These Cricut fonts will elevate your designs to the next level.

Tired of plain drinks and pour-overs? Turn your kitchen into a caf with these barista-worthy machines.

If the idea of moving abroad has recently seemed a lot more appealing due to current eventsyoure not alone. A study by Coldwell Banker that was reported in Global Luxury 2024 found that about 40 percent of Americans who responded are interested in buying a home in another country within the following year. From homes in Italy you can purchase for just one euro to countries where you can buy your own private island, the options are certainly very appealing. While owning abroad may seem like a pie-in-the-sky dream, the reality is that it's certainly possible to attain with smart planning. Plus, it could be a boon to your household income and existing assets.Why Americans Are Investing AbroadThe uptick in overseas investment owes to several factors. First, the euro is lower than it has been in many years, and interest rates are lower in Europe than they are in the U.S. As of June 6, 2024, the European Central Bank cut its main lending rate from 4 percent to 3.75 percent, Samira Easton, a certified international property specialist at Premier Sothebys International Realty, says. (This is a small but significant change when youre borrowing a large sum.) Easton also points out that anxiety surrounding the upcoming presidential election is causing people to consider moving abroad. Then, of course, theres the fact that the U.S. is still experiencing a housing shortage and the homes that do wind up on the market here tend to be prohibitively expensive. The Benefits of Buying in a Foreign CountryNot only is it potentially cheaper to buy real estate abroad than here in the U.S., it can actually bring in additional income and help protect your existing assets. Investing in emerging markets can offer rapid economic returns and increasing property values, Easton explains. (In other words, the beach house you buy in Portugal now might be worth double what you paid for it in a couple of years.) And houses located in popular tourist destinations can bring in a steady stream of rental income.Owning properties in different countries also can diversify your portfolio, making you less vulnerable to crazy economic fluctuations in any one countryand real estate investments in different currencies can protect against currency devaluations in your home country, Easton says. From a lifestyle standpoint, owning a home overseas offers access to new cultures and climates (exotic food, sunny weather!) and gives families a special place to gather for holidays and summer breaks. Who doesnt want to spend Christmas in Paris or August in Tuscany?But its not just European destinations that are attracting expats. There are several countries around the globe that have cities bursting with cultural opportunities and recreational activities, beach towns with miles of sandy shoreline, and plenty of affordable homes for you to buy right now. Here are seven hot spots that belong on your list.For more international real estate advice:

When to watch the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills?Sunday, Jan. 12, at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT).Where to watch?The Broncos-Bills game will air on CBS and stream on Paramount Plus. See at Paramount Plus Two Wild Card games for $8 per month Paramount Plus See at Paramount Plus See more details See at Fubo Carries CBS for $80 per month Fubo See at Fubo See more details See at YouTube TV Carries CBS for $83 a month YouTube TV See at YouTube TV See more details See at Hulu Plus Live TV Carries CBS for $83 a month Hulu Plus Live TV See at Hulu Plus Live TV See more details See at DirecTV Stream Carries CBS for $87 a month DirecTV Stream See at DirecTV Stream See more details The Bills couldn't catch the Chiefs in the race for the top seed in the AFC and a first-round bye. Buffalo secured the No. 2 seed with a 13-4 record behind what is likely to be an MVP season for Josh Allen. The Bills will open their Super Bowl quest against No. 7 Denver, the last AFC team to qualify for the playoffs. The Broncos went 10-7 with the successful union between veteran head coach Sean Payton and rookie QB Bo Nix.The Broncos and Bills kick off in Buffalo onSunday at1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT). It's available to watch nationally on CBS or stream on Paramount Plus. Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills open the playoffs at home against the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Kevin Sabitus/Getty ImagesHow to watch Broncos vs. BillsYou can watch the game on your local CBS station with a cable or satellite TV subscription or with an over-the-air antenna. Most live TV streaming services such asYouTube TVandHulu Plus Live TValso carry your local CBS station (see below).If you don't subscribe to a TV service with CBS and want to watch the game, you can sign up for Paramount Plus for $8 per month.You can also subscribe toNFL Plus, the NFL's own streaming service at $7 per month, but streams are limited to just watching on a phone or tablet (not a TV). James Martin/CNET You can watch the Broncos-Bills game on Sunday (and Saturday's Chargers-Texans game) on Paramount Plus with its $8 a month Essentials tier. You can check for yourself if your area has live CBS streaminghere.Read our Paramount Plus review. See at Paramount Plus Fubo Fubo's Essential plan costs $80 a month and includes CBS.Click hereto see which local channels you get.Read our Fubo review. See at Fubo Sarah Tew/CNET YouTube TV costs $83 a month after a recent price hike and includes CBS. Right now, the first three months are discounted to $60 a month. Plug in your ZIP code on YouTube TV's welcome page to see which local networks are available in your area. Read our YouTube TV review. See at YouTube TV Sarah Tew/CNET Hulu Plus Live TV costs $83 a month and includes CBS in most markets. On its live news page, you can enter your ZIP code under the "Can I watch local news in my area?" question at the bottom of the page to see which local channels you get. Read our Hulu Plus Live TV review. See at Hulu Plus Live TV Directv stream DirecTV Stream's basic $87-a-month package includes CBS in most markets. You can use its channel lookup tool to see which local channels are available where you live. Read our DirecTV Stream review. See at DirecTV Stream All the live TV streaming services above allow you to cancel anytime and require a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out ourlive TV streaming services guide.