"Inflation is coming down"

[Fernando]

== Earthquake ==

The earthquake could happen anytime at any strength. It is a question probability and degree. It's a throw of the dice. However, the probabilities do not look good at all. There is a 51% chance of a 7.0+ earthquake occuring in the San Francisco Bay region by 2044.

Despite advances in geology and earhquake, 51% is useless for practical purposes. Every year big earthquakes happen and no one can predict it.
Since we know where earthquakes are more likely to occur, best we can do is to having buildings and other structures built to withstand a big major.
I'm not happy governments force me to retrofit my old buildings. There so much a retrofit on a masonry building can withstand shaking.

California Earthquake Map - Fault Lines, Zones & Risks by County | CEA

Find out how close you live to an active fault and get details about how to prepare yourself for the next major earthquake. Get the info you need from CEA!

www.earthquakeauthority.com

== Elon Musk ==

The salaries at Tesla are really more than a notch below other companies in the area. People work there for the experience and a certain amount of fame and glory -- and you are working around some very smart people, depending on the area you are in.
Like most "genuises", Elon has special abilities - but is often unimpressive in other areas. I think his pickup design is atrocious. Often he sacrifices wealth for principle. That is risky of course. He often makes long term, but naturally risky actions such as buying Twitter.

Twitter Revenue and Usage Statistics (2024)

Twitter is a real-time microblogging platform, publicly launched in July 2006. At launch, its defining features were the tight limits placed on each post, known at a tweet. Originally, users could only use 140 characters, although that has been elongated over the years. Formed by former Odeo...

www.businessofapps.com

But, it's certainly not dead. If Trump becomes President, then that is probably a good thing for Musk.

If Trump becomes President, it's good thing for the wealthy.

 

[OSU Beavers]

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Biden just dumped another 1,000,000 bbl of oil from the SPR on the market yet we already have cheaper gasoline than we did the previous 2 Independence Days. When the f was the SPR supposed to be used to win an election...oh, I forgot 2022.

Meanwhile drill rigs are being stacked right and left. W. Texas has been carrying the load of drilling and with that drilling has come tons of associated (natural) gas and gas is now selling for less than zero there. And the state does not want them to be flaring the NG off. It is wasteful, increases CO2, and reduces the ultimate recovery of the oil in the reservoir.

Breakfast in 2019 was $5 and $1 tip and coffee $2. Same cafe coffee is $2.95, breakfast is $12, tip $3 - eats up a $20 bill.

 

[ucbruin]

It's a good thing that you've all raised your appraisal fees....

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

It's a good thing that you've all raised your appraisal fees....

I've had the same fee for about 6 years. I am charging more for the larger assignments. My largest fee this year involved numerous properties and I only charged $10k - it was a month's worth work.

 

[DTB]

I've had the same fee for about 6 years. I am charging more for the larger assignments. My largest fee this year involved numerous properties and I only charged $10k - it was a month's worth work.

That's not good.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

That's not good.

Most of the minimum charged assignments are older people and involve inherited estates - usually modest ones. I see no reason to burden people financially over common SFR or some vacant tract. I did an assignment where there were 5 acres in the country, the house had burned, and the elderly woman had little insurance. She was placed in a home and to get on Medicaid and that insurance money was running out. I appraised the 5 acres which wasn't worth much back in the hills of Adair Co., OK. I didn't charge anything. I refuse to kick people when they are down.

 

[Zoe]

I just got a quarterly statement on a small IRA. year to date is 19.15% return. 12 month return is 32.3%. Avg annual return since 2020 is 15.7%

100% stock funds spread out.

 

[Zoe]

My main point to you is stock market has been great since Biden has been in office.

 

[Fernando]

I just got a quarterly statement on a small IRA. year to date is 19.15% return. 12 month return is 32.3%. Avg annual return since 2020 is 15.7%

100% stock funds spread out.

Good for you Zoe!
If Americans had put their money in the stock market (especially Index funds), they would have beat inflation instead of whining.
Those who take risks, get the rewards.