potential

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Mortgage rates fell again last week, dropping three basis points to an average of 2.96%, according to Thursday data from Freddie Mac‘s PMMS. Rates have now managed to stay within a five basis point range above or below 3% for nearly two months.

Higher mortgage rates historically have signaled a strengthened economy. But this is no ordinary economy: an apprehensive bond market has been keeping a close eye on global macroeconomic trends and Fed policy changes. Such factors have contributed to stagnating mortgage rates around the 3% mark.

“The economy is recovering remarkably fast and as pandemic restrictions continue to lift, economic growth will remain strong over the coming months,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “Despite the stronger economy, the housing market is experiencing a slowdown in purchase application activity due to modestly higher mortgage rates.”

However, Khater noted, it has yet to translate into lower home prices. A shortage of inventory will likely be a problem for years.

May data from Fannie Mae‘s Home Purchase Sentiment Index revealed homebuyers are feeling awfully discouraged by the housing market these days. The HPSI reported that just 35% of consumers believe now is a good time to buy a home, down from 47% in April. And those who believe it is a bad time to be a homebuyer increased to 56% from 48%.

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According to that same survey, mortgage rate expectations differed in May for prospective homebuyers and sellers with survey respondents torn between whether mortgage rates will go up or stay the same. Just 6% remained hopeful they will slide back down.

“Life for the builders has been good with mortgage rates at 3%,” said Logan Mohtashami, HousingWire’s lead analyst. “When mortgage rates go over 4%, life might not look so cheery. We know this because the last time mortgage rates hit 5%, we had a supply spike, and the builders’ stock felt this being down more than 25% from their recent peaks.”

He added: “We are far from those levels today, but this is something to keep in mind when housing market conditions change.”

According to Mohtashami, 2020 through 2021 saw the median sales price for new homes stay in check because builders provided some smaller homes into the sales mix, feeding the frenzy just enough while interest rates are low.

“It remains to be seen how this housing market will be affected by rising mortgage rates after the run-up in the median sales price,” Mohtashami said.

Source: housingwire.com

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Fickle mortgage rates rose once again last week, this time four basis points to an average of 2.99%, according to Thursday data from Freddie Mac‘s PMMS. However, despite fluctuating sub-3% mortgage rates, borrowers are still competing in a supply strained and overheated market.

“Home prices continue to accelerate while inventory remains low and new home construction cannot happen fast enough,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “There are many potential homebuyers who would like to take advantage of low mortgage rates, but competition is strong. For homeowners however, continued low rates make refinancing an option worth considering.”

The overall housing index hit its lowest point since February, said Joel Kan, the Mortgage Bankers Association’s associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting. Even though rates have been below 3.2% over the past month, they are still around 20 to 30 basis points higher than the record lows in late 2020, he said.

“Tight housing inventory, obstacles to a faster rate of new construction, and rapidly rising home prices continue to hold back purchase activity,” said Kan. 

While the COVID-19 crisis has kept mortgage rates lower and suppressed inventory, these two factors have also facilitated higher levels of price growth as COVID-19 happened amid a housing market sweet spot.

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“We have an increase in the number of buyers and a total collapse of inventory driving home-price growth,” said Logan Mohtashami, lead analyst at HousingWire. “In the last expansion, the only thing that kept home-price growth from taking off was the higher mortgage rates of 4% to 5%. We are currently enjoying the lowest mortgage rates ever, so we don’t have that to dampen the market.” 

According to Mohtashami, the new home sales marketplace is unhealthy, but when mortgage rates rise, this sector will get hit harder than the existing home market, like it always does. This won’t result in an epic housing crash, but it will impact future construction.

April’s existing home sales painted a familiar picture of a market still grappling with low supply as sales dropped for the third month in a row, down 2.7% from March to 5.85 million. Last week’s data on pending home sales proved that like new and existing sales, pending home sales also felt the strain of exhausted home inventory in April ― dropping 4.4% from the previous month to an index of 106.2, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Source: housingwire.com

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A few notable mortgage rates slumped over the last seven days. The average interest rates for both 15-year fixed and 30-year fixed mortgages slid down. We also saw a cut in the average rate of 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgages.

As inflation surged in 2022, so too did mortgage rates. To rein in price growth, the Federal Reserve began bumping up its federal funds rate — a short term interest rate that determines what banks charge each other to borrow money. By making it more expensive to borrow, the central bank’s goal is to reduce prices by curtailing consumer spending.

After hiking interest rates 10 times since March 2022, the Fed pumped the brakes at its June meeting. The central bank’s federal funds rate will remain at a range of 5.00% to 5.25% for the time being, although the Fed hasn’t ruled out the possibility of further increases if inflation doesn’t continue to moderate. The Fed will decide whether or not to raise rates at its next meeting on July 26.

Current Mortgage Rates for July 2023

Mortgage rates change every day. Experts recommend shopping around to make sure you’re getting the lowest rate. By entering your information below, you can get a custom quote from one of CNET’s partner lenders.

About these rates: Like CNET, Bankrate is owned by Red Ventures. This tool features partner rates from lenders that you can use when comparing multiple mortgage rates.

The most recent Consumer Price Index, a popular gauge of price growth, shows that the Fed’s string of rate hikes is having its intended effect. Annual inflation is now at 3.0% for the 12-month period ended in June, which is the lowest it’s been in more than two years.

The Fed doesn’t set mortgage rates directly, but it does play an influential role. Mortgage rates move around on a daily basis in response to a range of economic factors, including inflation, employment and the broader outlook for the economy. A lower inflation rate is good news for mortgage rates, but the potential for additional hikes from the central bank this year will keep upward pressure on already high rates.

“Mortgage rates will continue to ebb and flow week to week, but ultimately, I think rates will stick to that 6% to 7% range we’re seeing now,” said Jacob Channel, senior economist at loan marketplace LendingTree.

