The Cycle of Higher - And Rising - Fed Interest Rates Has Come to an End.

Inflation has dropped to the lowest level since early 2021. Slight increases in food prices and a moderation in energy prices have kept inflation in check this last month.

Homeowner equity continues to grow, increasing steadily on an annual basis.  According to the latest CoreLogic Insights, home prices have remained on an upward trend the past 12 months. Homeowners with mortgages have seen an aggregated increase of $1.3 trillion in equity since Q2 2023, a surge of 8.0% year-over-year.

As always, please reach out if you have any questions or comments with your local market.

DID YOU KNOW?
The cycle of higher - and rising - FED interest rates has come to an end.  Yesterday, the Federal Reserve cut its benchmark rate by half a percentage point or 50 basis points, marking the end of the rate hiking era...and a path towards 'normalization'.
 
DID YOU KNOW? 
Oracle chairman Larry Ellison (briefly) became the second-richest person in the world this week, surpassing Jeff Bezos, when Oracle’s soaring stock took his net worth along for the ride. Yesterday,  Ellison, who founded Oracle in 1977 and still owns 40% of it, fell back down to a pathetic third place with a $203B net worth. But that could change again soon as the AI boom powers the cloud computing giant to new heights. (Morning Brew)

DID YOU KNOW?   
$16 billion will be spent on political advertising this year, about $47 per American. (TikTok)

DID YOU KNOW? 
Imagine wandering through a beautiful garden, happening on a crystal clear pond, and diving in for a refreshing swim...until recently, most swimming pools were bright blue David-Hockney-style. The most obvious influence behind this quieter aesthetic is the natural swimming pool — A German import and self-trained advocate, David Pagan Butler has taught hundreds of homeowners how to make their own chemical-free pools, relying on native plants — water mint, flowering rush — to keep the pool water clean. These pools blend into the landscape rather than dominating it. (FT)

DID YOU KNOW?
SPAVING? Yes, this term describes those who spend more to save more...buy three, get the fourth free! (CNBC)

DID YOU KNOW?
Prior to 2018, qualifying households could deduct some or all of their moving expenses from their taxes. After the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, this Federal tax deduction is limited to military families. This act expires in 2025, as does the SALT tax deduction limit. (Investopedia)

 

Forgive Yourself!

I love listening to older, wise people who share their experiences and life's greatest regrets.  One consistent theme is how often they say they've learned too late in life how to forgive others. The act of forgiving others is rather common knowledge and extremely beneficial to a healthy life...and just as important, we need to learn how to forgive ourselves faster and more frequently.

Remember that last pitch you messed up? A deal that went south? A failed investment? A missed kid's game? There are so many instances in life when we fail at something, are neglectful, and make poor decisions and choices - all very human traits. Too often, we take far too long to forgive ourselves and move on. Acknowledging and learning from our mistakes is essential if we wish to improve, evolve, mature, and grow.  Making amends when we hurt others should be non-negotiable. BUT...there is a moment when we must forgive ourselves for our mistakes, bad choices, and poor judgment calls. Forgiveness is truly divine. Maybe today, you try to identify the things you haven't been able to let go of; identify the lessons, and then consciously and loudly forgive yourself. Yes, there is a moment for those moments, but it should be just a moment. Yesterday's errors and failures are today's and tomorrow's lessons.