How much power do appraisers have over home value? | Moving costs, scams create relocation challenges | The case for scrapping the term 'work-life balance'
The case for scrapping the term 'work-life balance' You are more likely to be satisfied with the direction of your life if you seek integration rather than balance, writes leadership coach James Kerr, who says aiming for balance can lead to stress and disappointment. Taking the time to reflect and incorporate elements of integration, such as defining what is most important, being flexible and focusing on being present will "support your overall happiness and fulfillment in both work and the rest of your life," Kerr writes. Full Story: Psychology Today (7/31)
Real Estate Trends
Apollo: Sales of luxury NYC tower units lagging Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance said sales of luxury residential units at Manhattan's 111 W. 57th St. are falling behind expectations although there has recently been a modest uptick in activity. In the second quarter, luxury residential sales in Manhattan were down almost 40% compared to the same quarter in 2022, according to brokerage Douglas Elliman Real Estate and appraiser Miller Samuel Inc. Full Story: Bloomberg (8/1)
Is it time to add a contract management system? A contract management system can save employees time, thus increasing productivity, while streamlining workflow, writes Jay Fuchs for HubSpot. In this article, Fuchs reviews 14 such systems, which have a more narrow focus than customer relationship management systems. Full Story: HubSpot (7/31)
12 tools to generate high-quality photos Small businesses can quickly lose the attention of potential customers by posting low-quality photos online. With these 12 photo editing apps, businesses can improve their image quality, such as adjusting contrast and brightness, on social media and their website. Full Story: Business News Daily (7/31)
Andrew Zarro, a candidate for mayor and a representative on the Portland (Maine) City Council, argues that the city must repurpose its land to address the city's housing crisis. Zarro suggests that merging various zones into an inclusive district "would promote coexistence between residential, commercial, and light industrial areas." Full Story: Portland Press Herald (Maine) (tiered subscription model) (8/2)
Legislation & Regulation
Opinion: FHFA plan for credit score rules is flawed The Federal Housing Finance Agency has proposed a move away from the current "tri-merge" system—which requires lenders to examine three credit reports from the major credit bureaus in the mortgage application process—to a simpler, two-report review. However, removal of one of the reports could omit positive credit history and thereby work to the applicant's disadvantage, and less prosperous applicants likely would be most affected by the change, write Kevin Kimble of the Financial Services Innovation Coalition and Thaddaus Dawson Jr. of Dawson Valuation Group. Full Story: American Banker (8/1)
Fitch downgrades U.S. credit rating to AA+ U.S. government debt has been downgraded by Fitch Ratings to AA+ from a long-standing AAA, with Fitch citing factors such as "erosion of governance relative to 'AA' and 'AAA' rated peers over the last two decades," "expected fiscal deterioration over the next three years" and "a high and growing general government debt burden." Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said in response that "Fitch's decision does not change what Americans, investors, and people all around the world already know: that Treasury securities remain the world's preeminent safe and liquid asset, and that the American economy is fundamentally strong." Full Story: CNBC (8/2),Axios (8/1),Bloomberg (8/2),The New York Times (8/1)
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