Rather than worrying about mortgage rates, though, homebuyers should focus on what they can control: getting the best rate they can for their financial situation.

To increase your odds at qualifying for the lowest rate available,take the steps necessary to improve your credit score and to save for a down payment. Also, be sure to compare the rates and fees from multiple lenders to get the best deal. Looking at the annual percentage rate, or APR, will show you the total cost of borrowing and help you make an apples-to-apples comparison among lenders.

30-year fixed-rate mortgages

The average 30-year fixed mortgage interest rate is 7.23%, which is a decrease of 14 basis points compared to one week ago. (A basis point is equivalent to 0.01%.) Thirty-year fixed mortgages are the most common loan term. A 30-year fixed mortgage will usually have a higher interest rate than a 15-year fixed rate mortgage — but also a lower monthly payment. You won’t be able to pay off your house as quickly and you’ll pay more interest over time, but a 30-year fixed mortgage is a good option if you’re looking to minimize your monthly payment.

15-year fixed-rate mortgages

The average rate for a 15-year, fixed mortgage is 6.48%, which is a decrease of 11 basis points compared to a week ago. You’ll definitely have a larger monthly payment with a 15-year fixed mortgage compared to a 30-year fixed mortgage, even if the interest rate and loan amount are the same. However, if you’re able to afford the monthly payments, there are several benefits to a 15-year loan. You’ll most likely get a lower interest rate, and you’ll pay less interest in total because you’re paying off your mortgage much quicker.

5/1 adjustable-rate mortgages

A 5/1 ARM has an average rate of 6.19%, a fall of 5 basis points compared to a week ago. With an adjustable-rate mortgage mortgage, you’ll usually get a lower interest rate than a 30-year fixed mortgage for the first five years. However, you could end up paying more after that time, depending on the terms of your loan and how the rate adjusts with the market rate. Because of this, an ARM might be a good option if you plan to sell or refinance your house before the rate changes. Otherwise, changes in the market mean your interest rate could be much higher once the rate adjusts.

Mortgage rate trends

Mortgage rates were historically low throughout most of 2020 and 2021 but increased steadily throughout 2022. Now, mortgage rates are well above where they were a year ago. Fewer buyers are willing to jump into the housing market, driving demand down and causing home prices in some regions to ease. But that’s only part of the home affordability equation.

“Interest rates have been much higher in the past and people bought homes and financed homes at those rates,” said Daniel Oney, research director at the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University. “But it’s been hard for people to react to such a rapid increase in just a short amount of time.”

Even though the Fed hit pause on rate hikes in June, mortgage interest rates will continue to fluctuate on a daily basis. That’s because mortgage rates aren’t tied to the federal funds rate in the same way other products are, such as home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, or HELOCs.

As long as inflation continues to trend downward, though, mortgage rates should decline slightly towards the end of 2023. The most recent housing forecast from Fannie Mae calls for the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate to close out the year at around 6.3%.

“Mortgage rates have been volatile for some time now and while they could eventually start trending down over the next six months to a year as inflation growth continues to cool, their path is probably going to be bumpy,” Channel said.

We use data collected by Bankrate to track rate changes over time. This table summarizes the average rates offered by lenders nationwide:

Current average mortgage interest rates

Loan type Interest rate A week ago Change
30-year fixed rate 7.23% 7.37% -0.14
15-year fixed rate 6.48% 6.59% -0.11
30-year jumbo mortgage rate 7.26% 7.39% -0.13
30-year mortgage refinance rate 7.33% 7.44% -0.11

Rates as of July 18, 2023.

How to find the best mortgage rates

To find a personalized mortgage rate, talk to your local mortgage broker or use an online mortgage service. When shopping around for home mortgage rates, consider your goals and current financial situation.

Specific mortgage rates will vary based on factors including credit score, down payment, debt-to-income ratio and loan-to-value ratio. Having a higher credit score, a larger down payment, a low DTI, a low LTV or any combination of those factors can help you get a lower interest rate.

Apart from the interest rate, other factors including closing costs, fees, discount points and taxes might also affect the cost of your house. Be sure to comparison shop with multiple lenders — such as credit unions and online lenders in addition to local and national banks — in order to get a mortgage loan that’s the best fit for you.

What’s the best loan term?

When picking a mortgage, you should consider the loan term, or payment schedule. The loan terms most commonly offered are 15 years and 30 years, although you can also find 10-, 20- and 40-year mortgages. Mortgages are further divided into fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages. The interest rates in a fixed-rate mortgage are fixed for the duration of the loan. For adjustable-rate mortgages, interest rates are stable for a certain number of years (typically five, seven or 10 years), then the rate adjusts annually based on the market rate.

When choosing between a fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgage, you should consider the length of time you plan to live in your house. Fixed-rate mortgages might be a better fit if you plan on staying in a home for quite some time. Fixed-rate mortgages offer more stability over time compared to adjustable-rate mortgages, but adjustable-rate mortgages may offer lower interest rates upfront. If you aren’t planning to keep your new home for more than three to 10 years, however, an adjustable-rate mortgage might give you a better deal. There is no best loan term as a general rule; it all depends on your goals and your current financial situation. It’s important to do your research and think about your own priorities when choosing a mortgage.

Source: cnet.com

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While some people think of Walt Disney World as a place designed for kids, that’s not entirely the case. In fact, some parts of Disney World aren’t kid-friendly at all. The elegant, AAA Five Diamond Award-winning restaurant Victoria & Albert’s doesn’t allow kids under 10, and Jellyrolls — a dueling piano bar — is for vacationers 21 and up.

A trip to Disney World for couples or adult friends can be fun and worth taking. But even without kids to add onto trip costs, a Disney trip for two is not cheap.

