive home shopping seasons in recent history, demand for homes in the West remains high as people flood the area for jobs. Seattle and San Jose reported double-digit home value appreciation over the past year. In Seattle, home values are 12.4 percent higher than at this time last year, and home values are just over 10 percent higher in San Jose.
Social benefits of homeownership - Improved educational performance, higher civic participation, lower crime rates, and improved health remain the biggest social benefits linked to homeownership, according to a new research paper by NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun and research economist Nadia Evangelou, which appears in The Journal of the Center for Real Estate Studies.
House Republican tax reform plan will slash mortgage deduction - Republicans announced their new tax plan, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Thursday, and its implications on the housing market are much larger than expected. The bill, H.R. 1, cuts the mortgage interest deduction in half. It’s previous limit was $1 million. Many experts feared the increase in the standard deduction, which the new plan increased from $12,000 to $24,000 per household, saying it could make the mortgage interest tax deduction less appealing, however, lowering the tax deduction has brought even more outcry from the housing industry.
Fed holds interest rates steady - The Federal Reserve held its key interest rate steady Wednesday but provided an upbeat economic outlook that leaves the door open to an anticipated rate hike in December despite persistently weak inflation. In a statement after a two-day meeting that occurred against a backdrop of imminent changes in the central bank’s leadership, the Fed said it left its benchmark federal funds rate unchanged at a range of 1 percent to 1.25 percent as expected. But Fed policymakers said, “the labor market has continued to strengthen” and “economic activity has been rising at a solid rate despite hurricane-related disruptions.” The economy grew at a surprisingly strong 3 percent annual rate in the third quarter despite Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Hurricane Irma in Florida, the government said last week.
9 Real Ways You Can Help After a House Fire - Suggestions from someone who lost her home to fire — and experienced the staggering generosity of community
10 Decluttering Projects You Can Do in 15 Minutes or Less - Try these ideas to get organized at home one small step at a time. Some of my faves:
