Did You Know?
*Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. The holiday began as a way to honor soldiers who died in the Civil War, but the day now honors all U.S. veterans who have sacrificed their lives. There’s a specific way to display the American Flag on Memorial Day, according to the US Flag Code: hoist the flag quickly up to full staff at sunrise, then lower to half-staff until noon, and then return to the top of the staff.
*Between 2010 and 2019 6.9 million new homes were built in the US. Between 2000 and 2009, 14.56 million homes were built, more than double the number of the following decade. Only prior to the 1950's did the US build less than 10 million new homes per year.
*Per Marketwatch, Accessory dwelling units or ADUs are becoming an increasingly affordable option for aging parents' ability to stay with their kids - in their backyard. A 2021 survey of California’s ADU owners by the UC, Berkeley Center for Community Innovation found that most units are detached. 615 square feet is the average size, and 61% are 1-bedroom.
* Choosing brick as the facade for a new home is a great material choice - here are some reasons why:
- Brick is both fire and weather resistant; it and can withstand direct impact from flying debris at greater wind speeds than wood.
- Bricks are noncombustible, which can help contain the fire to a particular room until it is put out.
- Many insurance companies offer lower rates for Homeowners Insurance on houses with brick exteriors.
- Bricks made from shale and clay, which are some of the most abundant materials on earth, and are eco-friendly.
- Bricks minimize mildew, mold, and dust mites by absorbing humidity better than other building materials, and are easily recycled.
- Brick walls can stabilize the interior temperature of your house when combined with insulation, delaying the movement of heat through the wall, keeping a house warm for longer and reducing your carbon footprint.
- A brick house requires less upkeep because of its high durability, it retains color, doesn't need paint maintenance, and isn't biodegradable.
- Brick homes are easy to control since you do not have to worry about termites or other pests.
*According to Bloomberg, property values in Los Angeles County are projected to rise by a record $100 billion this year, providing a boon to municipal coffers on the back of a hot housing market. The amount translates to $1.86 trillion in net value for taxable properties in the county, a 6% increase from 2021, according to a May forecast of the county’s assessment roll.
*If you're looking for lower gas prices, we all have a solution that could be enacted right away - if we could all cooperate as a country. You lose about 15% gas mileage for every 10 miles per hour you accelerate. Where drivers maintain steady speeds of 50 to 80 mph, reducing speed by 10 mph can save 75 cents a gallon on a $5 gallon of gas. Imagine if the US cut consumption by 10-15% simply by slowing down/not speeding.
*Per Marketwatch, it appears long-term rates are holding steady even as short rates rise, suggesting markets believe the Fed will succeed in stabilizing prices. It’s technically possible the U.S. will tip into a recession within the next year, but a lot more would have to go wrong.
*The good news? Unemployment has reached near-historic lows and workers quitting their jobs in search of something better near historic highs. Corporate capital expenditure is up as well as firms invest in more advanced technology and more resilient supply chains.
*It is estimated that tick borne illnesses have doubled since 2004. Take tick precautions as summer approaches; note the following:
- Use a chemical repellent with DEET, permethrin or picaridin;
- Wear light-colored protective clothing;
- Tuck pant legs into socks;
- Avoid tick-infested areas;
- Shower with hot water after being outdoors;
- Mow lawns/cut grasses short and keep lawn edges clipped;
- Do not brush up against ticks or thorny plants that protect ticks from predators: Use an organic spray (see wondercide.com);
- Remove leaves, place gravel/lava rock/pebble, mulch or wood chips between lawns and wooded areas.
- Ticks thrive in forests and brush and love warm humid conditions, yet do not love lots of sunlight.
