Making Money

From CBS News:

The U.S. states where homeowners gained — and lost — equity in 2023

For the millions of Americans who own their homes, their properties are typically their biggest source of wealth. The good news? Those assets have grown in value over the past year thanks to rising home prices. 

The typical American homeowner saw their home equity rise by $20,000, or 6.8%, through the end of the third quarter compared with a year earlier, according to a new analysis from real estate data firm CoreLogic. 

Despite a fierce headwind in the form of the highest mortgage rates in two decades, average home prices have jumped about 9% this year, according to the National Association of Realtors. That has boosted the value of homeowners’ equity, or the difference between how much a home is worth and the remaining amount due on a mortgage. 

This entry was posted in Housing Bubble, National Real Estate, New Jersey Real Estate. Bookmark the permalink.

121 Responses to Making Money

  1. Juice Box says:

    First

  2. Fast Eddie says:

    Baa Baa Booey!

  3. Fast Eddie says:

    From BRT on yesterday’s post: I’ll tell you this…it sounds cliche but the new 22 year old entering teaching have been less than inspiring. They used to come in as eternal idealist who worked their butts off before admin beats the optimism out of them. Now they just come in looking to take every Friday off and work light all year. You are getting what you paid for.

    This deserves further discussion. My spider senses are picking up the same thing. I’m not saying the youngins’ aren’t intelligent but the generation as a whole is lacking whatever je ne sais quoi you need to get to the next level.

  4. The Great Pumpkin says:

    F’k me…sold way too early at 73.63….sol at 77.42 now. Just have to have the patience from experience to know it will pull back from here (i hope) lol

    Resistance was 74…and it did hold, but then fomo blew past it. Next big resistance is 80. Dangerous for me…80 is a big psychological wall, if it blows past that, I f’ed up big time. Experience tells me it should dip back into the 60s if it hits 80, but no guarantees in this game. All a risk.

  5. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Oil is down…bond rates were down. China real estate market has crashed like 87%. How anyone can be bullish in this environment is pure greed. I have to stand by my position that this is all a bubble and a major correction is coming. Real estate market is dead for god’s sake.

    “Everyone is euphoric.
    Everyone is rich!
    Everything is going up!
    Everyone is posting screenshots of their gains!
    Everyone is right.

    Is anyone worried about this?”

  6. Fast Eddie says:

    Real estate market is dead for god’s sake.

    Not here. ‘Best and Final’ is the only words needed on a listing. Perfect condition? As is? Doesn’t matter. Post the listing on Thursday, sort through the offers Monday morning.

  7. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Arkw up 90% on the year. Arkk up 60%. I don’t know…Bubbly.

  8. Juice Box says:

    331 days until the election. The unreality season is just getting warmed up.

    Moby’s guest speaker yesterday, who is being funded and protected by the far left, they are now hiding him in San Francisco. He claims the right wants him dead to hurt the president, and he is in fact a victim.

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/2MymL1qJaoBfGDLqT0fe2y

  9. The Great Pumpkin says:

    I more than doubled my money on sol….28 to 73 in little over a month. Experience says there has to be a retrace in the entire investment market. Money is not supposed to be this easy. Maybe it is…

  10. 3b says:

    Fast: Massive cut in rates next year, housing will boom again. Put a 7 handle on anything in Bergen co going forward. The young people are all waiting on the side lines to buy . The economy just had a soft landing, but now to make the landing even softer we need those massive cuts. Charge your cards! Debt does not matter.

  11. Fast Eddie says:

    3b,

    Wrist bands are available for spots in open house lines. For $50, I can get anyone a top 5 spot in line.

  12. Phoenix says:

    The sleeping Joe has awakened.

    The U.S. is putting on a show of force in the skies above Guyana on Thursday, as the Biden administration said it was standing with the country amid growing fears that Venezuela was about to launch an invasion.

  13. Phoenix says:

    Joe Biden to Congress:

    Charge your cards! Debt does not matter.

  14. Phoenix says:

    Capitalism. You make more money by paying for less employees. Cash is king.

    Boy, 5, drowns in daycare pool after YMCA let THIRTY EIGHT children into water with one lifeguard

  15. Phoenix says:

    Sign me up. I’m good for this.

    He will get my vote.

    The Great Pumpkin says:
    December 9, 2023 at 9:25 am
    OMFG, just stop with the free chit already.

    https://www.newsweek.com/biden-wants-give-500000-americans-money-buy-homes-1850587

  16. Phoenix says:

    The Great Pumpkin says:
    December 9, 2023 at 9:25 am
    OMFG, just stop with the free chit already.

    KYIV — Anxiety is mounting in Ukraine as disagreements in Washington continue to stall billions of dollars of urgently needed wartime funding — aid that officials here say is crucial to keep the country running as the war with Russia grinds on.

  17. 3b says:

    Phoenix: Maybe the YMCA can’t get Americans to work as lifeguards. A lot of shore towns these past couple of summers were not able to hire lifeguards. The same in hotels and developments with pools. Lots of Americans don’t want to work, they are lazy.

