Sources: National Association of Realtors (NAR), CoreLogic, Houzz.com

Time machine moment: Forty years ago, you could “work your way through college” (at least at many state colleges and universities) with a 15 hours-a-week job paying the 1977 minimum wage. The entire cost of attending school was about $1,500 back then.

Today, you’d have to work 72 hours a week at the current minimum wage to cover the average $28,000 annual cost of an average state school secondary education.

These figures come from Jay Benanav, founder of College Inside Track – a higher-education consulting organization that helps students “find the right college fit – academically, socially and financially,” according to its website CollegeInsideTrack.com.

Benanav says that about one in three college students transfers to another school at some point. Transferring to School B usually involves sacrificing at least some of the credits earned at School A, which prolongs the time and money it takes to get a degree.

Staying in school longer also boosts student debt, not to mention costing a year or two of real-world income.

College Inside Track’s clients transfer to new schools much less often because they’re more likely to select their best college “fit” the first time. By staying at the same school they earn their degrees sooner, and for less, and can start life without a backbreaking load of student debt hanging over their heads.

“After trying to help three sons prepare for college, I found out there wasn’t a good way to get a handle on all the information we needed, even online,” says Benanav. So he started College Inside Track, where he and his staff maintain relationships with many academic advisors and financial experts, and develop knowledge about hundreds of colleges.

This helps College Inside Track clients several ways: Benanav says that 97% of College Inside Track students are accepted by at least one of their top three college choices and “Last year, we helped save families an average of $18,872 per year off the college sticker price.”

Different colleges look for different things in prospective students, and schools are more likely to provide financial assistance to those with the strengths they favor.

College Inside Track knows the kinds of strengths and backgrounds different schools value and can provide better insights and more accurate advice based on a student’s academic record and extracurricular background.

People generally find College Inside Track via its website, but most client consultations are one-on-one. The staff connects with students and families in person, on the phone, or via Skype and other modes of videoconferencing with clients all over the world.

On an even more personal level, a student who may be more socially or politically conservative, or somewhat introverted, might be uncomfortable at a very liberal school, and vice-versa. So, College Inside Track likes to be aware of the harder-to-measure “personalities” of both students and colleges to make the right fit more likely.

With the cost of a college degree these days, it’s probably worth your time to see if you’re on the right track with helping your child through the college selection process. You can start now with the information and interactive tools you’ll find on CollegeInsideTrack.com.

As fall begins and daylight hours get shorter, so does your time for getting things done. Whether it’s the frantic rush of back to school or revamping your own routine, this time of year presents its own set of challenges as the summer frenzy fades and the holidays loom.

The good news is, a little organization yields big rewards in terms of reducing stress and encouraging peaceful productivity. Here are a few easy-to-implement ideas to help you simplify and stay sane as you welcome the new season.

Check It Off

Whether it’s online or old school notebook paper, a checklist can help you focus when you’re frazzled. Stay on top of daily to-dos like keeping up on work projects and squeezing in an exercise session. Help younger kids establish a morning and bedtime schedule with an illustrated checklist that’s displayed proudly on the wall. Grab pre-made lists from sites like Checklists.com, which offers lists specific to health, home, money, travel and more.

Special Delivery

Once limited to pizzas and postal mail, delivery service is now available for nearly every product imaginable. Save precious hours every week by having everything from groceries and pet supplies to laundry and dry cleaning delivered to your doorstep. Bonus: the service is often free or very low cost.

Clutter Control

As you get ready to swap swimsuits for sweaters, now is the ideal time to purge your home of unused clothing, gadgets and other items. If you haven’t used or looked at it in the last 12 months, drop it in the donation pile. Have the kids go through their clothes and toys to weed out what doesn’t fit or has fallen out of favor. If they need a little extra persuasion, have them do this while listening to their favorite music or watching a movie.

Lock It Up

Lockers aren’t just for gym clothes and schoolbooks anymore. These sturdy storage units come in a variety of styles and colors and can be used in any room in your home. Put mini lockers in the bedroom as nightstands with a lamp or alarm clock on top and use the lockable area for storing valuables (jewelry, tablets, etc.). Use larger lockers in the garage as catchalls for bulky, space-hogging items like sports shoes and equipment and outdoor tools.

Supply Stash

Spare yourself the stress of late-night store runs to complete your child’s “due at 8:00 am tomorrow” project by creating a supply stash. Stock it with essentials like poster board, colored markers, paints, glue, index cards, etc. Keep a running inventory list so you know when it’s time to replenish.

