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- Clark Biweekly 2 13 25
Clark Biweekly 2 13 25
Anthony Hazzard
February 13, 2025
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The average age of homebuyers in 2025 has jumped significantly. Will this change anytime soon? Find out more information later in this email.
💵 Today’s Top Stories
 | Kleenex cylinders perfect for your car, a Valentine’s Day LEGO set and a pump-activated salad spinner are among the cool new products Costco locations offer this month. Read more. |
 | Here are some common tax scams that you need to avoid this year to keep your money safe. Read more. |
 | Don’t ignore this crucial step when you get a new credit card. Clark explains why it’s a mistake to miss this. Read more. |
 | Clark considers “annuity” to be a curse word. (Oops … sorry if we offended your eyes!) But when pressed, he admits there are two exceptions to his “never deal with annuities” rule. Read more. |
 | Where can you find the cheapest tires and the best service? And how does Clark value post-purchase service vs. buying purely on price? Read more. |
💻️ Tech Tip From Kim Komando
Butt out: Writing Tools is Apple’s AI that cleans up text in any app. If that creeps you out or it’s just annoying, switch it off. Open Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. Turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions, then tap Intelligence & Siri > Writing Tools > Don’t Allow. Heads-up, this only applies to iPhone 16 models, the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Join 575K people who get tech smart with my friend Kim Komando’s free newsletter, The Current.
💵 Home Buyers Are Aging Fast
Those buying homes in 2025 are much older, on average, than they were three-plus decades ago.
According to ResiClub, the median age of first-time home buyers in the United States jumped from 28 years old in 1991 to 38 years old in 2024. The median age of repeat home buyers leaped from 42 to 61 years old in that same period.
Some of the increase, the site posited, is due to strained housing affordability. “Secular changes” (marrying later, having children later, etc.) also contribute.
ResiClub said of the new median age of first-time home buyers: “[At 38 years old, they have] been out of high school for 20 years but [are] also only 24 years away from the earliest age at which they could receive Social Security benefits (age 62).”
It’s looking more and more likely that the Fed doesn’t cut interest rates all year. Thirty-year fixed mortgage rates have hovered near 7% recently.
“It’s been bad ugly to be a buyer the last few years. And it’s been magnificent if you’re a homeowner” especially if you bought during the period of low mortgage rates, Clark says.
Clark recently predicted that income steadily rising over time will allow homes to become more affordable. He also points at data showing home prices are stalling or rising much more slowly.
“As a general trend, we’re going to see home prices not really going anywhere over ’25, maybe ’26,” Clark says.
📊 Stat of the Day
🎫 $1,037: The amount the average Massachusetts adult spends on lottery tickets each year. Compare that to approximately $50 per year for the average adult in Wyoming and North Dakota and you notice a seismic difference. Computer scientist John Koza invented the scratch-off ticket, where it took off in Massachusetts in 1974.
💰️ Deal Alert: Today’s Top Deals
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🎙️ Podcast
Side hustles are great for earning extra cash. But with so many opportunities, scams are everywhere. Clark explains how to avoid getting scammed, find the right opportunities, and understand the tax issues you may face. Also, personal finance is a crucial part of our education. Clark shares what he would do and how you can help your kids learn at home.
☎️ 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.
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