iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by JTE Elms

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

If you buy a fixer house & can't fix it all in 2 years, you may end up replacing your earliest fixes before you even start on others. Example: carpet. After 10 years in my fixer house, I haven't yet redone the kitchen because I'm paying cash as I go. But the "new" carpet has died. 1/10 #realestate

111

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

The FHFA HPI reports US house prices fell -0.4% MoM & rose 3.0% YoY in April. MoM changes ranged from -1.3% in the West South Central & South Atlantic census regions to +1.2% in the Middle Atlantic. YoY changes ranged from +0.5% in the Pacific region to +7.4% in the Middle Atlantic. #RealEstate

000

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

My fixer house needs new carpet, so I'm researching carpet makers. Here's a comparison I made across reviews from Better Homes & Garden, LifeStory Research, Carpet Captain, Houzz & Reddit. The last column counts sources with positive mentions for each manufacturer. #homeownership #realestate

020

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

Charlie Munger on asset allocation: "If a thing is not worth doing at all, it's not worth doing well." #personalfinance

000

Reposted by JTE Elms

Grandma Janet @sweetgrandmajan.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

“Just in the past 10 days, Donald Trump Jr. made stops in Hungary, Romania, Serbia, and Bulgaria,” the newspaper wrote. At the same time, Eric Trump was visiting Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and other Middle East spots promoting the family’s real estate company and crypto plans.

rawstory.com

NY Times exposes Trump family deal-making blitz involving billions of dollars

The Trump Organization’s international business dealings came under scrutiny in a New York Times report released Monday that claimed the president's family members are raking in a fortune in deals acr...

275

Reposted by JTE Elms

KTLA 5 @ktla.com · 05/05/2025

Considering a home purchase in Los Angeles? These neighborhoods are gaining steam in the real estate world. According to an analysis from nonprofit newsroom Crosstown, West Adams has experienced th…

ktla.com

What are the hottest neighborhoods on the Los Angeles real estate market?

031

Reposted by JTE Elms

Perryj @perryjm.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

We got the plans out of Trump on his ideas for Alcatraz! Like in Gaza Trump sees our old dilapidated prison on an island as a real estate play! Always making deals! Mar-a-Lago West !

011

Reposted by JTE Elms

San Diego Live Data @619sdld.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

San Diego mayor says real estate moves will save city $13M over 5 years San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria announced that renegotiating the lease for the building at 525 B Street will save the city $13 million over the next five years.

ift.tt

San Diego mayor says real estate moves will save city $13M over 5 years

Gloria said the city renegotiated the lease agreement for the building at 525 B Street downtown.

011

Reposted by JTE Elms

STOREYS @storeyspublishing.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

Recent data from TD Bank's GTA Condo Market Outlook points towards condo values falling by 15-20% from their peak in Summer 2023 by the end of 2025, with 10% of that decline taking place in this year alone. Full story: loom.ly/B04RiKs #GTA #Toronto #realestate #housing

011

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

111

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

In an analysis of 47 million single-family home & condo sales in 2015-2024, ATTOM found US home sellers got the highest prices when selling in May, with a 9.5% premium over the year's average price. Next highest were February (9.4%) & April (9.1%). #realestate www.attomdata.com/news/market-...

attomdata.com

The Best Time to Sell a Home is in May

ATTOM’s The Best Days to Sell report shows sellers see the highest premiums in May, with top days to sell falling in spring months.

010

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

Some #personalfinance & #homeownership facts show up best in stacked area charts. I've shown a personal example. Some under-appreciated facts of life: 1. PAYROLL TAXES—including US & state income taxes, FICA & SDI—are your biggest expense by far. Include them in your budget & manage them! 1/5

100

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

Trump is & always has been extraordinarily bad for business. Just assume he will break anything he touches. This simplifies investment planning. 😜

000

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

Peter Zeihan shares his take on how tariffs & Trump's ejection of immigrants from the US worsen other demographic trends in the US home purchase market. (~5 min) #realestate www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J6p...

youtube.com

I Hope You Didn't Want to Buy a Home || Peter Zeihan

YouTube video by Zeihan on Geopolitics

000

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

Consider US Treasury investments like T-bills & bonds. What happens to those if Trump decides to default on US debt? They become worthless, that's what. So investors are dumping them now. Would DJT ever default? Has he ever defaulted on debt in the past? 😬 #personalfinance

000

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

Covid had an enduring impact on consumer sentiment, per the University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment. The index is measured relative to the year 1966. In 2017-2019, the US consumer level of satisfaction was almost equal to the riotous, protest-ridden 1960s. Then things fell off a cliff.