The average cost of Disney World for two adults can easily top $4,000 for a seven-night trip, and that’s for frugal travelers. Couples who want to splurge on the fanciest rooms and restaurants, perhaps those traveling for a honeymoon or proposal — or those who simply want to travel in style — should budget at least $10,000 for seven nights.

A NerdWallet analysis sought to find out how much a trip to Disney World for two costs, accounting for line items across these four categories:

  • Park tickets (and add-ons, like Genie+).

  • On-property hotel room rates.

  • Food at park restaurants.

  • Add-on activities, like spa treatments and tours.

Because Disney offers options for a range of budgets, NerdWallet categorized the average cost of a Disney vacation for two into three price tiers: Value, Moderate and Deluxe (which is the same classification that Disney World uses for its hotels).

A frugal couple might be fine booking a Value hotel with minimal frills and only dine-at-counter service restaurants or carts. But other adults might purchase extras to improve the experience, like line-skipping privileges or larger rooms — all variations accounted for in the average price estimates listed below. Read more about NerdWallet’s methodology at the end of this article.

Here’s how much you should anticipate spending per day, per person (with hotel prices based on double occupancy), based on travel style:

One-day, one-park theme park ticket

One-night hotel room (Saturday night)

Individual meal

The average total Disney World cost for 2 adults

Here are NerdWallet’s estimates of a Disney vacation for two, broken down by travel style and length of trip:

Each Disney budget listed above assumes daily theme park tickets, three meals per day and overnight stays at a Disney-owned hotel with both travelers sharing one room.

Disney World ticket prices

Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom can be a romantic spot for couples, but it’s also one of the most family-friendly parks, which means kids everywhere. (Photo courtesy of Disney)

Disney World ticket prices vary by park and date.

One-day Magic Kingdom Park tickets average $160, making it typically the most expensive of the four Walt Disney World theme parks. Magic Kingdom may be the most iconic and features romantic spots like Cinderella Castle (which might be ideal for a Disney proposal), but it’s also viewed as the most family-friendly park, which means more strollers to dodge.

Meanwhile, Epcot tends to be the cheapest Disney theme park — which is a plus given it’s often considered the best Disney World park for adults anyway. About half of the park is devoted to World Showcase, which consists of 11 mini subsections themed to a different country, including Norway, China and Morocco. Each serves up food and beverages (including alcohol), and some have rides, too.

Disney World price per person

One-day, one-park ticket advertised price range

$109 to $189.

Average one-day, one-park ticket price

Genie+ (add-on option for Moderate and Deluxe trips)

Starting at $15.

Disney World ticket prices drop the longer you stay. For example, five-day, one-park-per-day tickets average $643 (that’s $129 per day).

Optional Disney ticket upgrades include Lightning Lanes, which are priority queues for certain attractions, and Park Hopper tickets, which allow multiple park visits per day. Upgrades aside, here’s how much you should expect to spend on Disney tickets for two adults, based on number of theme park days:

Disney World hotels

The myriad of Disney-owned hotels offer options across price points. They range from Disney’s All-Star properties — which start at $128 per night, according to Disney trip planning website Touring Plans, and are considered Value properties — to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, which starts at $780 and is one of the most expensive Deluxe hotels.

Specific room rates vary based on check-in date and specific property, but here are average prices broken down by type and trip length, according to NerdWallet’s analysis:

Three nights

Seven nights

Even Disney’s cheapest hotel rooms are more expensive than what you might find elsewhere in the Orlando area. The average daily room rate across Orlando is just $186.49, according to Visit Orlando’s 2022 Travel Industry Indicators. That’s about 35% less than the $286 average price for the cheapest Disney resort.

Disney World food

NerdWallet researched average meal prices to find an estimate for the Disney World cost of food. Value meals consisted of an entree and drink, while meals placed in the Moderate or Deluxe tier (all served at table service restaurants with waitstaff) also included either an appetizer or dessert.

Here were average Disney World meal prices per person, based on restaurant tier:

Other activities and expenses

NerdWallet’s calculations did not factor in miscellaneous items and souvenirs, which you might want to account for when estimating your own trip to Disney World.

But NerdWallet’s seven-day trip estimations did consider other entertainment and activities, which are add-ons that Disney refers to as its “Enchanting Extras Collection.” They include scuba diving, golf lessons and dessert cruises aligned to sail during the fireworks. (NerdWallet did not add the costs of these extras for shorter trips, given that most people would be devoting their time to the theme parks).

At Disney Springs, you can pay about $25 per person to ride in the world’s largest hand-painted helium balloon. (Photo courtesy of Disney)

Someone seeking a behind-the–scenes tour on a budget might book the $35, one-hour Behind the Seeds tour that takes you into Epcot’s fish farm and greenhouses. Longer and more expensive tours include the Animal Kingdom’s $199 Wild Africa Trek tour, which involves three hours of hiking, off-roading in a safari vehicle and traversing a rope bridge.

For couples taking seven night trips, here’s how much extra NerdWallet estimates you should budget for Disney World extras (for two people):

  • Value: $284.

  • Moderate: $443.

  • Deluxe: $911.

While not everyone will opt for these activities, many adult travelers might incorporate Disney Enchanting Extras in their budget for Disney World.

How couples can visit Disney World on a budget

Couples should expect to spend a minimum of $700 if staying on Disney property for one night and visiting the parks for one day.

For three-night stays (and two theme park days), costs inflate to a minimum of $1,800. And for seven-night stays with five theme park days, expect the trip to cost at least $4,000 if you’re low-frills. However, you might spend more than $10,000 across seven nights if you vacation like you’re keeping up with the Joneses. And that’s all before accounting for the cost to actually get there.