MONETARY MELIORATION

In yet another sign of labor market tightness, the percentage of persons who quit their jobs in May was 2.4%, the highest level since January 2001, and higher than the 2.2% attained during the peak of the Housing Boom. 2.4% translates into 3.56 million people/month quitting their job, or almost 43 million employees/year. Those who switched jobs in May experienced median wage growth of 3.8% versus 2.9% for job stayers.

FINE FINANCING

There is currently a record amount of share buyback activity. While many find this development troubling, it isn’t. First, buybacks really aren’t financial engineering. They total just 2% of stock market value/year, and only 25% of the largest firms that are re-purchasers have EPS as part of their executive pay plans. Second, buyback activity is dominated by firms that specialize in intellectual property, and they can’t productively reinvest all earnings.

MIGHTY MODERATION

While June housing starts and permits were disappointing, these data are very volatile, and YTD starts remain up 7.8%; good given the headwinds this sector faces. More interestingly, a key reason the current expansion is now in its tenth year is because housing starts were MIA the first few years of the recovery, due to a glut of foreclosures, and have risen unusually slowly since their recovery began in mid-2011.

FICO FIX

FICO scores are determined as follows: payment history is 35%, prompt is best; amount owed counts for 30%, less is best. Length of credit history is 15%, longer is better.  Credit mix is 10%, varied debt types are superior to one type. Lastly, new credit counts for 10% and applications lower your score. 200 million consumers have a FICO score, just under 3 million have a perfect 850.

PLURALISTIC POPULATION

2016 was the first year since at least 1790 that the white, non-Hispanic population of the US declined. The number of whites fell by 9,000 between 2015 and 2016, and by 31,000 between 2016 and 2017. Conversely, the minority population increased by 4.7 million between 2015 and 2017. Also, there are for the first time more children who are minorities than whites at every age from zero to nine.

Source: Elliot Eisenberg, PhD., Chief Economist for GraphsandLaughs, LLC, an economic consulting firm serving a variety of clients across the United States. All rights reserved.

Some people make millions of dollars a year. The rest of us have to muddle through on less, which means we can’t always indulge ourselves with impulse purchases like Jaguars, Taj Mahal-sized homes and our own private islands.

Regardless of your income, NOT spending more money than you make is an excellent idea. It’s math. So for most of us, “living within a budget” is a great concept.

Where to start? Since most of our bills have to get paid every month, setting up a monthly budget makes the most sense and is the most common way to organize household finances. With that in mind, it’s not tough to create a budget.

The beauty of a household budget

Advantages of keeping track of your income vs. what you spend:

What makes budgeting easier

If you receive a salary, you’re paid the same amount of money every two weeks or once a month. If you’re self-employed or your income varies for some other reason, your budget won’t be quite as straightforward, but the same basic rules apply.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, National Association of Realtors (NAR) Summary of Existing Home Sales – January 2018, CoreLogic Home Price Insights, Dr. Elliot Eisenberg – Graphs & Laughs LLC, Genworth Financial, Inc

INCOME IMPROVEMENT

In 1967, 8.1% of households earned more than $100,000 inflation adjusted, 53.2% (the middle class) earned between $35,000 and $100,000, and 38.7% earned less than $35,000. Today, 27.7% of the population earns greater than $100,000 (three times the percentage back in 1967), 42.1% earn between $35,000 and $100,000, and 30.2% earn less than $35,000. The middle class is shrinking, but it’s because more American households are earning more than ever.

EXCELLENT EMPLOYMENT

February’s job report was stellar! 313,000 net new jobs, the best increase since 7/16, and upward revisions to December and January totaled 54,000. Moreover, the labor force participation rate rose from 62.7% to 63%, a rate not bettered since 3/14. That led to the labor force rising by 800,000, the largest increase since 1983, which kept monthly wage growth to a noninflationary 0.15%, and the unemployment rate unchanged at 4.1%.

DESTRUCTIVE DEBT

While US household debt is slowly rising, as a percentage of GDP it’s 20 percentage points below its housing bubble peak of 100%. Nations with fast rising and high household debt-to-GDP ratios include Switzerland at 130%, Australia at 120%, Canada and Norway at 100%, New Zealand at 95%, South Korea at 92%, and Sweden at 87%. Luckily, these are all small nations that won’t cause noticeable global damage if they implode.

HEALTHY HOUSING

January housing starts came in at a seasonally-adjusted annualized rate of 1.326 million, their second highest level since 8/07. Single-family starts are also at their second-best level since 2007, 10/07 to be precise. Overall, starts are up 7.3% compared to 1/17 and 18.1% compared to 1/16; good growth! While multifamily starts are up 6.7% Y-o-Y, multifamily activity peaked in 6/15 at 507,000, and has generally been declining since.

PERKY PORTFOLIOS

In 17Q4, US household wealth rose by slightly more than $2 trillion to a record $98.75 trillion, or 6.8 times disposable income, surpassing the previous record of 6.52, in 06Q1. The increase in wealth attributable to the soaring stock market was $1.35 trillion, while wealth from real estate holdings, which includes more than residential houses, grew by $511 billion, with other items accounting for the remaining $220 billion.

PEOPLE PROLIFERATION

With 325 million people, the US is the world’s third largest nation behind China with 1.4 billion and India with 1.3 billion. By 2100, India will be the biggest at 1.5 billion, followed by China at 1 billion, Nigeria at 800 million, and the US at 450 million. Earth’s population is currently 7.5 billion. The planet’s population in 2100; 11 billion. These numbers account for already declining global fertility rates.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Peel shrimp and chop into bite size pieces. Prepare all vegetables by dicing into similar sized chunks.

In a small bowl combine lime juice, onion, salt and pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil. Let sit for about 5 minutes to allow the juices to mellow out the flavor of the onion.

In a large mixing bowl combine corn, beans, avocado, tomato, jalapeño, shrimp, and cilantro. Add onion mixture and stir to coat. Add more oil or lime juice if needed. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

For best flavor, refrigerate for at least 30 mins. Serve with tortilla chips, over greens, or just by itself!

“Recipe and photos provided by Lauren Regnier of Ditch the Recipe.”

In the ever-increasing roster of awareness days competing for attention, Arbor Day has gotten short shrift. But as environmental awareness continues to grow, so does interest in this nearly 150-year old holiday. The day was founded by J. Sterling Morton, a journalist with a passion for trees and spreading agricultural knowledge. In 1872, the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture accepted his resolution to “set aside one day to plant trees, both forest and fruit” – and Arbor Day was born.

Today, the National Arbor Day Foundation provides millions of trees, and it is estimated that 18 million are planted each year on the holiday (the last Friday of every April). Even those who don’t opt for planting still honor the day with activities ranging from tree identification hikes to ceremonies highlighting community efforts to preserve natural foliage.

Here are just a few ways that trees can bring more value and vitality to your life:

MONEY DOES GROW ON TREES

Trees are one of the most effective – and beautiful – ways to escalate your property value. A mature tree can have an appraised value of between $1,000 and $10,000 according to the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers. Ninety-eight percent of Realtors believe that mature trees have a strong or moderate impact on the salability of homes listed for $250,000 or more.*

A LIVING TRIBUTE

Whether you’re remembering the past, or expressing hope for the future, trees are a wonderful way to make a statement that can last for generations to come. Go to a local nursery to pick out your own tree or consider purchasing your commemorative tree through a service that works with the U.S. Forest Service or a state agency. Not only will you receive a gift acknowledgement to keep or share, you will be assisting in the reforestation of our nation’s woodlands.

MADE IN THE SHADE

Want to give your air conditioner a break this summer? The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service says, “Trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30% and can save 20-50% in energy used for heating.” Trees and other plants also help cool the environment. Another USDA study states that “the net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to ten room-sized air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.”

UNWIND OUTDOORS

Merely looking at trees is enough to significantly reduce your stress levels, according to research done by the University of Illinois and the University of Hong Kong. Even subjects in an urban setting who were only able to view footage of trees still reported a strong increase in their feelings of calm.

Whether it’s increased property value or decreased tension, taking a moment to honor the natural gifts trees offer is a great way to make every day Arbor Day.

The why behind the buy: Top 5 reasons Millennials chose to buy a home

Pets influenced decision more often than spouses or children

Questions about buying a house?

We are here to help!

WELCOME SPRING, UPGRADE YOUR OUTDOORS

2018 is already in full swing, but when it comes to your yard, the arrival of spring is actually the start of the new year for your yard. As the cold weather subsides, now is the perfect time to focus on helping the outside of your home to shape up and shine for the seasons to come.

Here are some inexpensive, inspired updates that will garner compliments from friends and neighbors in no time.

FRESHEN UP FIRST IMPRESSIONS

“Curb appeal” is the mantra of Realtors everywhere, but it’s not just important when you’re selling your home. Nothing feels better than driving up to your house after a long day and being proud of what you see. Try one or more of these simple, cost-effective fixes: paint your front door, replace faded house numbers and out-of-date exterior light fixtures, plant a tree or install flower boxes.

FOUNTAIN of YOUTH

A water feature doesn’t have to be an elaborate, multi-level waterfall. But even a smaller fountain is a surefire facelift for your outdoor space. Standalone fountains can be installed in a day and cost as little as $200, providing a garden accent that offers both visual beauty and the relaxing audible ambience of trickling water.

