Clark Biweekly 1 9 25

Author

Anthony Hazzard
January 09, 2025

Home prices are up in many major cities regardless of high mortgage rates! Find out which cities and how much of an increase, later in this email.

šŸ’µ Todayā€™s Top Stories
Costco

From a gigantic Connect 4 set to a chai tea sampler to a smart bird feeder, Costco rolled out some gems this month (with pictures). Read more.

Money

Need (or want) money right now? Team Clark researched a list of reliable ways to put fast cash in your pocket. Read more.

Debit Card

Did you know that using debit cards can be financially dangerous? Clark explains why you should really think about following this rule. Read more.

Credit Card

Get 5% cash back on credit card purchases without paying an annual fee. Weā€™ll match you with a rewards card that fits your spending habits. Read more.

Fitness

Want a membership at an average gym? Thatā€™ll be $700. Surprise: You donā€™t have to pay for a fancy health club. Hereā€™s how to get fit for cheap. Read more.

šŸ’»ļø Tech Tip From Kim Komando

Use Gmail on your Android? If you pay for the Google Workspace plan (or your work does), you can now chat with Googleā€™s AI, Gemini, about your emails. The bot has access to your entire inbox, so it can summarize your emails (ā€œWhat did Mary want?ā€) or find specific info for you (ā€œWhenā€™s the app design deadline?ā€). To use it, tap the black star logo in the top-right corner of the app. Join 575K people who get tech smart with my friend Kim Komandoā€™s free newsletter, The Current.

šŸ’µ Home Prices Generally Increasing Despite High Mortgage Rates

Despite 30-year fixed mortgage rates that rose back to 7%, home prices generally went up in major cities in 2024.

California, New York/New Jersey and Florida unsurprisingly are home to the majority of the cities.

And in many cases, major, expensive international cities (Los Angeles, New York City, Miami) are pushing buyers into nearby metro areas. Thatā€™s how housing prices in Anaheim, California, led all major cities with 12.5% growth on average.

Demand in the largest metro is coming from wealthier buyers who are not too beholden to mortgage rates much higher than they were just a few years ago, CNBC reported.

The full list:

  1. Anaheim, California: +12.5%

  2. Newark, New Jersey: +11.3%

  3. New Brunswick, New Jersey: +10.8%

  4. Nassau County, New York: +9.9%

  5. Providence, Rhode Island: +9.8%

  6. West Palm Beach, Florida: +8.6%

  7. Chicago: +8.6%

  8. Detroit: +8.5%

  9. San Jose, California: +8.5%

  10. Fort Lauderdale, Florida: +8.3%

  11. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: +8.1%

  12. Seattle: +8.1%

  13. Miami: +7.9%

  14. Cleveland: 7.5%

  15. Warren, Michigan: +7.5%

šŸ“Š Stat of the Day

šŸŽ„ 2: The number of top 20 movies in 2024 by gross revenue that werenā€™t based on previous films or film series. So much for originality! Inside Out 2 ($1.7 billion) and Deadpool & Wolverine ($1.3 billion) were the two movies topping $1 billion.

šŸ’°ļø Deal Alert: Todayā€™s Top Deals
Lands End
Caribbean
Credit Card
šŸŽ™ļø Podcast

A Gallup survey discovered that half of workers are struggling or suffering at work. If this describes you, learning a new skill is a great way to find a new job. Clark shares several free sites that can help you learn something new in order to land in a career you love. Also, if you work in an office and drive a long commute, you could be doing more harm to your health than you may think. Get up!

ā˜Žļø Need Money Help?

The Team Clark Consumer Action Center is a free helpline that can help you navigate your money questions. Call 636-492-5275. Visit clark.com/cac for more information.

Did You Enjoy Todayā€™s Newsletter?

Let us know what you think so we can better serve you!

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.