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage has stayed above 7% for the past week, its highest level in six months.Soaring borrowing costs led to sharp drops in homebuying throughout 2024, and buyers still aren't flooding the market. During the first week of the new year, mortgage applications were 15% lower than the same time last year, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.Several factors have driven up rates this winter. Strong economic data lowered expectations for the Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts and caused 10-year Treasury yields (a key benchmark for home loan rates) to surge. Concern that Donald Trump's incoming administration will stoke inflation and boost government debt deficits has rattled the mortgage market.Based on the current situation, a significant drop in mortgage rates before the spring homebuying season is unlikely, according to Valerie Saunders, chief executive strategist at the National Association of Mortgage Brokers.Absent a downshift in inflation or a sudden weakening of labor conditions, mortgage rates will remain close to 7% for a while, said Keith Gumbinger, vice president of mortgage site HSH.com.What will affect mortgage rates this month?With a lot of uncertainty in financial markets, rates could see major spikes and volatility this month, particularly around the Jan. 20 presidential inauguration."As for whether or not we'll see recalibration over the next few weeks, that depends on what the president-elect says and what he does when he actually takes office," said Jacob Channel, senior economist at LendingTree. If Trump declares an economic emergency to impose tariffs or does something like declaring war on Denmark, mortgage rates would move even higher, Channel said.The week after Trump takes office, the Fed will hold its first policy meeting of the year.Though economists believe the Fed will leave interest rates unchanged on Jan. 29, investors will be looking for any clues as to how the outlook may have shifted with the new administration. The Fed already made three interest rate cuts since September, yet without evidence of lower inflation or a weaker labor market, it could be a while until we see additional reductions.The Fed influences the direction of overall borrowing rates but doesn't directly control the mortgage market. Investors care about the Fed's outlook for rate adjustments because it impacts their trading strategy and risk assessment. That's why market forces often move in anticipation of the Fed's policy moves, relying on economic data and projections to price their expectations in the bond market."Because the rise in bond yields is due to the anticipation of future events, if the narrative changes, bond yields could shift," said Kara Ng, senior economist at Zillow. Mortgage rates could see more volatility in 2025Aside from typical day-to-day fluctuations, mortgage rates are expected to stay above 6.5% for the next few months. If inflation continues to cool and the Fed is able to carry out two 0.25% cuts, mortgage rates could inch down closer to 6.25% later in the year.But a new administration, changes in the geopolitical outlook and the risk of inflation rebounding all have the power to alter that forecast dramatically.As investors react to political announcements and policy changes, there won't be much stability in the mortgage market. "Unless the president-elect's tone becomes much more moderate and disciplined once he takes office, expect volatility to remain prevalent," said Channel.While a sharp downturn in rates isn't impossible, it would take a sudden economic shock, such as the onset of a recession or spike in oil prices, for home loan rates to make a U-turn. "Drastic changes in direction are usually the result of some emerging significant event somewhere that upends financial markets," said Gumbinger. What is impacting the housing market in 2025?Today's unaffordable housing market results from high mortgage rates, a long-standing housing shortage, expensive home prices and a loss of purchasing power due to inflation. Low housing inventory: A balanced housing market typically has five to six months of supply. Most markets today average around half that amount. According to Freddie Mac, we still have a shortage of around 3.7 million homes. Elevated mortgage rates:In early 2022, mortgage rates hit historic lows of around 3%. As inflation surged and the Fed hiked interest rates to tame it, mortgage rates more than doubled. In 2025, mortgage rates are still high, pricing millions of prospective buyers out of the housing market. Rate-lock effect:Since the majority of homeowners are locked into mortgage rates below 5%, they're reluctant to give up their low mortgage rates and have little incentive to list their homes for sale, leaving a dearth of resale inventory. High home prices:Although home buying demand has been limited in recent years, home prices remain high because of a lack of inventory. The median US home price was $429,963 in November, up 5.4% on an annual basis, according to Redfin. Steep inflation:Inflation means