Archive for November 28th, 2012

What percentage of housing units are vacant?

November 28, 2012

Answer: According to the CBO, about 14% … down about 1 pp from the recession high water mark … but about 3 pp higher than the historical average

The CBO says that even in normal times, the number of vacant housing units is substantial, reflecting:

  • the lengthy process of selling home
  • the number of second homes and “seasonal units”

Further, the CBO says: “excess vacant units account for about 2/3s of the slower pace of growth of residential during the current recovery relative to prior recoveries.”

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Posted in Housing - Mortgages | Leave a Comment »

Will ObamaCare close the biggest tax loophole?

November 28, 2012

First, what’s the biggest tax loophole?

Answer: The non-taxable payments that companies make towards employees health insurance premiums.

These days, the policy to cover a husband, wife and a couple of kids is about $15,000.

Employers typically pick up about 2/3s of the bill … call it $10,000.

The $10,000 is tax deductible for the company, and isn’t taxed as employee compensation – even though it’s clearly part of an employee’s compensation package.

In total, the health insurance loophole amounts to over $170 billion annually … about twice the mortgage interest deduction … and about twice the “Bush tax cuts for the wealthy”.

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Source:  Credit Suisse,  Neal Soss

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So, how might ObamaCare close this loophole?
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Posted in Health Care / Medical Insurance, ObamaCare, Tax Loopholes, Taxes | Leave a Comment »

Biz School – Why so many frameworks?

November 28, 2012

Found this browsing through some old files.

My students know that I think conceptual frameworks are important.

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This article might have been my inspiration …
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Posted in frameworks, Problem solving | Leave a Comment »