Renters thankful for landlord's maintenance

Renters nationwide say they are most thankful for the maintenance-free lifestyle provided by landlords at their apartments, a survey by Apartments.com found. Here's how 1,089 apartment dwellers polled replied to the question, "What is the number one reason you're thankful to be a renter?"

43.6% Maintenance-free living
23.6% Less expensive than home ownership
19.4% Flexibility/No long-term commitment
6.5% Other
5.1% Great amenities
1.7% Community living/Social activities

To see how these folks answered other questions, CLICK HERE


Auto affordability at 26-year high

I'm not sure what this news release has to to with real estate, other than it's interesting to see what happens in other consumer-oriented business hit by once-rising prices and rising inventories.

"The purchase of an average-priced, new vehicle took 23.6 weeks of median family income in the third quarter, according to the Auto Affordability Index compiled by Detroit-based Comerica Bank. That is the third consecutive decline in our quarterly index, which is now down 2.8 weeks from the fourth quarter of 2005. Including finance charges, the total cost of buying an average-priced light vehicle was $26,500 in the third quarter, down 5 percent from a year ago. Median family income has risen about 5 percent over those same four quarters.

"Rebates and cut-rate financing reduced the cost of buying a new car this past quarter," said Dana Johnson, chief economist at Comerica Bank. "With median family incomes still trending up at a healthy pace, light vehicles were more affordable last quarter than at any time since 1980."

To read more, CLICK HERE.