SavvySugar

Your Two Cents: Do You Respect Your Boss?

SavvySugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:30:50 -0700

Most TV bosses are modeled after mythical professional monsters or clueless middle managers, so I've always been intrigued by the shifty hierarchical relationships on House.

Dr. Lisa Cuddy is the Dean of Medicine and the smart and stable boss to Dr. House's defiant villain employee character. Cuddy has to constantly fight House's inability to walk the line, but at the end of the day he does respect her. Most of us can't disrespect (or disregard) our bosses the way House does, but not all bosses are worthy of your admiration and esteem. Has your boss earned your respect?

Photo courtesy of Fox

I'm Asking: Do You Have House Rules in Writing?

SavvySugar — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 04:00:14 -0800

As I've already mentioned, I came across Catey Hill's new book, Shoo, Jimmy Choo - and now I can't put it down. Her book is loaded with great financial advice, everything from understanding your 401K to budgeting, renting, and living with roommates.

In fact, Catey suggests that roommates actually write up specific guidelines and rules for living together - ground rules for how much rent each person pays, security deposits, grocery bills, having parties and guests over, you name it. This document then becomes the holy grail for mitigating roommate misunderstandings and conflicts - the idea being that if you point to the provisions in this document when a conflict arises, you'll find the solution. Sounds like a good piece of paper to have around the house, huh?

When I lived with roommates, we were always able to handle our house duties in a timely and respectable manner and generally find reasonable solutions to any conflicts, but we never detailed all of our living stipulations in an official document. Still, under different circumstances, I'd probably look into making a set of written house rules. What about you? Do you have your rules in writing?

Three Lessons to Learn From the Housing Fiasco

SavvySugar — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:30:14 -0700

The deflated housing bubble has had widespread effects that continue to poison the lives of many Americans and the greater economy. As much as we are faced with stories of foreclosure after foreclosure, the results of a recent survey by real estate website Zillow suggest that many aren't taking away important lessons from the housing debacle. ABC News Consumer Correspondent Elisabeth Leamy is discouraged by this and offers a few key takeaways from the popped bubble.

17 percent of people say they plan to buy a house with zero percent down. Leamy says: "Zero-down loans are not available anymore . . . A 20 percent down payment makes a lot more sense. Time to start saving up."
55 percent of people say the reason they want to buy a new home is so they can get a bigger one than they have now. Leamy's reaction: "Hey, if your family can afford a bigger house in this economy buy it . . . But for those who can't afford it, it's time to get comfortable with more modest living."
30 percent of home buyers told Zillow they plan to own their next home for five years or less. Leamy's response: "Experts are horrified. Most real estate watchers are saying you should not bother buying a home these days unless you plan to stay for at least seven years. Why? Because the market is volatile."

Where Are the Most and Least Affordable Homes in the US?

SavvySugar — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:00:42 -0800

Even if buying a home has yet to cross your mind, it's probably been tough to ignore the patterns in the housing market. It will always have its ups and downs, but what we all really care about is the bottom line - affordability.

Some cities are considered to be more affordable than others when it comes to being a homeowner. Do you know where to look if you're looking for affordability? Take the quiz to discover what cities are home to the most and least affordable real estate.

Take the quiz

How Money Are You: Affordable City Housing

SavvySugar — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:30:01 -0800

Home has been anything but sweet for owners who have gone through foreclosure or owe more on their mortgages than their homes are now worth. The good news? According to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index numbers released this week, home prices are now the most affordable they've been in at least five years. What do you know about what affordable housing means in the US?

Source

Take the quiz

State of the Nation's Housing: It's Not Over 'Til It's Over

SavvySugar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:27:53 -0700

Charlotte, North Carolina is finally getting a small taste of what places like Las Vegas and Miami consider old news, and it's no party scene. As prices there started slipping the city became the nation's last to finally hit the downward housing trend. Prices in Charlotte are nowhere near the huge percentage drops seen in hard hit Vegas and Miami, but their one-month slip is significant because no city was safe from falling prices in April according to The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller home price index.

Another reporting force, Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies, released its annual "State of the Nation's Housing" report on Monday with results that are not hopeful. The report acknowledges that the housing slump is still chugging along, and the Center's director Nicolas P. Retsinas says this one will likely take longer to bounce back than other downturns because of the tight credit market and millions of foreclosures.

How bad is it? When they looked at leading economic indicators like housing starts, new-home sales and existing-home sales, the report concluded the current slowdown rivals the worst since the World War II era.

Source

What's the Max Amount You Should Spend on Housing Costs?

SavvySugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:30:02 -0700

The housing crisis has highlighted just how many people are living in homes they can't afford. According to data recently released by the US Census Bureau, about 15 percent of American with mortgages are spending at least half their income on housing costs. Do you know how much the government and most lenders say is the most you should spend on housing costs?

Source

Take the quiz

Houses in the US More Affordable in 2008

SavvySugar — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 04:00:43 -0700

Falling home prices aren't good news for homeowners who purchased homes during the boom, but the drop could mean affordable buying opportunities. Fifty-five percent of homes sold from April through June were affordable to Americans earning the median household income of $61,500, and prices dropped from $240,000 during the same time last year to $215,000 this year.

The obvious growing affordability of houses in the US hasn't translated into increased sales. A National Association of Home Builders economist explained, "Actual sales haven't picked up, because people are waiting on the sidelines as they fear home prices will continue to decline."

Indianapolis's median home price of $108,000 has positioned the city as the most affordable metro area in the US. On the other end, New York - with its median home price of $481,000 - edged out last year's Los Angeles as the metro area with the least affordable housing. Are you shopping for a house any time soon or holding out for prices to drop?

Source

10 Worst Housing Markets in 2009

SavvySugar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 04:30:46 -0800

Real estate news has kind of been buried in the news lately as other economic issues have been dominating the headlines. Not much has changed on the housing front, as experts predict the fragile market to suffer further declines in the new year. Out of the 100 top real estate markets, experts have selected the ten cities anticipated to have the worst declines.

If you live in these places, you might have to hold on to your home a while longer, and if you're thinking of moving, next year could bring some more affordable deals. See the list of the ten worst real estate markets in 2009 when you read more.

Los Angeles, CA: 2009 projected change is -24.9 percent.
Stockton, CA: 2009 projected change is -24.7 percent.
Riverside, CA: 2009 projected change is -23.3 percent.
Miami, FL: 2009 projected change is 22.8 percent.
Sacramento, CA: 2009 projected change is -22.2 percent.
Santa Ana - Anaheim, CA: 2009 projected change is -22.0 percent.
Fresno, CA: 2009 projected change is -21.6 percent.
San Diego, CA: 2009 projected change is -21.1 percent.
Bakersfield, CA: 2009 projected change is -20.9 percent.
Washington, D.C.: 2009 projected change is -19.9 percent.

Source

Your Two Cents: Is Buying a House One of Your Goals?

SavvySugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:30:15 -0700

The housing crisis has made it clear that owning a home isn't all roses. Beyond the financial commitment that comes with owning a home, including maintenance and a mortgage, it suggests a sense of permanence that not everyone is comfortable with. Is buying a house one of your goals?

Source