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DID YOU KNOW? In a dramatic shift from a decade ago, tech workers in Seattle earn much more than the average financial sector workers in New York City. (BLOOMBERG)

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And in December, hackers hijacked the Ring cameras of multiple families, using the devices’ speakers to verbally assault some of them. (NY TIMES)

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DID YOU KNOW? Last month, security researchers found that Amazon-owned Ring’s apps contained hidden code, which had shared customer data with third-party marketers.

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San Jose, Los Angeles, and San Francisco have three of the lowest homeownership rates among the top 50 metros and also have three of the lowest apartment vacancy rates. Los Angeles is around 50% while Nashville is at 72%! (CNBC)

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DID YOU KNOW? The nation’s top 50 metropolitan areas are almost evenly split on the rent vs. own calculation. It is cheaper to own in 24 markets and cheaper to rent in 26, according to new research from CJ Patrick Company, based on data from First American Data Tree.

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Birmingham, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, Oklahoma City, St. Louis, Tampa, Atlanta, Miami and New Orleans all showed monthly home payments were significantly cheaper than the median monthly rent.

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DID YOU KNOW? The CBO projects 2.2% economic US growth in 2020, 1.9% in 2021, and 1.7% after that, and the forecast calls for the unemployment rate to begin rising in 2022 but to remain below historical averages. The jobless rate was 3.5% in December. (WSJ)

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DID YOU KNOW? Regardless of roller-coaster global upheaval, luxury appears to be healthy: French luxury-goods conglomerate LVMH - the wold’s largest luxury conglomerate - revenue rose 15%, driven by strong growth at Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior. (WSJ)

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DID YOU KNOW? According to recent data from Preqin, the private equity industry (which includes venture capital) has a record $1.5 trillion cash pile of so-called “dry powder,” or undeployed capital, going into 2020. (Fortune)

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DID YOU KNOW? A partial trade deal was signed yesterday between the U.S. and China giving some relief to the market.

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The Self-Employed Mortgage Access Act would enable lenders to accept alternative forms of income and job verifications. The enactment of this law would be a boon to millions of Americans who want to take part in the American Dream of owning a home. (Marketwatch)

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DID YOU KNOW? Around 36% of workers are part of the “gig economy”, working multiple or freelance jobs. The standard mortgage application process doesn’t make it easy for these workers, which requires W2 forms that these individuals may not have.

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The same is not true once you've paid off your mortgage. (Marketwatch)

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DID YOU KNOW? Buying a median-priced, three-bedroom home was more affordable than renting in only 53% of the 855 counties analyzed across the U.S., making renting in the other counties the more affordable option.....according to a recent report by Attom Data Solutions.

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While it may be true that total out-of-pocket monthly costs are sometimes cheaper when renting, often these reports omit one tiny - but important - detail: EQUITY BUILDING. At the end of a 30-year period of renting you have zero to show for your money.

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DID YOU KNOW? The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage fell to the lowest level since October this week, at 3.69%, according to Mortgage News Daily. (CNBC)

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Overall they paid an average rate of 11.3%. 57 companies paid effective rates above 21%. The federal government brought in about $74 billion less in corporate taxes than if all the companies had paid the statutory rate. (CNBC)

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DID YOU KNOW? The new tax law lowered the statutory corporate tax rate to 21%, but the companies in a recent report that covered 379 companies from the Fortune 500 list that were profitable in 2018 found that 91 paid an effective federal tax rate of 0% or less.

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The rise in home equity provides a source of wealth that owners may be able to tap to finance their home improvements. (CORE LOGIC)

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DID YOU KNOW? The amount of equity in mortgaged real estate increased by $457 billion in the 3rd quarter of 2019 from the 3rd quarter of 2018, an annual increase of 5.1%. Borrower equity hit a new high in the 3rd quarter of 2019, and borrowers have gained $6 trillion in equity...

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since the end of 2011 when equity stopped declining. During this same time period, homeowners have been staying in their homes longer, preferring to make remodeling updates as their home ages.