  18. Phoenix says:

    European Union officials reached a landmark deal Friday on the world’s most ambitious law to regulate artificial intelligence, paving the way for what could become a global standard to classify risk, enforce transparency and financially penalize tech companies for noncompliance.

    US officials reached a landmark deal with corporations allowing them to use AI to circumvent the Constitution, take away your rights, and allow your children to be manipulated and abused as long as they can show profits and stock gains.

  19. Phoenix says:

    3b says:
    December 9, 2023 at 10:11 am
    Phoenix: Maybe the YMCA can’t get Americans to work as lifeguards. A lot of shore towns these past couple of summers were not able to hire lifeguards. The same in hotels and developments with pools. Lots of Americans don’t want to work, they are lazy.

    It’s capitalism. You raise the wage, you get employees. The more you raise the wage, or provide benefits, the less likely the employee is going to want to lose a good job. You can threaten them they can easily be replaced as the wage is good and that you have a steady supply of potential employees.

    When you pay little, you take the crap that you can get. This only gets worse as “basic” standards of living increase. America has marketed itself as the “American Dream” only to keep slipping closer every day to third world standards.

    You have no idea how many nurses have their feet for sale on Only Fans pages. 🤣🤣
    I know of 2.

  20. Phoenix says:

    Young ladies.

    Marry a rich man now or be priced out forever.

    Hehe.

    Pumpy.

  21. 3b says:

    Phoenix: I am just saying there seems to be a fair number of people out there who don’t want to work period, no matter the pay. I know a few of them.

  22. Phoenix says:

    Gotta get the money to survive somehow.

    Hey I don’t wanna work, but I do it for the check, and the pleasure of having taxes taken out and given to foreign countries that need it way, way more than I do. I feel so blessed to be a rich American and drive my old car.

    3b says:
    December 9, 2023 at 10:37 am
    Phoenix: I am just saying there seems to be a fair number of people out there who don’t want to work period, no matter the pay. I know a few of them.

  23. Phoenix says:

    One of my young colleagues yesterday when asked to do the most simple task:

    while True:
    pass

  24. Very Stable Genius says:

    The 400 richest Americans currently own more wealth than all Black households and a quarter of Latino households combined. According to an analysis from economists Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman from the University of California-Berkeley, the richest top 0.1% has seen its share of American wealth nearly triple from 7% to 20% between the late 1970s and 2016, while the bottom 90% has seen its share of wealth decline from 35% to 25% in that same period.

    Put another way, the richest 130,000 families in America now hold nearly as much wealth as the bottom 117 million families combined.

  25. Phoenix says:

    More noise.

    Very Stable Genius says:
    December 9, 2023 at 11:40 am
    The 400 richest Americans currently own more wealth than all Black households and a quarter of Latino households combined. According to an analysis from economists Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman from the University of California-Berkeley, the richest top 0.1% has seen its share of American wealth nearly triple from 7% to 20% between the late 1970s and 2016, while the bottom 90% has seen its share of wealth decline from 35% to 25% in that same period.

    Put another way, the richest 130,000 families in America now hold nearly as much wealth as the bottom 117 million families combined.

  26. Fast Eddie says:

    VSG,

    And what’s your solution?

  27. Very Stable Genius says:

    That’s easy!
    Trump!
    Trump is always the solution, right?

    Fast Eddie says:
    December 9, 2023 at 12:14 pm
    VSG,

    And what’s your solution?

  28. Phoenix says:

    Fast Eddie says:
    December 9, 2023 at 12:14 pm
    VSG,

    And what’s your solution?

    Die of old age and let your kids handle it. Locust Boomer is well fed so not his problem.

  29. Boomer Remover says:

    YouTube algo started feeding me really early Rage Against The Machine performances. So much energy. Such good presence. Tom Morello really lights up that Stratocaster.

    Now that I’m older and have been processed by the machine, I’m content with weekends and drink here or there, and no longer rage.

    One thing is so incredibly true from experience and knowing folks, some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses.

  30. Very Stable Genius says:

    “Over the Thanksgiving weekend, Trump announced his plan to revive one of the Republican Party’s less-liked vaudeville routines, the two-step known as “repeal and replace Obamacare.” “I’m seriously looking at alternatives,” he wrote on Truth Social.

    Despite the fact that reports immediately pointed out what a political loser the issue has been for the GOP, which essentially gave up on the idea of scuttling the Obama-era law in the most recent midterms, Trump has done nothing but push it even harder.

    “I don’t want to terminate Obamacare,” he wrote, “I want to REPLACE IT with MUCH BETTER HEALTHCARE. Obamacare Sucks!!!”

  31. Phoenix says:

    BR,
    Yup.

  32. Phoenix says:

    Some can never win:

    Marlene Campbell: “I was just curious and said, ‘Hey, let me see if today’s my lucky day.’”

    She bought a scratch-off ticket. She scratched. She screamed.