Here are some strategies for couples planning a trip to Disney World on a budget:

  • Book Disney Good Neighbor Hotels, which are hotels owned by other large hotel chains. Cash rates are typically cheaper than those at Disney’s own hotels, and they can sometimes be booked for free (assuming you have hotel points earned through frequent stays or credit card rewards).

  • Commit to Disney’s free mass transit. While families might require a rental car to use their own car seat, adults can get away with relying solely on Disney’s extensive transportation network of boats, monorails, buses and gondolas, which are free to use.

  • Don’t be afraid to order the kids’ meals. Particularly if dining at a counter-service restaurant, no one will know if you’re ordering a kids menu item to be consumed by an adult. 

Methodology

To better understand what an average trip to Disney World for two adults costs, NerdWallet gathered more than 200 ticket prices, 550 Disney-owned hotel room rates and 100 additional activities and restaurant prices between April 2023 and April 2024. NerdWallet aggregated those figures to build sample trip budgets based on travel style and trip length and ultimately to determine how much a Disney trip for two costs.

NerdWallet’s trip costs start once you’re on property, thus don’t account for parking, airfare or driving costs. Here’s what’s included in each price tier:

Travel style

A budget-minded traveler seeking affordable options, few frills and little to no add-ons.

Someone price conscious but who occasionally splurges.

Someone who will pay top dollar to access the high end of what Disney offers.

Tickets (Disney World)

One-park-per-day tickets.

One-park-per-day tickets with Genie+.

One-park-per-day tickets with Genie+.

Hotels (Disney World)

Overnight at Disney’s Value hotels.

Overnight at Disney’s Moderate hotels.

Overnight at Disney’s Deluxe hotels.

Daily meals (Disney World)

Three meals (one entree and one beverage) at Value counter service restaurants or food carts.

Two Value meals plus one Moderate meal (one entree, one dessert or side and one beverage) at a casual, table service restaurant with waitstaff.

One Value meal, one Moderate meal plus one Deluxe meal at an upscale, table service restaurant with waitstaff.

Extra activities (Disney World)

Value add-ons, like cheap seats at Disney World’s Cirque du Soleil show or a lower-budget spa treatment (like an express pedicure).

Moderate add-ons, like central seats at Disney World’s Cirque du Soleil show or a grand pedicure at the spa.

Deluxe add-ons, like front-row seats at Disney World’s Cirque du Soleil show or a full-body massage at the spa.

Stateroom type (Disney Cruise Line)

Standard Inside.

Deluxe Oceanview.

Deluxe Oceanview with Verandah.

Daily meals (Disney Cruise Line)

No extra meals added.

One additional meal at Palo.

One additional meal and wine pairing at Palo.

Extra activities (Disney Cruise Line)

No extra activities added.

Moderate add-ons, like a spa day pass or snorkeling excursion.

Deluxe add-ons, like a spa day pass with massage or scuba excursion.

Because Walt Disney World ticket prices vary by park, one-day ticket prices were based on Magic Kingdom admission. Two-day ticket prices were based on Magic Kingdom and Epcot. In addition, NerdWallet’s analysis did not account for Park Hopper tickets, which allow access to multiple theme parks per day.

And of course, these budgets for the average cost for a trip to Disney should be used to estimate — rather than determine — your own Disney trip costs. Couples who pack their own snacks might spend less on Disney food. Meanwhile, those using their Disney trip as a shopping spree should account for souvenir costs, alongside other potential extras like PhotoPass.

(Top photo courtesy of Walt Disney World)

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:

Source: nerdwallet.com

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The comprehensive analytical research report, titled “Global Home Decor Market – by Player, Region, Type, Application, Forecast 2023-2030,” offers a thorough examination of the worldwide Home Decor market. The report goes beyond presenting current trends and future predictions, providing a careful assessment of prime investment areas. It furnishes in-depth details on emerging growth prospects, drivers, challenges, and global market dynamics.

Moreover, the report places a strong emphasis on the competitive landscape by highlighting a roster of well-established companies operating in various regions. This inclusion aids in comprehending the level of competition prevailing in the market.

The research report incorporates a comprehensive analysis of key players and manufacturers in the industry. These entities have undergone thorough examination, and their profiles, encompassing business overviews, product portfolios, financial performance, and strategic initiatives, are detailed within the report. This information on key players and manufacturers offers valuable insights into the competitive landscape of the market and facilitates a better understanding of market dynamics and the strategies implemented by leading companies.

Major Companies Examined in the Research Analysis:

  • IKEA
  • Kimball International
  • Herman Miller
  • Hanssem Corporation
  • Philips
  • Conair Corporation
  • Suofeiya Home Collection
  • Springs Window Fashions
  • Siemens
  • Zepter
  • Samson
  • Oneida
  • OSRAM
  • GE Lighting
  • Panasonic
  • Acuity Brands
  • Hubbell Lighting
  • Ashley Furniture
  • American Textile Systems
  • Mohawak Flooring
  • Shaw Industries Group
  • Mannington Mills
  • Armstrong Flooring
  • Crane & Canopy

Get sample report at: https://courant.biz/request-sample/?id=97448

Here are some of the important questions addressed in the Home Decor market research report:

  • What are the financial aspects, including cost, profit, production value, and capacity, of the global Home Decor market?
  • What are the projected production value and capacity of the global Home Decor market?
  • How does the market chain analysis encompass downstream industries and upstream raw materials?
  • What are the marketing channels, economic impact countermeasures, and entry strategies employed by key players?
  • What is the current economic impact on the global Home Decor market?
  • Which manufacturing technology is utilized for the production of this product?
  • Which application segment dominates the global Home Decor market?
  • Can you provide a list of key players in the global Home Decor market?
  • Which strategies do market participants adopt to gain a competitive edge against their rivals?

