Almost three quarters (71%) of homeowners have delayed a planned project this year, citing inflation, high interest rates and economic concerns for their postponements. These were among the findings of an April 2025 online survey of 1,000 respondents who had hired a professional for a project in the past year, conducted for home improvement platform Angi. The impact of these delays can impact owners’ health and safety, as well as the structural integrity and resale value of their homes. Delayed Projects The two projects owners would improve first if they had no budget constraints were kitchen remodels (31%), followed by…

The media is still obsessed with the “sell America” trade. That is, in a word, overblown. But there is something valuable here—especially for us income investors. Because even though the US has the world’s most diverse and dynamic economy, bar none, we do need to make sure we’re spreading at least some of our assets beyond a single country or asset class. For maximum safety (both for our portfolio value and our income streams) we also need exposure to alternative asset classes beyond US blue chips, such as global stocks, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and corporate bonds. But here’s…