    Marlene Campbell: “I was so shocked when I scratched off and saw the amount I won: $1,000.”

    She headed to the Miami Lakes lottery office, filled out the form to collect her cash … and her lucky streak ended.

    Marlene Campbell: “The lady called me, and she told me I won’t be able to get that money because I filed for unemployment.”

    The state of Florida was seizing her $1,000 because, they said, she had collected too much unemployment.

    Marlene’s response?

    Marlene Campbell: “I’ve been working with the state of Florida for like 28 years, and I never, ever filed for unemployment check.”

    Marlene then discovered someone stole her Social Security number and was getting an unemployment check in Marlene’s name.

  33. Phoenix says:

    Want to beat the stock market? Just copy Congress! Politicians’ trades perform twice as well as market average and Nancy Pelosi’s portfolio has grown by 50 PERCENT in 2023

  34. Juice Box says:

    3B – ” Lots of Americans don’t want to work, they are lazy.”

    Was just at ShopRite the young couple inline at the cashier perhaps 25 years old paid for the groceries with a SNAP credit card aka food stamps. No kids in tow either perhaps grandma is watching them. Both could definitely work to pay for food. Income limit is somewhere around $2,500 for one person. A family of four around $4500.

  35. Phoenix says:

    So what? Grandma gets half off her taxes every year, free donuts and coffee, Medicare, Social Security, Ex Grandpa’s pension, current Grandpa’s pension, plus her 4 houses are up 10x what she paid for them when Nixon was president.

    Juice Box says:
    December 9, 2023 at 5:16 pm
    3B – ” Lots of Americans don’t want to work, they are lazy.”

    Was just at ShopRite the young couple inline at the cashier perhaps 25 years old paid for the groceries with a SNAP credit card aka food stamps. No kids in tow either perhaps grandma is watching them. Both could definitely work to pay for food. Income limit is somewhere around $2,500 for one person. A family of four around $4500.

  36. BRT says:

    Juice,

    I know someone who literally threw a party once their disability was approved in honor or it.

  37. BRT says:

    YouTube algo started feeding me really early Rage Against The Machine performances. So much energy. Such good presence. Tom Morello really lights up that Stratocaster.

    Morello played a Telecaster =) or an Ibanez in those days. But yes, those first two albums were awesome. What’s sad is, I can find a quote in those albums that probably contradicts everything Morello posts.

  38. Phoenix says:

    Work, pay taxes where your money is stolen from you and sent to foreign countries.

    Your corporations aren’t having their money stolen. Boomer is only paying half his property tax. Who do you think is making up the difference?

    If it’s okay for all of them to steal and not pay, why should anyone else?

  39. Juice Box says:

    Phoenix – I was told in high school decades ago by a teacher that we would be putting pillows over the heads of the boomers as the slept as the math did not work to support them in their golden years.

    It has skipped the boomers, those elderly now run the country thanks to technology in health care. It saved them all from death that was a certainty not that long ago.

    It will be my generation that gets the pillow treatment, my kids will try to kill me.. I however plan to sail away. No property taxes either, I will be a pirate…

  40. Phoenix says:

    Juice,

    Or maybe your “sweet woman” mother in law will put a hit out on you, then try to flee to Vietnam:

    Mother-in-law charged in murder-for-hire plot to kill her daughter’s husband claims she is being forced to sit naked, go days without showers and eat with her hands in ‘cruel and unusual punishment’
    Donna Adelson claims she is being subjected to ‘cruel and unusual punishment’ after being arrested last month over a murder-to-hire plot
    Lawyers representing the 73-year-old have argued the alleged treatment is a violation of her Sixth Amendment rights
    Her son Charles was convicted last month of organizing the killing of his former brother-in-law Dan Markel

  41. Juice Box says:

    Seems my new neighbor wants to have a pissing contest with lights. I put up 3300 colored mini lights. He has about 5000 white ones.

    I have two more boxes of lights and a bunch of inflatables and laser projector when the kids were younger. I also have a 1080p projector with a hologram Santa running on an Alienware laptop that can still crank out crypto, plus plenty of loud speakers to make it a Ho, Ho, Ho….

    Game on…

    https://cdn.shopify.com/videos/c/vp/d19b1cca1c6a4371803223440e60a87b/d19b1cca1c6a4371803223440e60a87b.HD-1080p-7.2Mbps-10735853.mp4

  42. Juice Box says:

    Phoenix – My Mil already wants me dead, as we are not going for Christmas.

  43. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Loser mentality. They celebrate it. Pretty wild. These are the same folks that bash the rich for producing.

    BRT says:
    December 9, 2023 at 5:38 pm
    Juice,

    I know someone who literally threw a party once their disability was approved in honor or it.

  44. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Rage rules! Love them back in my rebellious f the establishment young days!

  45. The Great Pumpkin says:

    This WW2 documentary on netflix is awesome if you enjoy history. Well done.