Index of Consumer Sentiment chart from 2015 to 2025

000

Reposted by JTE Elms

Michael Wiebe @michaelwiebe.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

How upzoning reduces land costs: Auckland's THA zone allows 5-storey buildings, where before, ~1-2 storeys was allowed. Hence, the stock of 5-storey-zoned land increased significantly. This creates more leverage for 5-storey builders over landowners, reducing land prices.

25710

Reposted by JTE Elms

Lidia Dinkova @lidiadinkova.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

The former president of South Florida's biggest HOA will remain in jail while awaiting her trial on charges she participated in a massive fraud that siphoned funds from the homeowners association. therealdeal.com/miami/2025/0...

therealdeal.com

283

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

The Case Shiller national home price index increased 4.1% year-over-year in January. (This index tracks same-house price changes to ensure like-to-like comparison.) #realestate

Case-Shiller home price trends January 1988 to January 2025 for Composite 10-City index, Composite 20-City Index, & US National Index.

040

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

In 2024 I invested 30% in mortgage prepays, 30% in I-bonds/T-bills/cash, & 40% in stocks. In January, with DJT in mind, I switched to 50% prepays, 25% bonds/bills/cash, & 25% stocks for new investments. Half my existing stocks moved to T-bills. Recent stock doings seem to ratify the plan. Holding.

000

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

When buying a home, consider what you'd have if the home burned down. Be sure the LAND is something you'd want. Neighborhood. Proximity to jobs/services. 2 roads in/out. Drainage. Erosion. Earthquake fault. Fire risk. View. LAND is 65% of home cost in So Cal cities. Is it worth it? #realestate

000

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

First homes begin rebuilding after Palisades Fire. One home completed permitting process in 3 months, since they are basically rebuilding the previously approved house. #realestate www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6wA...

youtube.com

First homes begin rebuilding process after Palisades Fire

YouTube video by NBCLA

000

Reposted by JTE Elms

The Salt Lake Tribune @sltrib.com · 07/04/2025

Households are considered cost-burdened when they spend more than 30% of their income on rent, mortgage payments, and other housing costs. Higher housing costs reduce the ability to pay for necessities like health care or may force people to live in lower-quality housing or neighborhoods.

sltrib.com

‘We cannot keep building McMansions’: Why housing is out of reach for so many Utahns

Here's why a recent study says housing affordability directly affects Utahns' health.

620455

Reposted by JTE Elms

Buffett wins, billionaires lose big! #econsky

2115

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

Canada accounts for roughly 85% of all U.S. softwood lumber imports, a key component of new home construction costs. Mexican is the primary source of such major construction cost drivers as gypsum, concrete and near-shored & appliances. www.nahb.org/blog/2025/04...

nahb.org

In Win for NAHB, Canadian Lumber Exempt from Trump’s Global Reciprocal Tariffs

The tariff exceptions for Canada and Mexico amount to a major win for NAHB, but because of the complexity of the tariffs, builders should expect more volatility in pricing while companies work to unde...

000

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

Sometimes, you just need to repost a great work of art. 😛 www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiYZ...

youtube.com

I'm A Climate Scientist (HUNGRY BEAST)

YouTube video by Real Human Stories

010

Reposted by JTE Elms

Lara Lynn @laralynnwrites.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

There are thousands of businesses that depend mostly or entirely on money spent by these people every day. Companies that will be out of business in a heartbeat if there are even minor interruptions in payments. #Disability #EconSky

3238

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

The US median home price fell slightly to $351,000 in Q1 but remains up 5.2% YoY. Median-priced homes are unaffordable in 97% of U.S. counties. Major homeownership expenses consume 32% of the average national wage vs the 28% preferred by lenders. #realestate www.attomdata.com/news/most-re...

attomdata.com

Home-Ownership Remains Financial Stretch Around U.S. as Prices Remain Near Record High

ATTOM's Q 1 U.S. Home Affordability Report shows homeownership remains a financial stretch in Q1 2025 as prices stay near record highs.

010

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

I'm thrilled to have both tax refunds in hand already, BEFORE April 15th! The federal refund took less than 7 days to deposit electronically. The state took ~3 weeks. I used to wait until October 15th to file. BUT— Refunds in March arrive 8 MONTHS SOONER than refunds in November. #personalfinance

110

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Lennar sees largest unsold completed homes inventory since 2009 this spring, compressing profit margins to 18% as they offer bigger sales incentives & reduce effective home prices to lure buyers. Business is slowest in Florida & Texas. www.resiclubanalytics.com/p/housing-ma... #realestate

resiclubanalytics.com

This Fortune 500 homebuilder has yet to see the 'pickup typically associated with the beginning of the spring selling season'

Lennar says the spring selling season is off to a soft start.