STEP IT UP

A stepping stone pathway is great way to connect different parts of your yard or draw visitors into various areas of your garden. All you need are some pavers (at least a few feet across) or pieces of natural flagstone. Place the pieces on the ground about 18 inches apart to match the average person’s stride. Rounded pieces give a softer look, while those with angles offer a modern edge.

COVERING GROUND

Adding mulch or rock groundcover is a quick and easy makeover. Add a rounded border around trees, surround ground-based plants or cover entire areas of your garden or yard. Place a layer of pebbles just around the base of a tree or covering the surface of a planter for an extra touch of design.

STONE AGE

The simple addition of one or two boulders can make a dramatic change to the dynamics of your yard. The good news is, you don’t need Stonehenge-sized rocks. Choose boulders that are one to two feet in diameter. If you’re installing them yourself, be sure to use a dolly (even smaller stones can weigh 75-100 pounds each).

Try one or more of these easy improvements and take your yard from standard to stellar.

GOOD GDP

Inflation-adjusted GDP in 17Q4 grew at a realistic annualized rate of 2.6% after growing at slightly over 3% in 17Q3 and 17Q2. In 2017, GDP grew by 2.3%. While not sizzling growth, it’s pretty good given that this recovery will, in a few months, become the second longest ever. Better yet, due to tax cuts, GDP growth should reach a post-recession high of 2.8% in 2018 and 2.6% in 2019.

INVESTMENT INCREASE

One key component of GDP is corporate investment in equipment and 2018 should be good.  The combination of tax cuts, improved business confidence, strengthening global demand, high enough oil prices, a weaker US dollar, very low unemployment, and concomitantly rising worker wages, all point to strong growth.  Corporate investment in plants should be close to 7.0% in 2018, up from 4.8% last year and -3.4% in 2016.

BIGGER BORROWING

Outstanding household debt rose $193 billion in 17Q4 to a record $13.15 trillion, 67% of GDP, down from 87% of GDP at the peak in 2009. The delinquent share of total debt is 3.12%, down from 3.19% in 17Q3. Mortgage debt grew by $139 billion and now totals $8.88 trillion but remains 4.4% below the pre-recession high. Auto loan delinquencies are steadily rising; credit card delinquencies are starting to rise.

GLOBAL GROWTH

In 2017, the economies of the 45 largest democracies with market economies grew in unison. That was the first time this has occurred since the years 2004-2007. Looking back in history to 1979 and including the periods already mentioned, synchronized global growth of this sort has happened in just seven years, or 18% of the time. It is anticipated to occur again in 2018.

INFINITESIMAL INVENTORY

On the plus side, existing home sales in 2017 hit 5.51 million, their highest level since 6.478 million in 2006. But, existing sales are up trivially from 5.45 million in 2016, and 5.25 million in 2015. Why? A complete lack of inventory. It’s declined for 31 consecutive months Y-o-Y, and at the current sales pace the stock of homes for sale would be gone in 3.2 months, a record low.

SWISS SECURITY

While Bitcoin and other crypto-currencies are the rage for some, for others it’s Swiss National Bank shares! Shares are up 320% since 1/31/16 to 5,480 francs ($5,866). Sure, they print their own money, but private shareholders have limited voting rights, the dividend is fixed by law at 15 francs, yielding a paltry return of 0.3%, and have no claims on Bank assets of 760 billion francs!

Source: Elliot Eisenberg, PhD., Chief Economist for GraphsandLaughs, LLC, an economic consulting firm serving a variety of clients across the United States. All rights reserved.

Tax time often sheds light on our organization skills – or lack thereof. If you’re struggling to collect and collate multiple documents for your 2017 taxes or just wishing you had a better system, you’re not alone. The good news is, by clearing clutter and streamlining your systems, you can not only relieve your current headaches, but set the stage for a much less taxing time next year.

Here are a few ways to manage and store your tax, financial and other important paperwork:

RIGHT NOW

Create a “transition place” to keep envelopes and other papers from accruing into unsightly piles around your home or getting lost.

• Bills to be paid or filed

• Recent receipts for taxes or other purposes

Once you’ve completed necessary actions, these items are ready for a permanent home.

THIS YEAR

Statements and paid bills should be out of the way – but easily accessible when you need them. You may choose to organize by month or category. Organizing by month is fast, but the only thing the documentation in each section has in common is timing. Organizing by category will allow you to group materials into headers that are easy to recognize and search.

Your current year system will allow you to find statements and other documentation quickly for tax or other purposes.