  46. The Great Pumpkin says:

    SOl at 72.80. Experience. Risk with anything, but getting your ass kicked is the best lesson at reading the investment market. I can’t explain it, it just comes natural now. No guarantees on being correct 100% of the time, but chit; if you don’t get greedy, have patience, and follow what you know…you can time the trades over and over. I basically told you what would happen to SOL It’s like taking candy from a baby reading the emotion of the market. Know the resistance levels, and have nerves of steel. Bring emotion into it and you are dead. You have to do what hurts sometimes and doesn’t make sense, but that’s how you outsmart the fomo greed/emotional herd. Simple as that. You have to think like the herd and be a step ahead of them.

  47. Phoenix says:

    Don’t underestimate her. F’n old bat ain’t got nothing to lose.
    They are f’n demons from hell, but go to church every Sunday.

    Juice Box says:
    December 9, 2023 at 9:20 pm
    Phoenix – My Mil already wants me dead, as we are not going for Christmas

    https://youtu.be/6EN5eJf5h_k?t=40

  48. The Great Pumpkin says:

    When it comes to the baby boomers’ run of investing luck, timing has been on their side.

    Decades of stellar stock-market returns produced by a series of bull markets that began in 1982 coincided with boomers’ prime working years and made their nest eggs grow.

    Their good fortune continues in retirement. The recent surge in interest rates that sent bond yields near a 15-year high is the “single best economic and financial development in 20 years” for retirees, said Joe Davis, global chief economist at Vanguard.

    That shift is turning the stock-loving Woodstock generation into bond buyers. With current yields on 10-year U.S. Treasury notes at 4.23%, boomers, ages 59 to 77, have reason to move money into the more conservative investments. The Gen Xers behind them—now around ages 43 to 58—are eyeing those moves, too.

    This moment presents new opportunities for investors in or near retirement to use bonds to reduce risk and generate steady income, financial advisers say.

    “There was no alternative to stocks,” Roger Rouse, 54, a software engineer from Mequon, Wis., said of the years since the 2008 financial crisis. He and his wife, Deb, 56, who recently retired, had about 75% of their nest egg in stocks earlier this year.

    Rising bond rates prompted the Rouses to move some money from stocks into a ladder of individual Treasury inflation-protected securities, or TIPS, that mature at intervals over 30 years.

    The Rouses plan to cover their basic living expenses in retirement with their bond investments. Eventually they will supplement that income with Social Security.

    “We wanted to take some risk off the table and make sure that no matter what happens in the markets, we’d be secure,” said Rouse, adding that the couple now has about 50% in stocks.

    Others are paring back on stocks, too. Last year, 45% of Vanguard 401(k) investors over age 55 who actively managed their money held more than 70% of their portfolios in stocks. In 2021, 47% held that much in stocks.

    This year through Oct. 31, investors overall pulled $98 billion from stock funds and channeled $170 billion into fixed-income funds, according to fund tracker Morningstar.

  49. The Great Pumpkin says:

    SOL…70.66 low so far…66 is prob as low as it will go, but no guarantee it gets there. So, my target is 68 to buy back in again. See if it happens. No need to hit exact tops or bottoms…just close enough for a nice profit.

  50. The Great Pumpkin says:

    What’s cool with sol…while you are waiting to buy back in again, money is parked in USDC at 5.05%. Even if you miss your buy back, at least still getting paid something.

  51. The Great Pumpkin says:

    “Still getting $ETH users asking me for more ideas, here is your updated cheat sheet for Solana:

    $SOL – better, faster, cheaper layer one
    $USDC – native 1-1 backed stablecoin
    $RENDER or $NOS – AI, GPU rendering
    $MNDE – Lido, liquid/native staking
    $JTO – Lido, staking, governance
    $SDHW – Filecoin or Arweave
    $JUP – Uniswap , aggregator
    $PYTH – Chainlink, governance
    $BONK – Shiba Inu
    $ATLAS – Destiny/Starfield
    $HNT – Mobile phone network
    $ORCA or $RAY – 1INCH
    $DARK – Monero, privacy
    $BERN – Reflections via $BONK burning
    $HONEY – Drive the Google Map Car
    $AURY – Anime

    @phantom or @solflare_wallet – Metamask
    @tensor_hq or @MagicEden – OpenSea
    @MadLadsNFT – Bored Apes
    @Claynosaurz – Punks
    @DriftProtocol – GMX
    @marginfi – MakerDao”

  52. The Great Pumpkin says:

    After reading just the intro for The Intelligent Investor, I now know where 90% of my core investment principles come from.

    The first major idea is that at some price a company is too cheap and must be bought and at some price it becomes so expensive it must be sold. A key concept that I bet 90% of investors fail to understand. They love their favorite companies at any cost, and it costs the dearly.

    An investors worst enemy is always themselves. A disciplined investor avoid the traps that lose money from emotions. Issac Newton lost his fortune chasing the bubble of the South Seas Trading Company. He remarked, “I can calculate the forces that moves planets, but not the madness that moves men”.

