The Mid-Autumn Festival has a history of more than 3,000 years. It was derived from the custom of Chinese emperors worshipping the moon during the Zhou Dynasty. The Mid-autumn Festival first appeared as a festival during the Song dynasty. Nowadays, it has become a Chinese public holiday and has been China's second-most-important festival. Originated in the Zhou Dynasty (1045 – 221 BC) moon...
Mooncake is the indispensable Chinese dessert served during the mid-autumn festival which falls on the 15th of August of the Chinese lunar calendar. This is the perfect time for me to share with you the mooncake recipe that I have just made. The style and purpose of this festive dessert have evolved considerably in the modern day. Various cake shops and restaurants produce mooncakes with different...
The pace of new housing construction has slowed considerably this summer, with builders pulling back on new housing starts in response to ongoing weakening of buyer demand. According to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau, new housing starts were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,446,000. This is down 9.6% compared to June and is the third month in a row of falling housing starts. The number of...
Taking on a new job can be exciting. But if getting a new gig happens to coincide with your plans to buy a home, it can affect your ability to get a mortgage—even if you make more money in your new job. When you apply for a home loan, lenders take a deep dive into your financial history, including your current employment, to see if you can handle monthly mortgage payments. “Any change to your income...
As a renter, you’re expected by abide by your landlord’s rules and regulations. If you don’t, your belongings may end up unceremoniously dumped on the curb. What can we say? Some things in life are black and white; your lease is undoubtedly one of them. To eliminate any confusion, we spoke with rental experts and compiled a list of the things that are sure to get you kicked out of your rental....
There’s no denying that the cost of living continues to increase. The price we pay for food, transportation, clothing, shelter, airfare — virtually all goods and services — is on the rise. And like every other sector of the economy, housing providers and the more than 40 million Americans who live in apartments are facing steep costs. But why exactly are rents rising and what can be done to help...
I’ve been hearing that the housing market is slowing down and prices may even start falling. Should I put my home search on hold to get a better deal down the road? The news has been filled with stories about how the housing market is finally cooling—after more than two years of unprecedented price growth and wild bidding wars. More homes are going up for sale in many markets. Buyers no longer need to...
Despite the sweltering heat, real estate’s red-hot tear is, at long last, slowing down and chilling out.In our series “How’s the Housing Market This Week?” we look at the four crucial indicators: home prices, new listings, days on the market, and mortgage rates. For the week ending July 23 (the most recent research available), all four are showing noteworthy shifts that suggest that the raging...
Show me the money! Admit it, that’s what you’re thinking when you consider selling your house. In fact, chances are good you’ve mentally spent much of the proceeds already—on a new house you’re buying, and maybe even a nice vacation this summer.Slow down there—while selling a home can indeed bring in some sweet profits, not every dollar goes into your pocket. You also have to pay the...
Mortgage rates took a step back this week as concerns about a recession outweighed worries about inflation. According to the latest data released Thursday by Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate average fell to 5.3 percent with an average 0.8 point. (A point is a fee paid to a lender equal to 1 percent of the loan amount. It is in addition to the interest rate.) It was 5.54 percent a week ago and 2.8...