Lots of interesting news today

[Monkeynono]

Dollar General is scamming everyone. I'm not surprised. Pretty sure I've experienced it myself. On one hand, it's what I expect from a poorly run, disorganized store with constantly changing inventory and mismatched price tags and shelf placement. On the other hand, if it is systematic and intentional, we should burn them all down.

That's a lot of fire, even for you.

Duane

It would look like California if he did that

 

[RatLabGuy]

Mississippi politician files ‘Contraception Begins at Erection Act’

"People can get up in arms and call it absurd but I can’t say that bothers me.”

www.wlbt.com

 

[JSJJ388]

Mississippi politician files ‘Contraception Begins at Erection Act’

"People can get up in arms and call it absurd but I can’t say that bothers me.”

www.wlbt.com

Absurd would be putting it kindly.

 

[ramjo]

Mississippi politician files ‘Contraception Begins at Erection Act’

"People can get up in arms and call it absurd but I can’t say that bothers me.”

www.wlbt.com

That'll be a hard one to enforce.....

 

[RatLabGuy]

Absurd would be putting it kindly.

That'll be a hard one to enforce.....

I think ya'll are missing the point.

This was penned by a Democrat to parallel the absurdity of a lot of other legislation going on. There's zero intention of it being real.

 

[ramjo]

I think ya'll are missing the point.

This was penned by a Democrat to parallel the absurdity of a lot of other legislation going on. There's zero intention of it being real.

I think you missed my joke....and I never underestimate the absurdity of a politician

 

[VortecJeep]

How do you fertilize an embryo, isn’t an embryo already fertilized? At least get the biology correct, even if you are trying to draw parallels to other legislation.

 

[VortecJeep]

https://www.npr.org/2025/01/24/nx-s1-5272647/home-sales-housing-affordability

 

[RatLabGuy]

https://www.npr.org/2025/01/24/nx-s1-5272647/home-sales-housing-affordability

To one of their points... my mortgage rate is 2.5% and I own something like 60% equity on the value on my home.
Given today's rates and resale amounts It would take an absolutely massive pay increase to warrant moving, and even then I'd consider renting instead of selling.

 

[VortecJeep]

To one of their points... my mortgage rate is 2.5% and I own something like 60% equity on the value on my home.
Given today's rates and resale amounts It would take an absolutely massive pay increase to warrant moving, and even then I'd consider renting instead of selling.

Same here. In fact, I can’t think of anybody that I know that has bought a house in the past several years.

 

[WARRIORWELDING]

Same here. In fact, I can’t think of anybody that I know that has bought a house in the past several years.

I can't think of anyone I know that can afford one even if they bought what they live in now at current perceived value. Glad all my stuff is paid for in full.

 

[Ron]

Same here. In fact, I can’t think of anybody that I know that has bought a house in the past several years.

Raises hand
But kinda had to

Actually bought two houses in ‘24

 

[VortecJeep]

Raises hand
But kinda had to

Actually bought two houses in ‘24

As your primary residences or as rentals?
But you had to. Are we seeing people do it just to “move up”?

 

[Ron]

As your primary residences or as rentals?
But you had to. Are we seeing people do it just to “move up”?

Primary residence (moved) and bought a condo for my daughter while in college.

A lot of the interest rate talk is over rated. It isn’t ideal but 6% interest rates compared to 2.5 isn’t some tripling of payment and house values dis come down from their peak as interest rates climbed.

But with the new regime it will be interesting to see where rates go, having a significant business loan with a rate indexed off wsj prime - a rate spike could substantially hurt our future.

 

[RatLabGuy]

Korean Scientists Create ‘INVISIBLE SOLAR PANELS’ That Allow Windows To Generate Electricity – Science Advance

scienceadvance.com

 

[jeepinmatt]

A lot of the interest rate talk is over rated. It isn’t ideal but 6% interest rates compared to 2.5 isn’t some tripling of payment and house values dis come down from their peak as interest rates climbed.

I read something this morning showing the average home price in Charlotte metro in 2024 was $415k, and in 2019 was $225k. If you assume the $225k house was refinanced in 2020 to 2.5%, the monthly payment would be $711. Whereas the $415k house would be $2149 at the current 6.73% average. Obviously is gonna differ by area, but I think this is a good reflection of 2/3s of North Carolina. The payment is literally triple. Even you adjust to 6% as you stated the payment would be $1991/$711=2.8, so maybe not all the way to triple but for all practical purposes tripled.