    The stock market is a pendulum that swings from wild optimism to irrational pessimism. The intelligent investor buys from the pessimist and sells to the optimist. (I have been selling lately to a ton of wild optimism). All bull markets end badly.

  53. The Great Pumpkin says:

    This dude gets it. Emotion and discipline is everything. That’s what I have learned. Also, it’s fine to make mistakes and learn from them. You want to make mistakes and become a better and better investor over time. If you are not making mistakes, you aren’t learning. You aren’t getting better. The best investors out there are the ones that made big mistakes and learned from them.

  54. Hold my beer says:

    Pumps

    I bought FICO last year at $380. Sold it this year at $829 because I thought it was getting pricey. It’s now around $1,130. Did same with Pinterest. Bought at $17-$18, sold at $27 and it’s now $34.

    Going forward When I own a company I think has good prospects and is well run and is shareholder friendly I’m just going to hold it until I feel it is way overpriced. Not just at intrinsic value or a little overpriced.

    Monish Pabrai talks about doing just that. He’s sold
    A few Companies he had made 5-10 times his money in that went up 10 or more times after he sold.

  55. Hold my beer says:

    Although with Pinterest I really don’t understand it that well and have no idea if it will succeed and be able to monetize its users at the same rate meta does.

  56. Very Stable Genius says:

    Socialism for boomers

    Phoenix says:
    December 9, 2023 at 5:37 pm
    So what? Grandma gets half off her taxes every year, free donuts and coffee, Medicare, Social Security, Ex Grandpa’s pension, current Grandpa’s pension, plus her 4 houses are up 10x what she paid for them when Nixon was president.

    Juice Box says:
    December 9, 2023 at 5:16 pm
    3B – ” Lots of Americans don’t want to work, they are lazy.”

    Was just at ShopRite the young couple inline at the cashier perhaps 25 years old paid for the groceries with a SNAP credit card aka food stamps. No kids in tow either perhaps grandma is watching them. Both could definitely work to pay for food. Income limit is somewhere around $2,500 for one person. A family of four around $4500.

  57. Hold my beer says:

    The wealthiest 1 percent generate as much climate altering gas then the bottom 65%. But it’s ok. Cause they focus on sustainability

    https://open.substack.com/pub/alexberenson/p/everything-you-hate-about-climate?r=1ihbtg&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post

  58. Fast Eddie says:

    Sort of ironic, we talk about the financial greed of boomers and old timers and here we are touting our investment gains. Because God knows, we’re all going to back to living off the land so that future generations can live off the land, too.

  59. Hold my beer says:

    Fast

    We’re just compensating for our financial losses we don’t mention. lol.

    Like bragging about farting on a Karen in an elevator but not a peep about dropping an SBD in church.

  60. Juice Box says:

    Humm town sent out a letter to homeowners, the inspection of a home for sale is catching people with unapproved additions.

    Apparently the raised homes nearer the waterfront that are in the flood zone the one that flooded during Sandy etc, we some folks are finishing off supposed “lower levels” of raised homes, blocking flood vents etc and making it living space.

  61. Fast Eddie says:

    Beer,

    LOL!

  62. 3b says:

    I know a few people have basically never worked for most of their lives, and then bitch about taxes and welfare for minorities.

  63. Boomer Remover says:

    BRT, you’re right i haven’t picked up a guitar in 20+ years and got them confused.

  64. 3b says:

    60 Year old unemployed man kills his 87 year old Father in Franklin Lakes.

  65. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Absolutely, I am riding the chit out of sol this cycle. For most conservative investors, biggest mistake is selling lottery tickets short. I am going to swing these runs though. Anytime there is a big move up, i will be selling and buying back in every single time.

    I want to make it clear, the majority of my money is invested in safe/boring bs. The rest is high risk, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. In 6 years, i plan on being in a position of small time f u money. It’s coming. Going to be a fun ride.

    Hold my beer says:
    December 10, 2023 at 10:21 am

  66. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Got a chit price, but almost had it at 67. Instead by the time my order went through…69. Still a win.

  67. The Great pumpkin says:

    And i nailed that 66 bottom call.

  68. Phoenix says:

    Guess he had nothing else to do.

    3b says:
    December 10, 2023 at 8:45 pm
    60 Year old unemployed man kills his 87 year old Father in Franklin Lakes

  69. Juice Box says:

    3B – some weirdness going on there.

    The Mom passed away in March. Someone posted a pic of the 60 year of son on her Obit getting married what looks recent, to a younger woman of Asian decent.

    https://www.vpfh.com/obituary/Elaine-Hagal

  70. Fast Eddie says:

    So the son whacked the father to get money? Or, the father cut him off and said you gotta earn your own way? Place your theories. Well, the young bride is free… hmm. Lol.

  71. 3b says:

    Juice: Family can be deadly. This is nor the first time.

  72. Fast Eddie says:

    I just saw a headline that said the “Barbie” film leads the Golden Globes with the most nominations. It’s fitting for a dumpy, lethargic and lazy nation. I think schools are close to doing away with the alphabet and writing to be replaced with emojis and selfies. And mathematics? Please, for like, people who like, are like into those things, like do like math and stuff, like.

