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Real estate Q&A: How can we get neighbor to deal with constantly barking dog

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Q: Ever since our new neighbor moved in six months ago, they have constantly left their dog out, and it never stops barking. We try to be patient, but it’s getting intolerable. What can we do? — Katya

A: Dealing with inconsiderate neighbors can be frustrating and stressful. For some people, it might be a barking dog; for others, it could be...Read more

Nelvin C. Cepeda/The San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS

Vacancies for life science office space hit record highs. Here's who's taking advantage

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Vacancy rates for life science space are at record highs, and a few firms are capitalizing on the downturn.

The region’s core cluster vacancy rate is a record 31.2%, up from 20.4% a year ago, according to a report by commercial real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle. Vying to fill vacant buildings, landlords are offering incentives like free ...Read more

Jp Lawrence/The Minnesota Star Tribune/TNS

Faced with a housing crisis, this southern Minnesota city is saying yes to experimental builds

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

NEW ULM, Minnesota – Leaders in this southern Minnesota city, famous for its German heritage, have adopted a new philosophy to combat its housing crisis: saying “ja.”

Over the past few months, the City Council in this town of about 14,000 has approved a flurry of housing projects, including nearly two-dozen shed houses in an industrial ...Read more

JPMorganChase/TNS

Chase to open new J.P. Morgan Financial Center for million-dollar customers on Michigan Avenue

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

CHICAGO — The remaking of North Michigan Avenue will take another step forward next year with the opening of a new two-story Chase/J.P. Morgan banking center in a former clothing store across from the Water Tower.

The high-traffic retail location at 830 N. Michigan Ave. will feature a Chase branch at street level and a J.P. Morgan Financial ...Read more

Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS

San Diego rents have fallen for 6 months, longest decline in 15 years

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Average rents in San Diego County have fallen for six straight months and have reached a milestone not seen since in 15 years.

Rents are down 0.3% year-over-year to an average $2,520 per month in early December, said real estate tracker CoStar. San Diego County has not seen average rent decline on an annual basis since the end of 2010.

Of ...Read more

Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald/TNS

How this Florida barrier island community pushed back against overdevelopment

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Picture this: A sandy, 25-mile stretch of beach, just a three-hour drive from Miami but devoid of grocery stores or gas stations, restaurants, bars or hotels. Instead, sea turtles nest on the beach, their hatchlings’ sense of orientation protected by dark-sky rules and by long-term residents who know to handle them with care on their extensive...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: How to Help Someone You Love Build a Good Credit Score

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

Dear Mary: I've heard that adding someone to your credit card will help that person establish a credit history, even if they do not use the card. Is that true? How would I go about doing it? -- Pat

Dear Pat: It is true. You would add this adult (at least age 18) as an "authorized user" to your account by calling your credit card issuer's ...Read more

Todd McInturf/The Detroit News/TNS

UWM acquires mortgage servicer in $1.3 billion all-stock deal

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

In a move that significantly expands its footprint in the mortgage servicing landscape, Pontiac, Michigan-based United Wholesale Mortgage Holdings Corp. said Wednesday it would acquire Two Harbors Investment Corp. in an all-stock deal valued at $1.3 billion.

The merger combines United Wholesale Mortgage with Two Harbors, a real estate ...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: Surprising Ways to Use Cornstarch to Save Time and Money

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

Cornstarch is a low-cost, readily available, humble miracle found in the baking aisle of just about every supermarket and grocery store in the country, and online. Extracted from corn and then processed into a very soft, white powder, cornstarch is sold in boxes and canisters.

Usually, we think of cornstarch as a pantry ingredient used to ...Read more

DREAMSTIME/TNS

Amazon distribution center at LAX sells for record price

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

An Amazon warehouse near the gates of Los Angeles International Airport has sold for a record price as logistics centers near transportation hubs grow in value.