Please check scope of report in-detail: https://courant.biz/report/comprehensive-study-of-home-decor-market/97448/

Furthermore, our research report goes beyond the aforementioned aspects by dedicating a chapter specifically to segmentation. This division is based on product type, end user, application, sales channels, region, and their respective countries. Such segmentation enables a more comprehensive analysis of the market, offering valuable insights into various aspects of the industry in a detailed manner.

Moreover, our report includes a comprehensive section dedicated to geographic assessment. Within this section, we provide extensive information about each region, including specific countries within those regions. This detailed regional analysis aids stakeholders in obtaining a deeper understanding of investment opportunities and potential areas for growth within specific geographic locations. By presenting in-depth information about regions and countries, our aim is to facilitate informed decision-making for our readers and stakeholders, enabling them to make well-informed choices.

Segmentation by Product Types, Application Types, Sales Channel & Regional Analysis

Global Home Decor Market Segments by Product Type:

  • Furniture
  • Textile
  • Flooring
  • Lighting
  • Others

Global Home Decor Market Segments by Application Type:

  • Online Sales
  • Offline Sales

Global Home Decor Market Segments by Sales Channels:

  • Direct Channel
  • Distribution Channel

Regional Segments:

  • North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)
  • Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia and Spain etc.)
  • Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia and Southeast Asia etc.)
  • South America (Brazil, Argentina and Colombia etc.)
  • Middle East & Africa (South Africa, UAE and Saudi Arabia etc.)

Additionally, our report incorporates a distinctive chapter that explores the influence of political and economic factors on the global market. In order to gather information, we utilized a combination of primary and secondary research methods. This involved leveraging paid databases, journals, data sheets, and business magazines. To ensure the accuracy of the data, we conducted interviews with renowned companies operating in the industry. By employing these comprehensive research techniques, we aim to provide reliable and well-rounded insights for our readers.

Global Home Decor market Report Scope:
  1. Previous / Historical Analysis: 2017-2022
  2. Considered Base Year: 2022
  3. Forecast Analysis: 2023-2030
  4. Measurement metrics” Revenue in USD Million and CAGR from 2023 to 2030
  5. Segments Analyzed Types, Applications, Sales Channels and more
  6. Coverage of the Report Market Revenue Forecast, Players/Companies Ranking, Factors Driving Growth, Competitive Landscape, and Trends
  7. Geographical Coverage: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America & Middle East & Africa

Check Table of Content:https://courant.biz/report/comprehensive-study-of-home-decor-market/97448/

Customisation of the Report:

Our report can be personalized to cater to your specific requirements. Please contact our sales team at ([email protected]) to discuss your customization needs. Our dedicated team will ensure that you receive a tailored report that aligns with your needs. You can also reach out to our executives at +1 (210) 807 3402 to share your research requirements.

Source: hometown-pages.com

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[Note from the editor: Originally published on Thomvest’s Blog]

Today we’re releasing an updated version of our commercial real estate technology market map. The full list of companies is available here, and a high-resolution version of the map can be accessed here. This market map includes more than 220 technology companies operating across every aspect of commercial real estate, and range from seed stage businesses to public companies. If you’d like to suggest a company to be added to this market map, please submit them using this form.

Broadly defined, commercial real estate (CRE) includes any property owned to produce income. In total, more than 100 billion square feet of space in the United States is devoted to commercial use. Because commercial property is acquired for investment purposes, it differs from its residential counterpart in several important ways:

  • Commercial real estate is a diverse asset class that can take on many forms: office buildings, retail stores, malls, apartment complexes, homes, hotels and more.
  • Every property is analyzed for its ability to generate income. In most cases, there is a leasing component to commercial property ownership (which is the main revenue-generating activity), whereas in residential real estate properties are often owner-occupied.
  • Commercial properties are actively managed by teams responsible for leasing, routine maintenance, improvements and amenities to ensure that the building is suitable for occupants.

As the map above indicates, there are hundreds of technology companies across every aspect of the commercial real estate lifecycle, from property search and financing, to leasing and ongoing management. You’ll notice that several companies are included in more than one section — this is due to the fact that many of these businesses have expanded their product areas to capture multiple phases of the CRE lifecycle. For example, VTS recently launched a listings marketplace offering to compliment its suite of leasing and asset management tools. As such, we’ve included VTS in both the “Find Property” and “Manage Property” sections.

Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Commercial Real Estate

It’s no secret that the pandemic has dramatically altered our ability to utilize commercial real estate. The pandemic has impacted every CRE segment (office, hospitality, retail, etc.) and every phase of the asset ownership lifecycle (leasing, financing, utilization, etc.). The pandemic will likely continue to influence occupiers and end users of real estate in unprecedented and unique ways, which will have implications for the entire CRE industry.

This is particularly true in the office segment, as the abrupt change in the way we work has required mass remote working. Interestingly, as companies have transitioned from office work to remote work, many employees are reporting no meaningful impact on productivity. Even as lockdowns are slowly eased, as many as 75% of employees prefer to work from home out of caution or convenience. This has caused many in the industry to ask: Is the office as we know it dead?

