Amid criticism from lawmakers for not having a clear housing plan in place, Hawaii Governor Josh Green claims the state is making progress towards reducing recovery costs by transitioning people displaced by fires from hotels to permanent housing. Lawmakers have expressed concerns about the lack of a coherent budget for the costs associated with the
The month of March brought about an increase in rent prices for both one- and two-bedroom apartments after six consecutive months of stagnation. According to a report by Zumper, the average monthly cost for a one-bedroom apartment in the U.S. rose to $1,487, reflecting a 0.3% increment from the previous month. Similarly, the typical price
As tax season progresses, the municipal bond market is facing challenges and experiencing selling pressure as investors shift their focus from short-term securities to meet their tax obligations. This trend has caused muni bonds to underperform compared to U.S. Treasuries and corporate bonds, with negative returns month-to-date. Despite this, experts believe that the muni market
The municipal bond market experienced a mixed performance on Wednesday, with evident selling pressure on the short end due to few sizable deals pricing in the primary market. Despite this, munis have managed to hold relatively well as yields remain in a tight range. The AAA HG curve in the muni market has maintained stability
Samantha Costanzo, the newly appointed head of public finance at Huntington National Bank, sheds light on the challenges women face in the male-dominated financial services industry. Costanzo acknowledges the disparity in gender representation in finance, describing it as a “chicken and egg problem.” Despite the obstacles, she remains hopeful and believes in the power of
The spring housing market is typically a busy time, but recent data suggests a lackluster start to the season. Despite this being a prime time for home sales, mortgage demand remains stagnant. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, application volume decreased by 0.7% last week compared to the previous week. This trend paints a bleak
Federal prosecutors have taken legal action to seize two upscale New York City apartments valued at $14 million, which are believed to have been purchased using funds obtained through a corrupt scheme connected to Mongolia’s significant copper mine. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, exposes a series of alleged illegal contracts totaling
City Controller Chris Hollins recently expressed his apprehensions regarding Houston’s ability to sustain the proposed settlement with its firefighters in the long term. While he acknowledged that the city could manage the immediate costs of the settlement, he emphasized the need for a revenue increase to prevent a growing structural budget gap. Hollins estimated that
In the midst of a challenging and competitive housing market, luxury vacation home co-ownership platform Pacaso has set out to revolutionize the way people experience second home ownership. Launched in 2020 with a focus on multimillion-dollar homes, Pacaso is now expanding its offerings to include properties with share prices starting as low as $200,000. This
Recently, Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed several pieces of legislation, including a measure aimed at preserving the state’s largest coal-fired power plant beyond its scheduled shutdown in 2025. Despite concerns raised by the Intermountain Power Agency (IPA), Cox remains optimistic about the future of the plant. However, IPA’s General Manager, Cameron Cowan, expressed reservations about