LONG-TERM

Too often, things we put away for “safe-keeping” become difficult or impossible to find. Gather all of your most important documentation in one place so you always know where to look for it.

• Birth, death, marriage certificates

• Military, citizenship or adoption papers

• Titles to autos, RVs or property

• Social Security cards

• Passports

• Contracts, leases and other legal documents

Consider metal or other fire-resistant options to store items you will need for various purposes over the long-term.

DIGITAL

Scanning and saving documents is smart, as long as you have proper security in place. Verify legitimacy of apps, store thumb drives in a safe place and make sure any sensitive information is adequately pass-coded.

St. Patrick’s Day may be known in our country for boisterous celebration and dyeing both rivers and beer various shades of emerald, but the holiday is actually rich with culture and tradition.

According to Eamonn McGrath, a native Irishman and executive director of the Irish Cultural Center of New England, the 19th century Irish American immigrants celebrated St. Patrick’s Day as a way to honor their ancestry while embracing their new homeland. He likens it to our 4th of July, where people spend time with family, enjoy special food and go to a parade.

McGrath notes that the holiday is “more raucously and widely celebrated” in other countries than it is in Ireland…a paradox that actually makes sense. “All people with Irish heritage long for home,” he says.

Irish or not, here are some ways to add some culture and creativity and flavor the holiday with some genuine Irish spirit:

CELTIC CUISINE

Nothing wrong with a shamrock shake, but why not indulge in some authentic Irish grub instead? Corned beef and cabbage is a traditional dish that Irish American immigrants ate because it was not only tasty, but economical and filling. Whip up a batch in your slow cooker and pair it with some Irish soda bread – a simple, dense, not-too-sweet bread that goes great with the savory stew.

BREAK OUT THE BLARNEY

Unless you happen to live in Shamrock, Texas (where a chunk of the original Blarney Stone is on display for visitors), you probably won’t get a chance to smooch the iconic rock. But tradition says that kissing it grants people the gift of gab – a must for every celebration. Set up a Blarney Stone kissing booth with a sign explaining the story behind it and have each guest plant a peck on the stone as they enter your party. Use a piece of limestone if you want to emulate the original Blarney, or paint a smooth stone green and/or decorate it with shamrocks or other Irish icons.

TRADITIONAL TUNES

Upbeat Irish music is the heart of any St. Paddy’s celebration. Some classic tunes to consider: Skibbereen, Finnegan’s Wake and The Irish Rover. Crank up the Dubliners, Clancy Brothers and the Wolfe Tones. If the fiddles and banjos wear thin, switch over to other Irish artists like Van Morrison, The Pogues and U2.

CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS

The Irish helped build canals, railroads, cities and infrastructure in spite of being disenfranchised and subject to prejudice. Professor Christopher Dowd of the University of New Haven encourages people to “reflect on the incredible contributions this immigrant group made to the country.”

Home prices and values have been making news
and homeowners are building equity:

$12,500

The amount the median U.S. home price increased year-over-year as of October 2017

15

The number of consecutive months that home prices have risen by at least 6%

3%

The rate of home value increases considered to be “normal”

Even with skyrocketing prices, housing affordability is up according to the National Association of Realtors’ historic Housing Affordability Index (HAI).

CNN Mortgage Supports Doggie Street Festival

The crew from CNN Mortgage was out supporting one of their favorite causes to help lend our support.

Newsletter 2017

Read our year end newsletter for some valuable insights and helpful tips.

Read It Now!

2017 RoundUp

Check out our roundup with lots of valuable information.

Read It Now!

CNN Mortgage At NovemBEER

The CNN Mortgage team was happy to be a part of The Phoenix New Times annual Phoenix Beer Festival.

CNN Mortgage sends supplies to Harvey victims

The owner of CNN Mortgage in Scottsdale mobilized her employees and everyone they know to gather supplies to send to the victims of Hurricane Harvey. Ryan Haarer was there as they loaded up two trailers. (Friday, Sept. 1, 2017)

CNN Mortgage’s Team Continues to Grow.

In personnel and job news, CNN Mortgage is excited to welcome Steve Atwood! Steve most recently served in Retail Production Manager, National Production Manager, and Division Manager roles. He joins CNN Mortgage to further develop the California market. If anyone would like to join Steve on the “California Adventure,” please contact Dorinda Deimund (480.281.8305).

CNN Mortgage’s Tim George Featured In Top Agent Magazine

“When others say no, he says yes. He can think outside of the box.” That’s the kind of feedback Loan Originator Timothy George receives from clients on a regular basis. He attributes it to a number of factors, all of which are clearly lined out as the Core Values of The George Team at CNN Mortgage.

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