Given these lingering existential questions, we’re witnessing the reimagining of office environments designed to anticipate what the “next normal” will look like. Tenants and landlords are working hard to determine an approach for re-entering the office, and the impact of remote work on future space needs. While there are many questions we’ve yet to answer, we anticipate the office category evolving in several important ways, and expect technology companies to play a central role in that evolution:

  • Emphasis on Safety: As new case volume persists, businesses have been cautious to re-open offices. In an August survey of 15 employers that collectively employ about 2.6 million people, 57% said they had decided to postpone their back-to-work plans because of recent increases case volume, according to the Wall Street Journal. Employers are also developing safety measures to facilitate a smooth re-opening, including redesigned workspaces and temperature checks. We expect additional safety standards to be developed, including staggered employee schedules, space plans to promote social distancing, safe hygiene practices, cleaning protocols, and guidance on using elevators. Technology is a key component of ensuring that both tenants and landlords abide by these emerging safety protocols.
  • Flexible Work Arrangements: The pandemic catalyzed a massive work-from-home experiment. In many cases, employees actually prefer remote work as it provides flexibility, reduces (or eliminates) commute times and enhances productivity. More than 75 percent indicate they would like to continue to work remotely at least occasionally, while more than half — 54 percent — would like this to be their primary way of working, according to IBM. The forced shift to operating remotely has led to nearly 40 percent of employees indicating they feel strongly that their employer should provide opt-in remote work options when returning to normal operations.
  • Flexible Space Needs: As offices reopen after COVID-19 shutdowns, we will likely see a mix of new use cases. Some companies will require more office space to further space out employees and reduce potential transmission, while others will move to permanent work-from-home arrangements or a hybrid of home, co-working, and office spaces to minimize commutes and maximize social distance. This will create more demand for flexible office space, including co-working space offered by companies like WeWork and Industrious. According to JLL, 67 percent of corporate real estate decision-makers are increasing workplace mobility programs and are incorporating flex space as a central element of their agile work strategies. JLL “expects 30 percent of all office space globally to be flexible in some form by 2030” (up from about 3% today).

In every industry, technology is an important enabler of not only process efficiency, but also of customer satisfaction and growth, and real estate is no exception (particularly during this pandemic). We’ve already seen technology companies step up to offer useful solutions for landlords and tenants. For instance, companies like Envoy are offering safety-focused tools including employee registration, touchless sign-in, wellness checks and capacity management to employers preparing to re-open their offices. We also expect accelerated adoption of digital solutions related to property and building management, leasing and transaction management. Working on furthering the adoption of technology in real estate? We’d love to talk.

Source: geekestateblog.com

Apache is functioning normally

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Income tax filing season is upon us and let’s admit it – there’s a certain amount of stress with the whole process. It may be related to the time and effort it will take to gather the necessary documents. Or fear that you may owe the IRS money. And if you’re preparing your return yourself, you may have some anxiety over the potential to make a mistake that could invite an IRS audit. 

Those may or may not be legitimate concerns, but there are numerous financial benefits of paying your taxes early. Since the process of filing returns can be stressful in itself, the best strategy is to get the job done as quickly as possible, put it in the rearview mirror, and move forward with your life.

Even if you do expect to owe money, it’s almost certainly better to file early and get it over with. And who knows? You might even find you owe less than you thought. But if you let it ride until close to April 15th, you’ll be causing yourself a lot of unnecessary stress.

That’s why when it comes to income taxes, it’s almost always better to file and pay early.

What’s Ahead:

How early can you file your income tax return? 

Source: Giphy.com

There’s probably no one in America who is unaware that April 15th is “tax day”. But that doesn’t mean you need to wait until April 18th to file.

The 2023 tax season officially began on January 23rd, when the IRS started accepting 2022 returns. This includes e-Files.

But unless your tax situation is fairly simple, you probably don’t start doing your taxes on the earliest filing date. Often, employers and other institutions are not required to provide important tax documents until after the start date. For example, the deadline for sending W-2s and 1099s was January 31st in 2023. Other 1099s, such as those that report interest, dividends, capital gains, and other investment transactions, were not required to be sent until February 28.

But as we all know, just because W-2s and 1099s are due out by a certain date doesn’t mean everyone complies. You may find yourself waiting into March for certain forms. It happens in the real world.

The financial benefits of paying your taxes early

I’m using the term “paying your taxes” because that’s almost certainly the main reason people delay filing their taxes until April 15. But there are plenty of other reasons you might be waiting until the last minute, including procrastination. 

But whether you expect to pay, or you’re anticipating a refund, there are plenty of reasons to file – and, if necessary, pay – your taxes early. 

Get your money early if you’re due a refund

According to the IRS, the average federal income tax refund in 2023 as of February 28th is $1,963.

That’s a nice chunk of money, and one too big to leave on deposit with the IRS, where it earns no interest. For that reason, you should want to get your tax refund as soon as possible. And in most cases, if you expect a refund on your federal income tax, you’ll probably be looking for one on your state income tax as well. That means more than $2,900 may be hanging in the balance. 

The sooner you get your refund from the IRS and into your bank, the sooner you’ll be earning interest on the money – or putting the cash to some good use elsewhere.

Read more: 10 smart things to do with your tax refund

Give yourself more time to pay if you owe

Source: Tenor.com

It’s perfectly understandable to choose to wait until the last moment to file your income tax if you owe money (whether because of estimated tax or otherwise). But if you already know you owe, hesitation will only generate additional unneeded stress.

What’s more, there’s no need to panic if you owe the IRS money, even if you can’t afford to pay it. In fact, the IRS provides several options for paying overdue taxes. Once you get one of these payment methods in place, the stress will ease, and you’ll be able to freely concentrate on the business of getting your tax liability paid. 

The IRS will help you pay your tax balance

The IRS provides no fewer than three options to pay your taxes if you get a tax bill:

  1. When you file your taxes, you can contact the IRS and request additional time to pay your full tax balance. The IRS will give you up to 120 days to pay your balance. You’ll need to contact the IRS to set this up, which is another compelling reason to file your return early.
  2. If you won’t be able to pay the full balance within 120 days, you can also set up an installment payment agreement. The IRS will give you up to 72 months – a full six years – to pay your balance in full. However, interest and penalties will be assessed on the portion of the tax that has not been paid by April 18th.
  3. If you’re unable to pay the full balance even with additional time or an installment agreement, you can also propose an offer in compromise. You’ll need to make an application with the IRS, but you may qualify to pay a reduced tax balance if you can demonstrate a hardship. This may be approved if you’ve experienced a prolonged time of unemployment, the death of a loved one, a divorce, or a major medical event.