an increase in the cost of basic goods and services, reducing purchasing power. It also impacts mortgage rates: When inflation is high, lenders typically raise interest rates on consumer loans to ensure a profit. Is it better to wait or buy?It's never a good idea to rush intobuying a homewithout knowing what you can afford, so establish a clear home-buying budget. Here's what experts recommend before purchasing a home: Build your credit score. Your credit score will help determine whether you qualify for a mortgage and at what interest rate. A credit score of 740 or higher will help you qualify for a lower rate. Save for a bigger down payment.A larger down payment allows you to take out a smaller mortgage and get a lower interest rate from your lender. If you can afford it, a down payment of at least 20% will also eliminate private mortgage insurance. Shop for mortgage lenders.Comparing loan offers from multiple mortgage lenders can help you negotiate a better rate. Experts recommend getting at least two to three loan estimates from different lenders. Consider renting.Choosing to rent or buy a home isn't just comparing monthly rent to a mortgage payment. Renting offers flexibility and lower upfront costs, but buying allows you to build wealth and have more control over your housing costs. Consider mortgage points.You can get a lower mortgage rate by buying mortgage points, with each point costing 1% of the total loan amount. One mortgage point equals a 0.25% decrease in your mortgage rate.More on today's housing market

In today's unaffordable housing market, high mortgage rates are just one part of the problem. Prospective homebuyers are also facing a long-running housing shortage.More than a decade of underbuilding has left the country with a deficit of nearly 1.5 million new homes. At the same time, current homeowners holding on to their lower mortgage rates are freezing resale inventory in what's called a "rate-lock effect."When pent-up demand outweighs supply in this case, for both new and existing homes prices go up.In 2023, active housing inventory levels hit an all-time low, but experts see that trend slowly reversing. "Better availability of homes for sale will provide a greater balance between buyers and sellers, meaning fewer bidding wars and price escalations," said Selma Hepp, chief economist at CoreLogic.However, even with a projected 11.7% increase this year, the number of homes for sale will still lag pre-pandemic levels by 23%, according to Realtor.com. Given the longstanding undersupply of houses, conditions are likely to remain challenging for homebuyers far beyond 2025."Inventory is going to increase, but supply will still be low by historical standards," said Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS, a multiple-listing service operating across the mid-Atlantic.Other variables are also at play, including the Federal Reserve's projections for fewer interest rate cuts and President-elect Donald Trump's economic policies, which are expected to be inflationary and potentially drag out housing market recovery. At bottom, any meaningful growth in housing inventory would require a surge in resale listings and a significant uptick in new construction. Both scenarios would depend on lower inflation and continued interest rate cuts by the Fed to decrease consumer and business borrowing costs. Here's why.Where have all the houses gone?The COVID-19 pandemic was a clear turning point for the housing market, and not only because of the scarcity of building materials from disrupted supply chains. As the lockdowns went into effect, the demand for homes surged as families relocated for more space and millions took advantage of record-low mortgage rates around 2-3%.The result was a white-hot seller's market, with existing homes being snatched up and prices increasing rapidly. Millions of homeowners were also able to refinance and lock in bargain rates, giving them more incentive to stay put.Today, 84% of current homeowners have interest rates below 6%, and average mortgage rates aren't expected to dip back to sub-6% levels in 2025. If homeowners were to list their properties and move now, they'd end up with a significantly higher rate on a new home loan and more expensive monthly payments. For households unable to afford to sell their properties in recent years, the decision to move will become less about mortgage rates and more about lifestyle changes, said Ali Wolf, chief economist at Zonda, a home construction data company. Big life decisions, such as relocating for work, having children or getting divorced could prompt more sellers to give up their attractive interest rates in 2025.Are any regions seeing increased inventory?Housing supply has been making a gradual comeback in the last few years, though certain regions have recovered far faster than others.For instance, states with the lowest levels of supply are concentrated in and around the Midwest and Northeast, where there's less available land to build on and the rate-lock effect is stronger. But in the South and West, where new home construction is more prevalent, housing supply is nearing or even surpassing pre-pandemic levels. In areas where new construction is sparser, supply will depend on whether mortgage rates decline and provide enough incentive to bring sellers off the sidelines. Sub-6% rates aren't low enough to break the rate-lock effect entirely, but a gradual easing in borrowing costs will at least help to loosen it.Still, if mortgage rates plunged to record lows again (in the context of a major economic crisis), buyers would likely flood the market to compete over limited inventory, which could cause home prices to surge again.To improve affordability, housing prices and mortgage interest rates would ideally move toward equilibrium at the same pace.Will there be an uptick in new