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California sees two more property insurers withdraw from market
California’s already strained property insurance market is facing a new challenge as two more insurers, Tokio Marine America Insurance Co. and Trans Pacific Insurance Co., plan to withdraw from the wildfire-prone state entirely starting in July.
The two companies, units of Japan-based Tokio Marine Holdings Inc., disclosed their plans in ...Read more
NYC storefront vacancies remain stuck at pandemic levels; lower Manhattan hit hard
Storefront vacancy rates in New York City have yet to recover from pandemic peaks, with Manhattan in particular struggling to bounce back, new city data show.
The issue made headlines during the pandemic, when retail storefronts on many major thoroughfares sat empty as businesses across the city shuttered. The issue was the focus of a City ...Read more
US existing-home sales decline as rates keep buyers sidelined
Sales of previously-owned homes in the U.S. fell in March from a one-year high, underscoring the lingering impact of high mortgage rates and elevated prices.
Contract closings decreased 4.3% from a month earlier to a 4.19 million annualized rate, according to National Association of Realtors data released Thursday. The pace was in line with ...Read more
Downtown LA is hurting. Frank Gehry thinks arts can lead a revival
With two major expansions of downtown Los Angeles cultural institutions in the works, Bunker Hill is primed to elevate its status as the region's leading arts center even as the area around it struggles with persistent homelessness and post-pandemic losses of office tenants.
Bunker Hill will soon have the largest concentration of buildings ...Read more
Real estate Q&A: How can I get my HOA to allow car covers?
Q: I recently moved and am now, for the first time, dealing with a homeowners association. I have a classic Cadillac that I used to keep covered at my previous residence. The rules in place at my new residence forbid car covers. Other nearby communities seem to allow covered cars, but not mine, so this rule was established by my association only...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: Stop Whining!
As the mother of two young world-class whiners, the behavior modification techniques described in the booklet "Stop Whining!" appeared too simple to be taken seriously. In desperation, however, I decided to give the anti-whining program my best shot. At the time, our two sons were ages 4 and 5.
Day One: Whenever one of the boys whined, I did ...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: When You're Stuck and Can't Get Going
A question I receive nearly every day goes something like this: I'm ready to get started taking back control of my finances. But how do I get started? It's like I'm stuck.
Don't think you are alone if you find yourself wanting to do all the steps at once. But that could be a big mistake. In the same way when building a house you wouldn't pour ...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: How Much Is the Right Amount of Laundry Detergent?
Dear Cheapskate: I adore all your fantastic tips for washing machines and laundry, but could you lend some advice on how to get the detergent amount just right? I really dislike the uncertainty of using too little or too much -- it's like playing a guessing game every time I do a load. I attempted to find some guidance online, but unfortunately,...Read more
US tax refunds declined 3.3% this year in run-up to deadline
Fewer U.S. taxpayers have received a refund this year in the run-up to tax day compared to 2023, signaling some consumer spending may be disrupted.
Data from the Internal Revenue Service showed that 66.8 million taxpayers were reimbursed through April 5 compared to 69.1 million through April 7 last year. That means that 3.3%, or roughly 2.3 ...Read more
GM says it will move headquarters from RenCen to Hudson's site in 2025
DETROIT — General Motors Co. on Monday said it will move its global headquarters to the Hudson’s Detroit development next year as it works with billionaire mortgage mogul Dan Gilbert's real estate firm to redevelop the Renaissance Center, its current home a mile away.
GM CEO Mary Barra alongside Gilbert, Mayor Mike Duggan and Wayne County ...Read more
How to save money at the pharmacy counter
Steve Wexler has experienced the trouble of finding affordable prescription drugs.
A few years ago, the 70-year-old Plymouth, Minnesota, resident opted to cut short his prescription for Eliquis, a popular blood thinner, rather than pay nearly $1,000 out-of-pocket for his final month on the medication.
Smart shopping can't always tame high ...Read more
Cheap mortgages deter workers from relocating for $250,000 jobs
Manager recruits in the industrial Midwest are shunning offers to move to the American South — in part because they’re locked into super-low 30-year mortgages.
A tight labor market that’s allowing workers to stay closer to home, rising housing costs and a post-pandemic shift toward remote or hybrid-work arrangements are making it a ...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: 6 Easy Ways to Upgrade Your Wardrobe Without Spending a Dime
Could your wardrobe use a long overdue boost? Maybe you're eyeing a career move, aiming to project a more polished image at work or simply looking to raise the bar when it comes to school drop-offs and PTA meetings.
Perhaps you're diving back into the dating scene or could just use a little pick-me-up. Sure, some might shrug off the ideas that ...Read more
Hudson Yards Vessel to reopen three years after spate of deaths
The Vessel at Hudson Yards will reopen later this year, it was announced on Friday, three years after it was shuttered following a spate of suicides.
The honeycombed installation opened in March 2019 as the centerpiece of the new Hudson Yards neighborhood in Midtown Manhattan. But it quickly gained notoriety after several visitors took their ...Read more
Real estate Q&A: How can we get rid of our rowdy renters?
Q: Lately, some of the renters in our townhome community have been disruptive. There have been noise disturbances, domestic violence, unleashed pets, and even open drug use. When some homeowners raised their concerns, the association said their ability to address the problem was limited, and changing rental bylaws was almost impossible. What can...Read more
Zombie malls and other retail centers getting extreme makeovers to keep up with the times
Denise Richardson took her kids to Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee, Illinois, so often that at Christmas time, the Santa Claus there recognized them by name. She remembers when department stores moved out of Elgin, then a city of 64,000 people in the exurbs of Chicago, to the mall when it opened in 1980, and it was the place to be.
But the mall...Read more
Downtown Chicago's condo development boom has ended. Here's why
For the first time in years, there are no new large condo projects under construction in downtown Chicago.
Roughly 2,500 condos have been developed downtown since 2015 as multiple towers were constructed, and about 600 of those units are still available, said Gail Lissner, managing director for Integra Realty Resources.
But the high cost of ...Read more
Sorry, home sellers: The 6% commission isn't going anywhere
Negotiation is an essential part of buying or selling a home. But for nearly a century, there’s been one part of the process where haggling doesn’t fly: the 5% to 6% standard commission charged by U.S. realtors. Now, in a dramatic turn of events, the National Association of Realtors has settled a class-action lawsuit that targeted the ...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: Take it Slow and Easy!
That slow cooker you keep on reserve for the cold months of winter is a perfect solution for summer, too -- especially during these days when you just cannot look another takeout meal in the face. Think about it: A slow cooker creates very little heat and costs only pennies a day to operate. And with energy costs skyrocketing, slow cooking is ...Read more
Upscale Westside LA neighborhoods hit hard by State Farm home insurance cancellations
Thousands of Californians who won't see their home insurance renewed by State Farm this summer are homeowners in Los Angeles County, with some upscale Westside neighborhoods hit hard, according to the insurer's recent filings with the Department of Insurance.
A majority of the insurer's customers in neighborhoods in West Los Angeles as well as ...Read more
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Popular Stories
- Downtown LA is hurting. Frank Gehry thinks arts can lead a revival
- Real estate Q&A: How can I get my HOA to allow car covers?
- US existing-home sales decline as rates keep buyers sidelined
- NYC storefront vacancies remain stuck at pandemic levels; lower Manhattan hit hard
- Real estate Q&A: How can we get rid of our rowdy renters?
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