The critical element when you owe the IRS money is to file your tax return on time. Early is even better, since it will make it easier for you to set up a workable payment plan. That’ll be easier to do early in the tax filing season when the IRS is more likely to answer their phones or to respond to online applications for payment plans.

Reduce the likelihood of income tax refund fraud

Income tax refund fraud is one of the fastest-growing and least understood forms of identity theft. That’s in large part because it happens without the taxpayer even being aware of what’s going on – at least until an ominous letter arrives from the IRS.

If you’re expecting a refund, that letter will inform you that a large refund has already been paid under your name and Social Security number. 

You don’t need to worry that the IRS is going to come after you for the fraudulent overpayment. They’re well aware of income tax fraud and have an entire protocol set up to deal with it. But it will take weeks or months to sort out, and that will mean your true refund will be delayed until the problem is cleared up. 

To avoid the hassle and the delay – as well as the possibility of the fraud itself – you’ll minimize the likelihood of it happening by filing as early in the tax season as possible.

Income tax refund fraud usually takes place shortly after the IRS begins accepting returns for processing. If the fraudster has your name, address, and Social Security number, he or she can file a bogus tax return claiming a large refund.

The early filing by the fraudster is the key to the whole theft. The fraudster will be able to both file a fraudulent return and collect the refund before you file your legitimate return.

Read more:7 signs you’re at risk for identity theft

Avoid the last-minute tax crush – and the possibility of needing to extend

There’s something of a myth – which is one dreaded by tax preparers everywhere – of a taxpayer walking into a CPA firm or tax-preparation company the day before taxes are due and expecting to have the return filed by the next day. That’s something like doing your Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve. And trust me, it probably won’t work with tax filing either.

I spent many years working in CPA firms, and I can tell you categorically that’s not how tax preparation works. 

Walk into a CPA firm at the very last minute and the most that will happen is your return will be extended.

In fact, many CPAs have a cutoff date that’s set much earlier. In some firms, it may be April 10th, but in others, it may be April 5th, April 7th, or even April 1st.

The reason is CPA firms and tax-preparation offices are swamped with last-minute tax returns as the 18th approaches. The higher the volume of last-minute returns, the earlier the cutoff date will be. You can forget about April 18th– your return will automatically be extended if you come in after the cutoff date established by the firm. 

Like avoiding as many traffic jams as you possibly can, you should do your best to not take part in the last-minute tax-preparation crunch. And, if for whatever reason, it looks like you’ll be a late filer, your best choice will be to opt for tax-preparation software to get the job done yourself.

Warning: an extension to file your return is not an extension to pay your taxes

At a minimum, it will be important to have your return completed even if you need to file an extension. A completed or mostly completed tax return will let you know what your tax liability is.

That’s important because filing an extension only grants you the right to file your return by October 16th. But it does not give you an extension to pay your tax liability.

Being better prepared to file a complicated return

Source: Tenor.com

Next to apprehension over owing on your taxes, the biggest source of stress and filing delays is likely the need to file a complicated return. That may be the case if you’re self-employed, have a large number of investment trades, own investment real estate, or participate in multiple partnerships.

The document collection process for any of those return types is admittedly challenging. But that’s all the more reason to keep accurate records as well as know where to access important documents, many of which can easily be retrieved from online sources.

Delaying the preparation of a complicated tax return until April 15th, or even anticipating an extension, won’t make the problem go away. It’ll simply postpone it to a later date, which means you’ll spend more time stressing and worrying. 

This can be especially problematic if you’re using the services of a paid tax preparer. The closer you get to April 15th, the more backed up paid tax preparers are, including CPAs.

Read more: Got freelance income? 7 money-saving tax tips

Tax software can help you file the most complicated returns yourself 

Don’t let that stop you from filing. There are advanced tax software programs that can help you prepare your tax returns yourself. And you can do it with a quality level similar to a return prepared by a CPA.

TurboTax is an excellent choice to self-prepare the most complicated tax returns. You can quickly and easily file even the most complicated returns, even getting help from a live agent as needed. That’s just a fraction of what you’d pay a CPA to prepare your return. And using the easy, step-by-step data entry process TurboTax employs will make the tax-preparation process easier than you might imagine. 

They offer a 100% accuracy guarantee, the ability to prepare up to five returns with a single package, an audit support guarantee, an interface with QuickBooks, and – for an additional fee – live audit representation. For a complete list of the best options for filing yourself or with help, click the link below.

Read more: Best tax software for 2023

Summary

For the sake of your own sanity, file and pay your income taxes as early in the tax filing season as you can. Given all the tax preparation software that’s available – that’s both easy to use and low cost – there’s no reason to wait.

File as early as you can, get the task behind you, then go on with your life. Even if you expect to owe, a delay doesn’t eliminate the need to make payments. It only defers it to a later date and leaves you spending more time worrying.

Between tax software and e-filing, there’s no reason at all to put yourself through that.

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Source: moneyunder30.com

Apache is functioning normally

This is a guest post from John Forman from The Essentials of Trading. Forman is the author of a book by the same name. He has been a trader of the stock and other markets for over 20 years, and is a professional stock market analyst for Thomson Reuters.

The wealth building potential of the stock market is enormous. I think we all realize that. The long-running debate, though, is whether one is better off investing in individual stocks (or funds that do just that), or whether it’s best to just put your money in an index fund. Most funds fail to beat the market, so it would seem index funds are the better choice.

While it is certainly true that index investing has some advantages, and some mutual funds do perform better than the indices, no index or fund will ever offer the upside potential of investing in individual stocks. It’s a matter of math.