 

[Atla]

Love seeing things like this. First sighting in over a hundred years....

The largest continental mammal has reappeared after more than 100 years, and scientists are calling it a historic event

The cameras of Rio de Janeiro's State Institute of Environment (INEA) have caught a truly wild moment for Brazilian biodiversity: the South American tapir

eladelantado.com

I hope to eat one someday.

 

[Ron]

I read something this morning showing the average home price in Charlotte metro in 2024 was $415k, and in 2019 was $225k. If you assume the $225k house was refinanced in 2020 to 2.5%, the monthly payment would be $711. Whereas the $415k house would be $2149 at the current 6.73% average. Obviously is gonna differ by area, but I think this is a good reflection of 2/3s of North Carolina. The payment is literally triple. Even you adjust to 6% as you stated the payment would be $1991/$711=2.8, so maybe not all the way to triple but for all practical purposes tripled.

yes but...if you MOVED you sold that house that you bought for 225k and got 415k.
So you cleared 190k. Which you SHOULD have put down on the 415k house to only have a 225k mortgage.

A 225k house on a 30 year 2.5% should net a $889 payment.
A 225k house on a 30 year 6% should net a $1,349 payment.

Now if we want to shift the conversation to it being harder than ever AROUND HERE on first time home buyers....100% agree no argument.
But saying the interest rate is the reason people arent moving is false.

 

[jeepinmatt]

yes but...if you MOVED you sold that house that you bought for 225k and got 415k.
So you cleared 190k. Which you SHOULD have put down on the 415k house to only have a 225k mortgage.

A 225k house on a 30 year 2.5% should net a $889 payment.
A 225k house on a 30 year 6% should net a $1,349 payment.

Now if we want to shift the conversation to it being harder than ever AROUND HERE on first time home buyers....100% agree no argument.
But saying the interest rate is the reason people arent moving is false.

Right, but the house you’re moving to is now $750k, not $415k. It’s the combination of prices doubling and interest rates doubling or more.

 

[RatLabGuy]

yes but...if you MOVED you sold that house that you bought for 225k and got 415k.
So you cleared 190k. Which you SHOULD have put down on the 415k house to only have a 225k mortgage.

A 225k house on a 30 year 2.5% should net a $889 payment.
A 225k house on a 30 year 6% should net a $1,349 payment.

Now if we want to shift the conversation to it being harder than ever AROUND HERE on first time home buyers....100% agree no argument.
But saying the interest rate is the reason people arent moving is false.

I'm no mathemagician but the difference here is still nearly $500 a month. Which means you gotta have 6 grand extra doll hairs $$ every year just bc of that move. Which means, thanks to loss from taxes etc needing a 9k+ salary increase just to break even.

And thats only if its literally the same house value. If you move up in value like your example, you also have much higher insurance payment or tax payment on that 2x more valuable house.

EDIT: the other hting your example of using the $$ to move up is the loss from resetting the loan clock. It isn'y anywhere close to an apples-apples comparison.

 

[Atla]

Let's not forget Escrow... between Taxes and Insurance, my escrow has doubled in five years since we bought our house.

It suckiths.

 

[Ron]

Let's not forget Escrow... between Taxes and Insurance, my escrow has doubled in five years since we bought our house.

It suckiths.

I will never again.
Haven’t found a mortgage company yet competent to handle it.

 

[Buffy]

I got tired of my back hatch not opening on my XJ and decided to try a fix I saw on you tube. The parts used was:
5/32 turnbuckle
6mm x 1 inch bolt
6mm x 1.5 inch bolt
6mm nylon nuts
1/4” x 1” spacer
Red Locktight

Hatch currently working like a charm!

Edit: if anyone wants to try this PM me I have 9 of the turnbuckles left over and I’ll send one to you.

 

[RatLabGuy]

Let's not forget Escrow... between Taxes and Insurance, my escrow has doubled in five years since we bought our house.

It suckiths.

yeah I was shocked how much my monthly payment went up this year. As far as I can tell they're still doing it right, ust our insurance rates went way up

 

[benXJ]

Right, but the house you’re moving to is now $750k, not $415k. It’s the combination of prices doubling and interest rates doubling or more.

yeah I was shocked how much my monthly payment went up this year. As far as I can tell they're still doing it right, ust our insurance rates went way up

all of these.

its a sell high, buy high situation, at an elevated interest rate. This is why no one is moving.

and insurance is going up 15% over the next few years.....and of course the sheep voting for higher property taxes every year, cause new parks and libraries!!!!