Despite being the backbone of economic vitality and national security, U.S. infrastructure teeters on the brink of catastrophe. Over decades, a complacent approach has left vital systems—roads, bridges, airports, and utilities—ill-equipped to withstand the relentless assault of climate change. Recent events vividly illustrate this vulnerability: flooded runways at Fort Lauderdale, heat-induced bridge failures in New
Real Estate
For decades, investors in bonds have endured the suffocating grip of near-zero interest rates, forcing them to either settle for meager yields or reach for riskier assets. Now, according to Rick Rieder, BlackRock’s chief investment officer of global fixed income, that long drought has ended, opening what he calls a “generational opportunity.” This isn’t just
The Trump administration’s recent inclination to phase out the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) bears significant implications that homeowners must grapple with. As government oversight dwindles in areas crucial for disaster recovery, a troubling concern arises: who will be left to pick up the pieces when the inevitable calamity strikes? Financial reliance on a government
The recent directive from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) marks a pivotal moment in the landscape of American housing finance. By mandating Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to integrate cryptocurrency into their mortgage loan risk assessments, the FHFA has laid the groundwork for a potentially transformative approach in how lenders evaluate borrower assets. This
As we traverse through 2023, the landscape of home construction paints a troubling picture. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) has seen a daunting drop to 32 in June—a stark indicator that the mood among builders is low. With anything below 50 signaling negativity, this figure is more than
The recent decision by the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates unchanged presents an unsettling reality for Americans, particularly amid the vocal demands from political figures like former President Donald Trump for a rate cut. The challenges ahead are not merely economic statistics; they resonate through the lives of everyday consumers and businesses, with repercussions
The changing landscape of suburban housing is a revelation that many have overlooked until now. Over the past five years, the rental market in suburbs surrounding major U.S. metropolitan areas has rapidly evolved; it seems homeowners in these areas are becoming an endangered species. A recent analysis by Point2Homes highlights a startling trend: in at
In today’s tumultuous economic landscape, characterized by fluctuating interest rates and persistent inflation, many investors find themselves in a holding pattern, hoping for more clarity on the future. Bryan Whalen, the chief investment officer at TCW, encapsulates this sentiment perfectly. He describes the current atmosphere as a “waiting place,” where both consumers and investors grapple
As hurricane season approaches, the anticipated intensity of this year’s storms sends shivers down the spine of property owners across the Atlantic. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has made a bold prediction: a staggering 60% chance of “above-normal” hurricane activity, with forecasts suggesting 13 to 19 named storms might take shape between June
In recent weeks, the mortgage market has witnessed a seemingly contradictory trend—despite a slight decrease in mortgage rates, demand continues to dwindle. According to the latest report from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), total mortgage application volume has dropped by an unsettling 3.9%. This decline poses critical questions: why is a decrease in rates, which