The real estate investment arm of global financial services firm Morgan Stanley recently paid $211 million for the distribution center on 98th Street amid several private long-term ...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: Clean Up the Cloudy Headlight Covers

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

Well, you've done it again! You clever readers have come up with another batch of fabulous ways that you save time and money every day!

AUTO CLEANER

Use plain old baking soda on a damp rag to remove bugs, tar and anything else from your vehicle. Works great, even on the grill and chrome work. Leaves no residue or odor and won't harm the paint....Read more

Dreamstime/DREAMSTIME/TNS

PayPal applies to become a bank as US loosens regulatory reins

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

PayPal Holdings Inc. applied to become a bank in the U.S., looking to take advantage of the Trump administration’s openness to financial-technology companies entering the banking system.

The payments-focused firm submitted applications to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Utah Department of Financial Institutions to form a Utah-...Read more

Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS

11 AI-powered apps that help you save money

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Most Americans feel uncomfortable with their emergency savings — and for good reason. According to Bankrate’s latest research, building a financial cushion feels impossible when you’re drowning in forgotten subscriptions, overpaying for everything and manually tracking expenses that slip through the cracks.

AI-powered finance apps solve ...Read more

Jim Watson/Getty Images North America/TNS

The Fed cut interest rates again. We asked 5 experts what Americans should do next

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

The Federal Reserve lowered interest rates again at its final meeting of the year, signaling that Chair Jerome Powell was able to guide his deeply divided committee toward a consensus over how to manage an economy suffering from both higher inflation and unemployment.

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) in December reduced its benchmark ...Read more

Pratchaya Leelapatchayanont/Dreamstime/TNS

Private health insurance costs are going up. A complete guide to your coverage options

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Private health insurance premiums will be going up in 2026 — in some cases, by a lot.

Congressional Democrats and Republicans remain deadlocked on health care reform, following disagreements over America’s health insurance marketplace that contributed to November’s government shutdown. At the heart of the issue is the extension of the ...Read more

Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS

What's important in affordable energy? Being comfortable in your home

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

PITTSBURGH — When Destenie Nock was in graduate school, earning her doctorate in industrial engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, her electricity was shut off for nonpayment.

She and her roommates prioritized paying for fuel deliveries to their oil-heated home and had trouble catching up on other utility bills.

It wasn't ...Read more

Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Warner Bros. is blockbuster finale to $4.5 trillion M&A haul

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Dealmakers are heading into the final weeks of 2025 on a $100 billion cliffhanger.

Paramount Skydance Corp.’s hostile bid to snatch Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. from under the nose of Netflix Inc. encapsulates the themes that have shaped a banner year for mergers and acquisitions: renewed desire for transformative tie-ups, massive checks from ...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: Common Household Sources of Microplastics Plus Easy Swaps

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

Dust bunnies don't just multiply under your couch -- they're hoarding plastic. Scientists have discovered that everyday items we use, wash, wear and toss can release microscopic plastic fragments. These "microplastics" are everywhere: bottled water, teacups, indoor air -- even inside human arteries.

If you've ever dusted a sunny windowsill and ...Read more

Robin Buckson/The Detroit News/TNS

Stores, financial institutions come up short as penny production stops

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

DETROIT — Marie Shoulders of Detroit has a penny purse, a penny jar and a small penny pouch.

As a self-confessed penny hoarder, she wasn't surprised to hear about the scarcity of the reddish-brown copper-and-zinc coins.

"The pennies are short because people have them at home in they drawers, purses and everywhere. I keep them. ... There's ...Read more

Real estate Q&A: Can condo board keep me from renting if my credit score is barely too low?

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Q: I’ve been having an issue while trying to rent a condo apartment. I have a good job, drive a nice car and have a credit score of 690. The condo’s board has refused to let me rent in their building because they say the rules require a minimum credit score of 700. Are they allowed to deny my application for this reason? —Gordon

A: Yes, ...Read more

 

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