  73. Phoenix says:

    Mom gone, dad has all the money.
    Dad put son in will.
    Son wacked dad, Asian wife talked him into it.
    Asian wife collects inheritance.

  74. Phoenix says:

    FE,
    Did you see the Barbie movie?

    Maybe then you would understand why the women in America are all driving Jeeps (no joke) and the men?? are driving Mini Coopers.

    Had a young, sweet soft male coworker complain that the room he was working in was 76 degrees and it was too hot for him. I guess his panties were sweating too much.
    I asked him if he ever tried doing roofing on a 100 degree day.

    Hehe.

  75. 3b says:

    Soft landing achieved! ( according to some “experts “) the economy is doing well, just humming along. The price for this os house prices will be permanently high, they can never go down. It’s just the way it is now, and if the economy slows down just a pinch next year the Fed will cut rates and prices will go higher.

  76. Juice Box says:

    Republicans in the Senate now blocking the wartime aid and demand immigration changes. Zelensky coming to town tommorrow to shame them again as well.

    Lend Lease. We are shipping out all the old equipment and arms and restocking with brand new versions. Most of the money is going to American Defense Industrial Base (DIB) manufacturers about 67 Billion of the 111 Billion authorized so far.

    https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/briefing-room/2023/12/04/letter-to-congressional-leadership-regarding-the-need-for-urgent-action-to-support-ukraines-defense/

  77. BRT says:

    3b,

    I read someone’s take where no one wants to leave because they are “trapped” in their 2% mortgage. Moving makes no financial sense. And at the very least, even if they have to move, they just rent it out rather than selling right now in this crazy renters market. But a drop in interest rates could release a wave of selling could then put downward pressure on prices. Not sure about it, locally here, there are too many moving parts and opposing forces with the proximity of the cities here to make an accurate prediction.

  78. Boomer Remover says:

    If people are selling, then they’re likely also buying, i.e. volume is ticking up, but not in itself a direct downward effect on prices. IMO.

  79. 3b says:

    BRT: It my play out that way in our area, I don’t know. But, I would think there would have to be a huge wave of selling to have a situation where rates and prices fall at the same time. As for close to the cities while still a factor to some degree, it’s not nearly as important as it was in the past.

  80. Boomer Remover says:

    I am on RE related subreddits where people challenge those takes and argue that they themselves are currently in the process of buying/selling because of their specific circumstances and life is too short…

    I think if someone has significant equity in their old place, then they are much more likely to up and leave. All recent vintage buyers, I could see them feeling locked in.

  81. Fast Eddie says:

    When is the Harvard president going to resign? Like the fake Jumanji Brown who doesn’t know what a woman is, we know deep inside what’s their fucking agenda. You think we’re idiots? And where’s the Jews with heavy influence in financials, media and Hollywood? And where’s the “me too” crowd when scores of women were brutalized not only in the Israel attack but on a daily basis in others countries, too? Personal agendas only, please. Right? Me! Me! Me! Me! It’s all about me!!

  82. BRT says:

    Close to cities has a different meaning here. We are essentially a state that is being overrun with wealthy refugees from NYC fleeing a city that is rapidly heading back to the 1970s.

  83. BRT says:

    Eddie, there were a bunch of posts last night that went through her less than stellar publishing history and showed she engaged in blatant plagiarism.

  84. Hold my beer says:

    Phoenix

    She would never be in Twice.

  85. Fast Eddie says:

    BRT,

    We know the game. Agendas and symbolism over tangible results. Appearances matter and perception is reality.

  86. Juice Box says:

    The benefits insider the Harvard ivory tower are incredible. I am not talking about the current president either.

    As just a Dean $800,000 a year salary. Loans to purchase homes, at I gather low or no interest. First class or charter travel, travel for companions, personal services, health or social club dues or initiation fees, and provided housing or a housing allowance, gross up payments and tax indemnification, generous retirement plan etc.

  87. Fast Eddie says:

    Has there ever been a better mafia Don than O’Biden? And using his son as a soldier, no less.

  88. 3b says:

    BRT: Under now what you mean on the cities. Even my Brother who has lived in Manhattan for years is seriously considering leaving, and he is quite wealthy, price not an issue. It’s just a bizarre environment right now, soft landing achieved we are told, followed by rate cuts to ensure no or minor recession. So real recessions are a thing of the past?? Then of course AI, and all the implications of that. There will multiple jobs in all professions eliminated, regardless of what the cheerleaders say.

  89. Phoenix says:

    Cancel culture was started by women to bypass the legal system. Interesting how it is being used against them now and they don’t like it.

    You opened the door, now the dump truck is coming through it. Be careful what you ask for.

