The state of New York is the latest state to permit same sex marriages, permitting the issuance of marriage certificates to same sex couples beginning July 25th, 2011. The law that permits same sex marriages in New York doesn’t require residence and therefore, couples from anywhere in the U.S can go to the state, get married, and go back to their resident state as married couples.

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I can’t find the name of your HOME directory

Are you House Poor?

The great American Dream has always revolved around owning a home. Sure,
having the 2.3 kids, the cushy corporate job and the stylish car to drive
to work everyday are part of the myth, too, but nothing quite summed up
Americana quite like the white picket fence. But if recent economic numbers
are any clue, this dream is becoming a nightmare for many in the US.

According to date released by the United States Census Bureau, an
increasing number of homeowners are spending a larger and larger amount of
their incomes on housing than in previous years. People in 49 out of 50
states reported an increase. The only state that didn’t, Alaska, spent the
same amount. The report showed that people are spending around 21 percent
on their housing needs, up from 19 percent in 1999.

This is a huge problem for first-time buyers (more…)

I can’t find the name of your HOME directory

Home Affordability: Myth or Reality?

For many young couples, the idea of owning their own house just like their
parents is an attractive idea, but it’s not very realistic. A recent poll
conducted by the Associated Press and America On Line Real Estate showed
that 80 percent of respondents believe that it is hard for first-time
buyers to afford a home. A majority of those polled – 59 percent – also
said that they believe it is harder to buy a home now than it was five
years ago.

Taking a closer look at the poll reveals that young adults and those that
classify themselves as minorities consider the affordability of homes a
bigger problem now than five years ago, compared to those over the age of
50 and those that identify themselves as white.

Broken down by region, almost 70 percent of those living in the western
United States and almost (more…)

The great American Dream has always revolved around owning a home. Sure,
having the 2.3 kids, the cushy corporate job and the stylish car to drive
to work everyday are part of the myth, too, but nothing quite summed up
Americana quite like the white picket fence. But if recent economic numbers
are any clue, this dream is becoming a nightmare for many in the US.

According to date released by the United States Census Bureau, an
increasing number of homeowners are spending a larger and larger amount of
their incomes on housing than in previous years. People in 49 out of 50
states reported an increase. The only state that didn’t, Alaska, spent the
same amount. The report showed that people are spending around 21 percent
on their housing needs (more…)

For many young couples, the idea of owning their own house just like their
parents is an attractive idea, but it′s not very realistic. A recent poll
conducted by the Associated Press and America On Line Real Estate showed
that 80 percent of respondents believe that it is hard for first-time
buyers to afford a home. A majority of those polled – 59 percent – also
said that they believe it is harder to buy a home now than it was five
years ago.

Taking a closer look at the poll reveals that young adults and those that
classify themselves as minorities consider the affordability of homes a
bigger problem now than five years ago, compared to those over the age of
50 and those that identify themselves as white.

Broken down by (more…)