construction?In the lead-up to the 2007 financial crisis, new home construction was on the rise, peaking in early 2006. By 2009, new construction had declined by more than 125%. Today, housing starts are nearly 50% below pre-Great Recession levels.Moreover, builders have been prioritizing the construction of larger, more expensive single-family homes and multifamily housing to meet changing buyer demographics and net larger profits. This shift has led to a decline in the construction of starter homes, e.g., smaller (typically 1,500 square feet or less) low-cost properties that help lower-income families access homeownership."We have been witnessing the death of the starter home for the better part of a decade," said Brittany Webb, director of research at the National Housing Conference. That's made it particularly difficult for first-time homebuyers to find affordable homes in areas where they want to live. Over the last year, homebuilders have slowly begun shifting toward constructing smaller homes with lower price tags. Newly built homes tend to cost more than existing ones, yet experts see that price gap narrowing in 2025. Still, a lot depends on supply chains, the cost of materials and interest rates."Lower rates will likely result in more favorable lending conditions and lower construction costs for homebuilders, making new projects more profitable and spurring additional home construction," said Odeta Kushi, deputy chief economist at First American Financial Corporation.Will housing market inventory change in 2025?There is much uncertainty surrounding Trump's proposed economic policies and the extent to which they will affect the housing market and monetary policy in 2025.Some campaign proposals, such as easing land-use regulations, could encourage development and boost housing inventory. Other proposals, including tariffs and tax cuts, could cause inflation to increase and prevent the Fed from making additional rate reductions.Higher tariffs, particularly on lumber, are a big concern for builders, said Robert Dietz, chief economist at the National Association of Homebuilders. Increased construction costs could hamper homebuilding and drive up prices on newly built houses.Moreover, if interest rates remain high, homebuilders will be less likely to rely on construction and development loans to fund projects, and current homeowners may be less likely to list their homes.Still, many have expressed enthusiasm for Trump's deregulation proposals and his promise to sell federal land to developers for housing construction. "Homebuilders are optimistic about the extension of the 2017 tax reform and efforts to reduce regulatory burdens at all levels of government," said Dietz.State and local governments would also have to loosen their zoning and land usage laws to make building houses easier and less expensive. That could take a long time, especially in areas where residents are opposed to increased development.How to navigate today's housing shortageProspective buyers can't do much about the high mortgage rates tying up existing inventory or the pace of homebuilding. But there are ways you can find a house within your budget, even when the inventory is tight.Broaden your home search: Housing inventory varies across each state and metropolitan area. So even if you're set on putting down roots in a specific location, it's worth keeping an open mind. Lesser-known areas or submarkets bordering urban centers could offer a wider range of options that better fit your budget and preferences.Consider fixer-uppers: If you're comfortable with the potential cost and duration of renovations, fixer-uppers or older houses tend to offer more affordable asking prices. You'll also benefit from less competition and/or bidding wars that are common with turnkey properties.Look into new construction: If you live in an area where there's a lot of new construction happening -- such as in the South or Western regions where there's more available land to develop and friendlier zoning laws -- you might be able to purchase a new house for a price similar to or even less than a pre-owned one. To attract buyers, many builders are offering all kinds of incentives, including mortgage-rate buydowns, discounted prices or closing cost assistance.More on today's housing market

Skate is finally ready for playtesting - here's how to get involvedBetter Skate than never.Image credit: Full Circle News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Jan. 12, 2025 Four and a half years after it was announced, EA's free-to-play skate sim, Skate, is finally ready for playtesting on consoles.Early adopters who signed up to Skate's early access Insider programme are now receiving invitations to get involved in the playtest and "help shape the future of the game".To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Is Sony buying FromSoftware's parent company the next big games industry acquisition?Watch on YouTubeWorry not if you've yet to be selected - the team is "invit[ing] new players who are registered as we go" and still actively recruiting testers, so if you'd like to give it a go, head on over to the official website and express your interest. To see this content please enable targeting cookies.When developer Full Circle first began sharing details of its new Skate project - which is officially known as Skate, rather than Skate 4 - back in 2022, the studio explained it wasn't "a sequel", nor "a remake, a reboot, [or] a prequel". Instead, it was described as an "authentic evolution" of the series intended to reflect "where skateboarding and gaming is in the real world".Skate will be available on PlayStation, Xbox, PC (including Steam), and mobile devices when it releases in early access later this year - some 15 years after the launch of Skate 3. It will also boast cross-play and cross-progression support.