010

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

The FHFA Home Price Index rose a seasonally adjusted 0.2% MoM and 4.8% YoY nationally in January. For the nine census divisions, YoY changes ranged from +2.4% in the West South Central division to +8.2% in the Middle Atlantic division. www.fhfa.gov/news/news-re... #realestate

fhfa.gov

FHFA House Price Index Up 0.2 Percent in January; Up 4.8 Percent from Last Year | FHFA

U.S. house prices rose 0.2 percent in January, according to the U.S. Federal Housing (FHFA) seasonally adjusted monthly House Price Index (FHFA HPI®). House prices rose 4.8 percent from January 2024 t...

010

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

Weathermen were legally wizards for 97 years - YouTube www.youtube.com/shorts/61KtX...

youtube.com

Weathermen were legally wizards for 97 years

YouTube video by Simon Clark

000

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

A CHART OF ACCOUNTS lists the financial accounts that record your assets, liabilities, income, expenses & net worth. How you set up your chart of accounts matters. Choose accounts that: • Break out the details you need to make decisions • Give all crucial totals at a glance 1/8 #personalfinance

100

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

My DJT-weighted allocation for NEW investments did what I wanted. It is: • 50% mortgage prepays (better than gold) • 25% I-bonds & T-bills • 25% S&P index When Buffet exited S&P, I moved 50% of my OLD S&P to T-bills too. Total return > inflation. That's good enough until 2028. #personalfinance

120

Reposted by JTE Elms

Sean Brodrick @seanbrodrick.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

Expectations for personal finances drop to the lowest since start of tracking #EconSky

5323102

Reposted by JTE Elms

Regime Accountant, CPA ☠️🎢 @regimecpa.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

I made my parents mad one year by refusing these things for Christmas

4462

Reposted by JTE Elms

taxtweet ... Kay IRL @taxtweet.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

2024 was an expensive year for disasters, both in dollars and impossible to tally cost of lost lives. 2025 is starting off in a similar fashion. That means many who go through such catastrophes will likely turn to their retirement savings to help recover. www.dontmesswithtaxes.com/2024/05/reti...

dontmesswithtaxes.com

Retirement plan tax rules when using the savings to recover from a disaster

Unsplash+ in collaboration with Getty Images Tornadoes storms across the United States this year are striking at a record breaking pace. The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center today sh...

041

Reposted by JTE Elms

Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

Sharp spike in share of Americans worried about losing their jobs too www.apolloacademy.com/consumer-sen...

323642

Reposted by JTE Elms

Prof Sam Illingworth @samillingworth.com · 16/03/2025

🔥 Fires Near Cities Are a Bigger Health Risk Than We Thought Fires near towns & cities cause far more health problems than remote wildfires Their smoke spreads toxic pollution to people nearby, leading to more early deaths 🔗 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... #Wildfires #AirPollution #SciComm 🧪

science.org

Disproportionately large impacts of wildland-urban interface fire emissions on global air quality and human health

Proximity of WUI fires leads to disproportionately large impacts on air quality and human health especially for urban population.

12011

Reposted by JTE Elms

The Agronaut @andrew-m-davidson.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

"There is a cult of ignorance... ...The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge." 🧪 - Isaac Asimov 🔗 tinyurl.com/ytmx84db

tinyurl.com

In an age of misinformation, it's time to stand up for science | Opinion

The author says promoting and teaching the scientific process is key to addressing misinformation and moving society forward.

211632

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Fastest federal tax refund EVER. 5 days! Filed electronically using H&R Block tax software. I'm sure automation is key now, given staff reductions in government. A paper return with manual processing would likely take much longer. Beating the April & October rush periods also helped. FWIW

000

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

In the ABCs of Real Estate, O is for OPTION: The exclusive right to buy or lease a property on specified terms within a specified period. The buyer pays the seller a fee for this right. The buyer need not exercise their right, but the fee to reserve this option is non-refundable. 1/3 #realestate

110

JTE Elms @jteelms.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

Pacific Palisades devastation after the fires is massive. Yet somehow isolated homes survived here & there. This drone flyover captures the present status. www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8We...

youtube.com

Palisades Flyover 02 17 2025

YouTube video by Gary Baum

000