One Good Thing About Higher Rates?

All days are good days in my books. Each day is a very rare and special gift. Every day that concludes is a day you will never have again. Don't ever waste a good thing...
 

DID YOU KNOW?
One good thing about higher rates? They may be acting as a disguised form of economic stimulus. Baby boomers and retirees—and many others—have (MUCH) more income from their cash and bonds. This has also fueled spending. Imagine a retiree with $1 million earning 2% in interest versus 5% in an economy reliant on consumer spending. I would bet this impacted the US' GDP numbers and helped prevent a recession.

DID YOU KNOW?
Can you even believe that before 1974, women often were not permitted to obtain a mortgage without a male cosigner. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) of 1974 was a turning point for women in America and their financial futures. Before the ECOA, women generally could not take out loans without a male co-signer, and lenders often saddled female borrowers with higher interest rates and larger down payment requirements. We have come a long way! Today, women actually outpace men in homeownership. Of all careers, real estate brokerage has allowed women to soar! Many of the world's leading agents are women. We should celebrate these enormous strides toward full male-female equality! (Bankrate)
 
DID YOU KNOW? 
In 2014, the total net worth of US households was $82.6 trillion. Today, it has nearly doubled to $151 Trillion, up from $117 trillion at the end of 2019 prior to COVID-19. By the end of 2020, the first year of the COVID surge, net worth had escalated to $131 trillion, up almost 12% in one year! Much of that has to do with rising home values and equity gains. (Fortune)

DID YOU KNOW?
A new demographic has emerged...the PAP. The Post Achievement Professional. They have achieved enormous success and then choose to focus on doing the things they love doing, with money a secondary consideration, if at all. (WSJ)

DID YOU KNOW?
Silicon Valley reports that in February, the Silicon Valley housing market saw remarkable activity, with at least 28 properties selling for $200,000 or more above their list prices. 50% of these transactions soared $400,000 or more over the asking price. One listing went $872,000 above its listed price! 

DID YOU KNOW?
America is running out of power due to AI Data centers. Artificial intelligence, data centers, and the boom in clean-tech manufacturing are pushing America's aging power grid to the brink. (Washington Post)