submitted by /u/marketrent [link] [comments]

Parkour!Minecraft's latest update does the very normal thing of fixing some bugs, but a petition is asking Mojang to undo the changes in the name of parkour and speedbridgingIt's a reasonable request, truth be told.Image credit: Mojang News by Oisin Kuhnke Contributor Published on Jan. 12, 2025 A recent Minecraft update fixed some bugs that, as it turns out, are actually quite popular with parkour players, and they're asking to not implement them.You'd generally think that bug fixes for games are a good thing, and would be broadly welcome to players, but that isn't always the case. Sometimes certain bugs are used by players because they allow for cool or handy tricks, and Minecraft is one such game that makes use of such bugs. Except, in Snapshot 25w02a, a couple of bugs were fixed that are quite useful to parkour players and speedbridgers, and now (as spotted by PCGamesN), there's a petition on the Minecraft feedback page asking Mojang to revert those changes.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. "On behalf of the parkour and speedbridging communities, bug fixes MC-271065 and MC-241951 need to be reverted," the petition explains. "These are actually considered features to many high-level parkour players and speed-bridgers, and should be classified as such. Taking away the 40% speed increase along the diagonal will hurt a lot of mechanics, maps, and techniques that depend on this, both in parkour and speedbridging. "Such a major rework will hurt these communities in the long and short term. This 'bug' has established use in these communities, and will frankly affect more than just them. For example, as a user shared here, building in survival will be much more tedious, since placing blocks will be considerably slower on roofs, for example."The creator of the petition goes on to note that they think there is "no need to implement any of these changes" and that it affects the "casual experience by purposefully nerfing player movement, and it will affect high-level play significantly; that, in turn, will hurt Minecraft's longevity and force players to older versions."Considering this is just a snapshot update, meaning it's not in the full thing yet, these changes might not actually come to the main game. The petition has almost 1500 votes, which isn't a huge number in the greater scheme of things, but when you look at other feedback posts you'll see that it's quite high comparatively - there's even another post asking for similar changes that also has a good few votes. Good luck to you I say, speedbridgers!

Life Moves QuicklyIf you can believe it, The Sims turns 25 next month, and a "very special" Behind The Sims celebratory video that's coming next week should help clue us all in on what's nextProbably safer to not get your hopes up too much, though.Image credit: Maxis / Electronic Arts News by Oisin Kuhnke Contributor Published on Jan. 12, 2025 Not to make you feel old or anything, but The Sims is turning 25 this year, and there's a livestream on the way to show you what's in store for the series.I'm very sorry to all the millennials out there reading this thinking "there's no way The Sims could be 25 years old, it was only yesterday I was removing swimming pools and drowning people in The Sims 2" because the truth is you're 35 and time is an unstoppable force. With the existential dread out the way, let the good times begin! Because earlier this week, the official Sims Twitter account announced that there's a new Behind the Sims livestream on the way, and it's an extra special 25th anniversary stream. "A very hoople Behind The Sims is coming!" reads the announcement post. "Tune in Jan 14, 9 AM PT as we kickoff the celebration of 25 years of The Sims!"Watch on YouTubeThat's literally it in terms of details, no teases for what specifics could be shown, nothing about any of what's coming to The Sims 4, so you'll just have to wait and see what the livestream shows off. There's a pretty broad range of things it could go into, like Project Rene, a still yet to be properly, formally revealed project that isn't actually The Sims 5 after all. It's also possible we'll hear more about that live-action Sims movie that Margot Robbie is producing, though considering that was technically only officially announced recently, it still might be early days, so if it does show up I wouldn't expect anything more than a director confirmation, or perhaps first bit of casting.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Sims livestreams are a bit notorious for disappointing fans, so with such a big anniversary you better cross your fingers that it's a bit more than just "look at this cool new chair coming to the game!"