Author: Money Mechanics

Faced with a shrinking supply of premium homes and intensifying bidding wars, San Francisco’s affluent tech elite are casting their sights farther afield to Napa’s managed estates.Located an hour’s drive north of San Francisco, Napa Valley is famous for its iconic rolling hills covered in manicured vineyards and seasonal wildflowers. While the valley has long been a sanctuary for the world’s rich and famous—from Francis Ford Coppola to Ryan Seacrest—the current AI-driven wealth surge is attracting a new demographic: tech-savvy, high net worth professionals.These buyers are hunting for spacious, move-in-ready second homes, which hardly exist anymore in San Francisco—where the…

Commencement season has come around again — and this year, a couple speakers have discovered that it’s tough to get graduating students excited about a future shaped by artificial intelligence. Last week, Gloria Caulfield, an executive at real estate firm Tavistock Development Company, gave a speech at the University of Central Florida acknowledging that we’re living in a time of “profound change,” which can be both “exciting” and “daunting.” “The rise of artificial intelligence is the next industrial revolution,” Caulfield declared — prompting the students in the audience to begin booing, getting louder and louder until Caulfield chuckled, turned to the…

This week’s Baker Hughes Rig Count shows that the U.S. increased by 3 last week, resulting in a total count of 551 rigs. Canada had no change over last week, resulting in a total Canadian count of 124 rigs. Breakdown by region Of the regions tracked by Baker Hughes, the Permian region experienced an increase this week. Meanwhile, 5 regions experienced a decrease this week: The Cana Woodford is down 1, at 19. The DJ-Niobrara is down 1, at 8. The Eagle Ford is down 1, at 42. The Haynesville is down 1, at 56. The Marcellus is down 1,…

Markets were mostly higher this week as investors focused on strong earnings that are keeping the AI trade rolling along. Investors also remain confident that an end to the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz is coming sooner rather than later. That would take the pressure off inflation, which came in hotter than expected on both the consumer and producer levels. Sticky inflation is changing the outlook for rate cuts and is even putting the idea of a rate hike on the table. For now, however, investors are buying into the growth story, which is backed up by mostly solid earnings. That outlook may be…

(Image credit: Getty Images)If you’re eager to get the newest phone the day it’s released, pre-ordering can help you secure the device before it sells out in stores. Manufacturers, carriers and retailers typically open online pre-orders days or weeks before a phone’s official release date, allowing shoppers to reserve a device ahead of launch.Companies including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Apple, Samsung, Best Buy and Amazon all offer phone pre-orders.But timing matters. Popular models and configurations can sell out quickly, and some pre-order windows fill within minutes.How the pre-order process worksWhen you pre-order a phone, you’ll typically choose the model, storage capacity,…

Home designs can be unique, original, and very varied—yet it is still rare to happen upon a property that is perhaps unremarkable in structure, yet has still been turned into “a living work of art” by a visionary owner who viewed its simplicity as an opportunity for true transformation. Such a home is rare, yet one such dwelling as recently appeared on the market in Tennessee: a quaint three-bedroom abode that might once have been passed over, were it not for its incredible mosaic exterior that is covered from ceiling to floor in tiny rainbow tiles. That artistry is the…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Picture this: You and your wife find the perfect home. You’re so eager to make an offer, but before you do, you visit your mortgage banker for a pre-approval. They run the numbers, and you sit back and relax, knowing you, the meticulous bill payer and responsible card user, are in a good spot.But then, his eyebrows furrow. He shows you an item on your credit report, it’s for a charged-off Macy’s credit card. The only problem is that you have never had a card with them. Your wife is surprised, too.You file an appeal with the…

Every year, thousands of people move to Georgia. In 2026, the Peach State remains a top-ten destination for inbound residents according to the latest U-Haul research.*And it’s easy to see why: with views ranging from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the historic, moss-draped streets of Savannah, Georgia offers a distinct four-season lifestyle not many in the U.S. get to enjoy.Beyond the scenery, the financial forecast may be bright, too. Georgia has continued to be part of the state “flat tax revolution,” with Gov. Brian Kemp recently signing legislation that cut the income tax rate to 4.99%. From just $107.88 $24.99…

Surging energy prices, Fed FOMC minutes, Nvidia earnings could dominate the coming week. Nvidia is poised for a potentially explosive week with upcoming earnings catalyst. Home Depot faces looming headwinds as it prepares to report earnings likely to disappoint. U.S. stocks closed sharply lower on Friday, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq pulling back from their record highs, as surging energy prices ignited inflation fears that also drove Treasury yields sharply higher. Source: Investing.com Despite the selloff, it was a mostly muted weekly performance for the major averages, with the S&P 500 eking out a gain of 0.1%, while…

By David Enna, Tipswatch.com As U.S. annual inflation rises toward 4%, investor interest in inflation-protected investments is also on the rise, making this week’s reopening auction of a 10-year Treasury Inflation-Protected Security one to watch. This is CUSIP 91282CPU9, with a term of 9 years, 8 months. It had its originating auction on Jan. 22, when it got a real yield to maturity of 1.949% and a coupon rate of 1.875%. The first reopening auction, on March 19, got a real yield of 1.896%. There is a good possibility this week’s auction will top those yields. This TIPS trades on…