| DID YOU KNOW? In the mortgage business, about 70% used to be focused on re-financing and only 30% on new mortgages. As rates rise and pressure from automation and online financing options also rises, this ratio is changing fast! DID YOU KNOW? I am especially thankful that Compass has ZERO DEBT: Total US corporate debt has swelled from around $4.9 trillion in 2007 to nearly $9.1 trillion in 2018, surging 86%. Why should debt worry us? Rising interest rates make this debt more expensive to service. Several of our competitors carry enormous debt. Realogy (Coldwell Banker, Sotheby's, Corcoran, Century 21, Better Homes and Gardens, etc) has over $3.5 billion in debt. (Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association). Realogy's 20% stock plummet yesterday, may well be a barometer on the changing housing market and shifting trends in the brokerage business. As well as growing concerns about mounting corporate debt. DID YOU KNOW? Total emigration from California to other states between 2006 and 2017 was 1.24 million, according to the Census Bureau, yet only third highest in the nation behind New York and Illinois. More people are leaving New York City for California than moving in, but the ones who move either way tend to be between the ages of 18 - 34. Only 3,000 people older than 35 moved permanently from California to New York City in 2017. More than 15,000 people (6%) moved to New York City from Florida and Texas. These figures do not factor in wealthier people who may keep multiple residences. (WSJ) DID YOU KNOW? Walmart's e-commerce Q4 2018 sales rose 43% and for 2019 it's calling for internet sales to be up another 35% becoming the most potent threat to Amazon's e-tail dominance, not too shabby for a 57-year old company! |
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