Indices and funds include many stocks which move in all different directions. One of those stocks could double in price for the year, but because most others in the collection will do much less well, the index’s or fund’s performance will be much lower than that one stock’s gain. An investor who held that stock by itself, though, would have done quite well.

Of course you need to be able to find the stocks that will beat the indices and funds.

How Do I Find Good Stocks?
The requirements for success in the stock market are much like the requirements for success in any other undertaking. Proper preparation is one of them — potentially the biggest — and a major part of preparation is having a firm objective in mind. As an investor, that normally means either seeking capital appreciation or pursuing income, or some combination. For the purposes of the discussion here, I will focus on the capital appreciation.

Another part of the equation is timeframe. I’m not talking about how long you have to retirement. There’s plenty of literature in financial planning circles about how you should structure your investments from that perspective. What I’m referring to here is how long you will expect to hold any given stock position in your portfolio.

Are you a patient long-term buy-and-hold investor who will have no problem sitting through the inevitable ups and downs of the market? Or are you someone who wants more action, doesn’t have the patience to hold stocks for years at a time, and/or cannot stomach the idea that at points your positions could go well against you for long periods of time?

You may not always be one or the other. It is, however, important to know which mode you are in when you are looking to pick good stocks. A lot of stock market players get themselves in trouble because they go into a position thinking they are one type of player only to change their minds once prices start moving.

Fundamental Analysis
If you are in the first category, then your focus in trying to find good investment stocks is to look at the big picture. You are Warren Buffett. You look at the company and its management team. You look at its business and, in many cases, the broader economy. What you are trying to identify is a company which will steadily increase in value over time.

How do you do that? By thinking about what it takes for a company to grow and profit in a sustained fashion.

What do companies like that have? They have strong management teams who know what they are doing, who have a long term view and who aren’t worried about the quarter-to-quarter results or stock price fluctuations. They are in growing business sectors (or niches) where the competition isn’t so intense that no one can really make any money.

This sort of approach to looking at companies is generally referred to as fundamental analysis. Fundamentals are the underlying elements that determine the long-term growth and profitability of a company.

The idea is that you are giving your money to some really capable people and having them put it to good use in their business. Then you let them do their thing in the way they best see fit. So long as they continue to do good things and keep the business on track for positive growth in value, you stay invested. Maybe somewhere down the line you will cash out your investment. Maybe you’ll leave it to your kids or donate it to charity. Whatever the case may be, you would expect the value of your stake in the company to have grown nicely in value by that time.

Security Analysis by Benjamin Graham and David L. Dodd is the classic text for stock market fundamental analysis. You can also find a brief overview at StockCharts.com.

Technical Analysis
Now, if you are in the second category where you’re not just going to buy a stock and lock it away, you need to think more specifically about your holding period. By this I don’t mean to imply that you will hold a stock for an exact period of time and that’s it. I just mean you should have an idea of how long you would expect to be in the position. That could still be years, or it could be months or weeks.

The advantage of the long-term investor is that they need not worry about the fluctuations in the price of the stock. They are investing on the basis of the long-term growth of the company with the assumption that the stock price will generally follow along at about the same pace.

Less long-term players (often referred to as traders) have to be cognizant of the intermediate and shorter-term price action. Generally speaking, the shorter your expected holding time horizon, the more you will have to focus on the price action. This is because the fundamentals mentioned above are usually slow moving elements which play out over the longer timeframes. They don’t change quickly, so they can’t really influence short-term price movements much.

What I mean by that is stock prices can move in the short-term on a great many factors. It could be news, economic data, changes in interest rates, the general market environment, and lots of other things. Just because a company is making money hand over fist doesn’t mean the stock price will be rising. If the company continues to do that, the stock will probably move higher eventually, but in the meantime other factors could cause it to go sideways or to even fall. This is something that baffles a lot of new investors.

Focusing mostly on price moves you into the realm of technical analysis. This approach seeks to identify patterns of price movement in the market for the purposes of determining likely future direction. This is also referred to as market timing, which basically means seeking to define good points at which to buy and sell. A lot of stock investors use fundamental analysis to find good companies, then use technical analysis to try to pick the best time to buy the stock.

Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets is widely considered the ultimate source on the subject. StockCharts.com offers an introduction to technical analysis.

Value Investing
To this point you’ll notice that I haven’t used the term value investing yet. Many people would refer to Warren Buffett as a value investor, and as such would put value investing in the long-term investing category.

Value investing need not be a “buy it and bury it” type of approach, however. In fact, I’d guess that most people consider it the process of identifying stocks trading out of line with the value of the company in question. They use any number of metrics to determine what a company’s stock should be worth. If the stock isn’t close to that value, they will either buy it or sell it in expectation that it will eventually get back in line. In most cases, once that happens, the stock position will be exited.

This probably all sounds very familiar. You’ve no doubt heard of Wall Street analysts putting out price targets and ratings and such. They generally use fundamental analysis to come up with what they think is the value of the company right now (adjusting it for new information, of course). Then they look at current price to see how it matches up with what their valuation calculations tell them.

If you’d like to learn more about value investing, consider Benjamin Graham’s classic, The Intelligent Investor. The Motley Fool has an interview with Bruce Greenwald about the three steps of value investing.

It Takes Work
Regardless which type of stock market player you are, there are no approaches which don’t require effort on your part to pick the good stocks. Even if you have someone giving you recommendations, you should still be doing your own due diligence to see if they really fit in with what you are trying to do in the market.

Also keep in mind that no matter what timeframe investing/trading you do, you should always take the longer-term view. It’s extremely unlikely that any one stock position is going to make you rich in a short period of time. If you try to score it big on any one trade you’re probably going to end up losing a lot of money. Wealth accumulation in the markets is best sought by steady growth, putting the power of compounding to work in your favor.

This article is part of Financial Literacy Month.

Source: getrichslowly.org