    Fast Eddie says:
    December 11, 2023 at 10:09 am
    When is the Harvard president going to resign? Like the fake Jumanji Brown who doesn’t know what a woman is, we know deep inside what’s their fucking agenda. You think we’re idiots? And where’s the Jews with heavy influence in financials, media and Hollywood? And where’s the “me too” crowd when scores of women were brutalized not only in the Israel attack but on a daily basis in others countries, too? Personal agendas only, please. Right? Me! Me! Me! Me! It’s all about me!!

  90. Phoenix says:

    Twice actually has talent. If there is one thing I have noticed about these groups, it’s that they work really, really hard. I don’t think I was ever that motivated at that age.

    Hold my beer says:
    December 11, 2023 at 10:17 am
    Phoenix

    She would never be in Twice.

  91. Phoenix says:

    When you have enough money, everything around you is just noise.

    Until it isn’t.

    Juice Box says:
    December 11, 2023 at 10:21 am
    The benefits insider the Harvard ivory tower are incredible. I am not talking about the current president either.

    As just a Dean $800,000 a year salary. Loans to purchase homes, at I gather low or no interest. First class or charter travel, travel for companions, personal services, health or social club dues or initiation fees, and provided housing or a housing allowance, gross up payments and tax indemnification, generous retirement plan etc.

  92. Phoenix says:

    Trump, Biden, Hunter, Hillary, Bill, Obama, Pelosi, McConnell

    All criminals. Just above the law.

    But hey, you can just do this:

    https://youtu.be/EXWBMSe-mPc?t=480

  93. 3b says:

    BRT: Should have said understand now what you mean about the cities.

  94. Phoenix says:

    Bought a bunch of things on Temu.

    Cheap, useful, got everything I asked for, and it all worked fine. Shipping wasn’t the fastest, but it was free.

    It’s amazing what the Chinese can manufacture, market, and ship to you for less than the price of fries at McDonalds.

    And our new employees complain about having to work inside at 76 degrees.
    And Boomer needs a new scale cause his only goes up to 250.
    And she won’t marry you cause you only make 130 and her minimum is 200k.

    Hehe.

  95. Chicago says:

    My son is going to run 6 miles today at track practice after school. We are going to Packers-Giants tonight (Packers fan). He bought tickets on the Packers sideline at the 40 row 12 for $150 each all-in with his money from summer job. He has BC Calc and AP Physics tests tomorrow. He is a straight A student.

    But we know white privilege. Everything gets handed to him.

    Fast Eddie says:
    December 11, 2023 at 8:54 am
    I just saw a headline that said the “Barbie” film leads the Golden Globes with the most nominations. It’s fitting for a dumpy, lethargic and lazy nation. I think schools are close to doing away with the alphabet and writing to be replaced with emojis and selfies. And mathematics? Please, for like, people who like, are like into those things, like do like math and stuff, like.

  96. Chicago says:

    He is a junior, not a senior.

  97. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Sure looks like it.

    “The S&P 500 just hit a new 52 week high despite:

    1. Magnificent 7 down $200 billion in market cap today

    2. Treasury yields hitting their highest in 10 days

    3. Fed rate CUT expectations pushed back to May 2024

    4. Oil prices rising back above $70 per barrel

    5. Bitcoin falling 5% in a matter of minutes

    This market has had just about every reason to fall over the last year.

    Yet, the S&P 500 is up over 20% in 2023.

    Is this the most resilient market of all time?”

  98. Phoenix says:

    Chi

    There’s always some people at the end of the Bell curve, even when you shift it all the way to the left.

    i’m happy for your kid. Some people in America still do the hard work.

  99. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Yup…the few that carry the rest. Why WFH is too dangerous for most workers.

    I would love to be the teacher of students who actually care, work hard, and don’t fight someone trying to teach them. Must be a beautiful thing.

    Phoenix says:
    December 11, 2023 at 1:04 pm
    Chi

    There’s always some people at the end of the Bell curve, even when you shift it all the way to the left.

    i’m happy for your kid. Some people in America still do the hard work.

  100. The Great Pumpkin says:

    I try to teach these kids about what it takes to make money, but they all want the “get rich quick” plan with zero work. They will never get there. They don’t understand how much work it takes to position yourself to be able to take big risks with your capital. You have to first build the foundation, then you can start taking risks with the rest of the building.

  101. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Then these kids will grow up and hate the rich….and blame the rich for why they are poor. Maybe appreciate education and hard work a little more…maybe that would help.

  102. Very Stable Genius says:

    Hopefully he will be a strong man and not spout racial grievances for the rest of his life.

    Chicago says:
    December 11, 2023 at 12:46 pm
    My son is going to run 6 miles today at track practice after school. We are going to Packers-Giants tonight (Packers fan). He bought tickets on the Packers sideline at the 40 row 12 for $150 each all-in with his money from summer job. He has BC Calc and AP Physics tests tomorrow. He is a straight A student.

    But we know white privilege. Everything gets handed to him.

    Fast Eddie says:
    December 11, 2023 at 8:54 am
    I just saw a headline that said the “Barbie” film leads the Golden Globes with the most nominations. It’s fitting for a dumpy, lethargic and lazy nation. I think schools are close to doing away with the alphabet and writing to be replaced with emojis and selfies. And mathematics? Please, for like, people who like, are like into those things, like do like math and stuff, like.

