Who are the Middle Class?

Who are the Middle Class?

Many economists define the middle class as those adults whose annual household income is between two-thirds and twice the national median – today, that means roughly $40,000 to $120,000.   .  By this standard, according to the Pew Research center, the middle class is significantly smaller  than it was.   In 1971, America had the following make-up:

·         14% - Upper Class

·         61% - Middle Class

·         25% - Lower Class

Four decades later in 2011, the middle class share has declined, with the following results:

·         20% - Upper Class

·         51% - Middle Class

·         29% - Lower Class

-          Wall Street News, August 7, 2013

Cash Sales Over 40% in 10 Markets

Cash Sales Over 40% in 10 Markets

Home buyers who require financing for their home purchase can struggle to compete against buyers who have offers of all-cash.  Where are all-cash deals are the most prevalent? Cash deals represented 80 percent of home sales in June in Vermont; 58 percent in Nevada; 57 percent in Florida, and 51 percent in New York, according to RealtyTrac. Cash deals represent a very small percentage in Texas, Utah, and New Mexico.  The markets with the most all-cash transactions tend to have a high number of foreclosures and depressed home prices, which attracts investors and private equity firms, according to RealtyTrac.   The following 10 metros had 40 percent or more all-cash deals out of the total home sales in June, according to RealtyTrac:

·         Miami/Ft. Lauderdale: 64%

·         Las Vegas: 62%

·         Tampa, Fla.: 58%

·         Detroit: 56%

·         Orlando: 53%

·         New York: 49%

·         New Orleans: 43%

·         Memphis: 43%

·         Jacksonville, Fla.: 42%

·         Atlanta: 42%

-           CNNMoney, July 25, 2013

Obama Administration to “Social Engineer” Neighborhoods

Obama Administration to “Social Engineer” Neighborhoods

In a move some claim is tantamount to social engineering, the Department of Housing and Urban Development is imposing a new rule that would allow the feds to track diversity in America’s neighborhoods and then push policies to change those it deems discriminatory.   The policy is called, "Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing."  It will require HUD to gather data on segregation and discrimination in every single neighborhood and try to remedy it.  HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan unveiled the federal rule at the NAACP convention in July.   "This is just the latest of a series of attempts by HUD to social engineer the American people," said Ed Pinto, of the American Enterprise Institute. "It started with public housing and urban renewal, which failed spectacularly back in the 50's and 60's. They tried it again in the 90's when they wanted to transform house finance, do away with down payments, and the result was millions of foreclosures and financial collapse.”

-          Fox News, August 7, 2013