Proprietary Data Insights Top Residential Construction Stock Searches This Month
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Source: Google Finance In April, The Juice suggested taking a look at homebuilder PulteGroup (PHM). Since then, like most of the rest of the market, PHM took a hit. However, over the last month, it has regained almost all of the ground it lost amid the carnage. Why is PHM Up? Probably a combination of two factors. One, while there’s pressure on homebuilders in the current environment of decreasing demand, most people don’t expect an all out housing crash like we saw in 2008. Instead, we’re anticipating headwinds, not devastation. Two, PulteGroup manages its business well, minding its cash amid the slowdown and maintaining the dividend it has managed to increase each of the last four years. We’ll get more color on PulteGroup – and homebuilding in general – when the company reports earnings on July 26. The Juice will listen to the earnings call and provide an update shortly thereafter. |
These are The Final Days To Own Private Shares
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Behind the warm smiles, that brick-oven smell, and the sound of muffled kitchen banter over sizzling mozzarella…is a cry for help. And that silent scream is creating a $155 billion potential market for one robotics startup that you can invest in today. Get shares in the future of pizza-making while you still can before July 28th. |
Housing |
With Housing, You’re Probably Lucky Or Screwed
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Key Takeaways:
Bad news tends to dominate most headlines. Makes sense. Not only does bad news sell, but the need exists to help people make sense of the bad news. Particularly in the area where so much of the present bad news lies – housing. However, There’s Actually Some Really Good News We’re not talking about the modest slowdown in home prices and rents. Doesn’t make either affordable. Instead, what if you’re not looking? What if you haven’t been in the market to buy a home or rent an apartment over the last year or so? If not, you might be sitting pretty. Amid all the bad news you probably missed this, but:
As For Renters How about all of the apartments governed by state and local rent control laws? For example:
Of course, not every city has rent control. And it has downsides. In California, once a tenant moves out, the landlord can charge whatever they wish. From that new rate, rent control laws take hold again. Plus, sometimes rent control can prompt property owners to skimp on upgrades and maintenance. The Juice is just trying to squeeze in some good news before the bad.
Source: Redfin If you’re not lucky enough to have secured a low mortgage rate when the getting was good, it’s not a pretty picture. The typical mortgage payment comes in at $2,387, as of last week. Earlier this week, The Juice noted that in Q1, the average American wage or salary employee made $4,148 a month. Responsible budgeting says you should commit no more than 30% of your monthly gross income to housing. On $4,148 a month, that’s up to $1,244. Even if you stretch yourself (and you absolutely should not), Redfin’s interactive chart shows you can’t touch much house in America.
At 5.5% interest, assuming a 20% down payment, you can only afford a $250,000 home if you want to keep your payment at $1,500 a month. At the moment, the median sale price of a home nationally is $428,379. And, at that median, you’re looking at an $85,000+ down payment. The math doesn’t look any better for renters. Of the 50 largest metro areas in the US, none – The Juice repeats, none – have median rent anywhere near $1,244. If you’re making $4,148 a month, you might have no choice but to stretch closer to $1,500. Even in these places.
Source: Redfin (as of June, 2022) And that’s not even in the New York Tri-State area, Northern or Southern California, Seattle, or Boston where rents are truly insane in the membrane.
The Bottom Line: Given the proliferation of absolutely warranted bad news headlines on housing, it’s clearly not the time to be looking for a place to live. However, if you’re already set in a home you own or apartment you rent, you might actually be eating popcorn as you observe the carnage from the proverbial sidelines. Sometimes it’s definitely better to be lucky than good. Or a healthy mix of both. |
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