  103. Very Stable Genius says:

    These kids will grow up to become very wealthy and hate the poor…and blame the poor for everything.

    Peter Thiel is a case in point. Being a billionaire meant not to have grievances but he proved the opposite.

    The Great Pumpkin says:
    December 11, 2023 at 1:18 pm
    Then these kids will grow up and hate the rich….and blame the rich for why they are poor. Maybe appreciate education and hard work a little more…maybe that would help.

  104. Juice Box says:

    Erection Interference!! (Yes spelled it correctly)

    Trump prosecutor Jack Smith wants to skip the line. No appeal court for Donny this year of the erection. Smith filed today asking the Supreme Court directly for a ruling on both double jeopardy and presidential immunity.

    https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/11/politics/special-counsel-trump-jack-smith/index.html

  105. The Great Pumpkin says:

    I am just at the point in my life where I am old enough to know that success requires not blaming anyone and owning your direction in life. People hit a challenge and instead of rising up, start wasting precious time and energy blaming people instead of going rocky balboa style on the challenge. It comes down to you, the individual. Are you a fighter or a blamer. Your choice. Pick wisely, your life outcome depends on it. Someone that keeps fighting and never gives up ends up being the winners in life. The individuals that cry over spilt milk will never go anywhere.

    Very Stable Genius says:
    December 11, 2023 at 1:23 pm
    These kids will grow up to become very wealthy and hate the poor…and blame the poor for everything.

    Peter Thiel is a case in point. Being a billionaire meant not to have grievances but he proved the opposite.

    The Great Pumpkin says:
    December 11, 2023 at 1:18 pm
    Then these kids will grow up and hate the rich….and blame the rich for why they are poor. Maybe appreciate education and hard work a little more…maybe that would help.

  106. Boomer Remover says:

    Am I the only one who didn’t hear about the new 529 rules until last week or so?

    Money usable for K-12 and higher learning
    Money not used for K-12 or higher learning can be rolled over to beneficiary’s Roth. Subject to annual contribution maximums.
    529 account must be open 15 years or more.
    Money rolled over must have aged in the 529 for 5 years.

    The only downside is that the roth rollovers are subject to a 35K max…. meh, this really blunts the usability.

  107. Phoenix says:

    Aren’t you the same guy that blames your wife for you not being the richest guy in Wayne?

    The Great Pumpkin says:
    December 11, 2023 at 1:37 pm
    I am just at the point in my life where I am old enough to know that success requires not blaming anyone and owning your direction in life. People hit a challenge and instead of rising up, start wasting precious time and energy blaming people instead of going rocky balboa style on the challenge. It comes down to you, the individual.

  108. Phoenix says:

    According to Inside Climate News, Massachusetts is the first state to take such a clear step to phase out natural gas, but it likely won’t be the last. At least 11 other states, including California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington — as well as Washington, DC — have ongoing regulatory cases that are exploring the future of natural gas.

  109. No One says:

    Where is the Tom Wolfe of today to chronicle the ridiculousness of our time?
    There’s a nice documentary about him on Netflix. Called “Radical Wolfe”
    Mostly deals with his start in the 60s and rise in the 70s and 80s.
    Stunning for Netflix, there are no BIPOC women in it.

  110. Chicago says:

    Remover: The K-12 feature is fine, but self-defeating. Ultimately the greatest value of a 529 is tax-exempt capital appreciation. The longer the investment is held inside the structure the better. K-12 defeats the purpose, unless the 529 bene becomes a parent and maybe has their own kid and uses the 529 at that point.

  111. 3b says:

    Chatter about S&P hitting 6000 in 2024. It’s all good!

  112. Fast Eddie says:

    Chicago,

    Props to your son and props to you and your wife for raising a good kid. Unfortunately, my senses tell me there’s too many at the other end of that curve.

  113. 3b says:

    Chicago: Your Son sounds like a fine young man.

  114. Juice Box says:

    re: “Chatter about S&P hitting 6000 in 2024”

    Sure if everyone keeps buying….the hype about AI….

  115. 3b says:

    Juice: Perhaps. But AI is going to eliminate a lot of jobs going forward, but that’s another topic.

  116. Phoenix says:

    3b

    boomer is not worried about that. Boomer will be retired

  117. 3b says:

    Phoenix: Not all of us Boomers are bad, and some of us do worry about how this AI will impact these younger generations, (kids, grandkids). I have been saying for more than a decade now that the younger generations are being screwed.

    Second, we have this “ wonderful “ economy now, soft landing and all of that, but as AI adaptation accelerates and jobs are lost ( and they will be), then we will have a very ugly economy.

  118. Boomer Remover says:

    Chi – You are absolutely correct on duration being the biggest pro. I suppose it essentially funds your kids Roth for a few years… which is more trick than before, but not the a free for all trough like qualified business income.

Comments are closed.