Musk’s midterm message: Twitter CEO urges  Americans to vote Republican to ‘curb the worst excesses’ of the Democrats

Twitter owner Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, on Monday recommended that voters pick Republican candidates for the U.S. Congress in Tuesday’s midterm election. ‘To independent-minded voters: Shared power curbs the worst excesses of both parties, therefore I recommend voting for a Republican Congress, given that the presidency is Democratic,’ Musk said on Twitter. Since Musk’s takeover of Twitter, civil rights groups have criticized the Tesla CEO’s stance on content moderation over his absolutist free speech stance, which they expect to increase the volume of misinformation and hate speech on the platform.

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At least one in FIVE premature deaths are directly linked to ultra-processed foods like pizza, cakes and soda

Researchers in Brazil estimated that in 2019, the deaths of around 57,000 Brazilian people between the ages of 30 and 69 were attributable to highly processed snacks.

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Click through today in pictures

Female University of Kentucky student who called desk clerk ‘n*****’ and ‘b****’ is FIRED from influencer role at Dillard’s over ‘abhorrent’ behavior

A drunk University of Kentucky student who assaulted a black desk clerk in a violent racist outburst has been fired from her job at a department store.

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From how to pick the ‘hottest’ numbers to settling toxic disputes with syndicate members over a $1.9 BILLION Powerball win … your essential guide to the biggest lottery draw in history 

Monday’s $1.9 billion jackpot is the world’s largest lottery prize ever offered, with an estimated cash value of $929.1 million. DailyMail.com answers your Powerball questions.

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Do YOU have high-functioning anxiety? Psychologist reveals 8 signs – from having difficulty saying ‘no’ to constantly overthinking and analysing things

Birmingham-based psychologist Dr Lalitaa Suglani has revealed eight signs of high functioning anxiety – from having difficulty saying no to insomnia and fatigue.

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Red wave in the House! Final midterms forecast shows GOP will take THREE Senate seats and take House majority by winning at least 15 seats -with record FORTY MILLION early votes already cast 

In their last prediction based on poll averages, Real Clear Politics has the GOP with 53 Senate seats when the votes are counted and picking up at least 15 in the House races to take their total to 227, with the Democrats winning 174. Thirty-four races for Congress are still considered toss-ups but it is becoming clear that Republicans have the momentum, despite the Democrats making a small comeback in the closing stages. President Biden’s low approval and voters trusting Republicans to deal with the economy, inflation and crime have turned the tables towards the GOP in recent months. Surveys have also shown white suburban women, black and Latino voters moving to the Republicans, fed up with rising prices and surging violence across the country. It is a dire sign for the Democrats who focused their early campaigning on abortion – spending more than $300 million on ads on the issue – and the danger the GOP poses to democracy in the late stages. The Senate races are going down to the wire, with the candidates in the key swing states of New Hampshire, Arizona, Pennsylvania and Georgia separated by less than one point in the closing polls.

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More and more black and Latino voters are turning REPUBLICAN, new poll shows – as top Democrats warn their party is now considered to be just as extreme as the GOP

The GOP is expected to make big gains with black and Latino voters this election cycle, according to the latest polling.

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REVEALED: How it could take up to ONE MONTH for control of Congress to be determined… and beware of red and blue ‘mirage states’ that appear decided before they really are 

By Jason LangeWASHINGTON, Nov 6 (Reuters) – Here’s some advice for anyone following the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 8: Be ready for a long night and…

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Terminally out-of-touch Democrats are limping into Tuesday like a wounded dog wagged by its woke tail – because they were deaf, dumb and blind to their constituents’ concerns, writes JOSH HAMMER

The once-ubiquitous entry-level home is now mostly a myth. Point2Homes comments on Starter Homes & Where to Find Them.

Once upon a time, nearly 70% of all new builds were starter homes — single-family houses with 1,400 square feet or less that started at $6,990. But that was in the 1940s. Fast forward to 1980 and that share fell to 40%. Then, in 2019, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that a mere 7% of all new homes were represented by the small, entry-level homes that are affordable for first-time buyers — and the prices aren’t even remotely similar.

Due to the increasing cost of land, as well as zoning restrictions and skyrocketing costs for building materials, the modest, bare-bones homes of yesteryear have become the stuff of myths and legends — the actual unicorns of the real estate market. More elusive than ever, this type of home seems almost extinct. Based on the latest renter income figures, starter home prices and mortgage rates, in October, renters in Los Angeles and New York only earned 30% and 34%, respectively, of the income they would need to buy a starter home.

When Is a Starter Home Not a Starter Home? When It Costs $1 Million.

The median starter home in San Francisco costs as much as the median starter homes in the top 10 most affordable cities combined.

The average renter household made $100,715, but the amount a first-time buyer would need to comfortably cover mortgage payments was $251,190. This means that San Francisco renters are $150,475 (or 60%) short of making their homeownership dreams come true. Moreover, in three other cities (San Jose, CA; Los Angeles; and New York), renters were more than $100,000 short of the amount they would need to cover their mortgage on a starter home. In fact, Los Angeles renters had it the worst: They’re making 70% less than the amount they would need to comfortably cover their monthly mortgage.

Share of Starter Homes 

Key Points

• In 13 more of the 50 largest U.S. cities, renters earned less than half the income they would need to make the move from renters to homeowners.
• Renters in only 4 large U.S. cities (Detroit; Tulsa, OK; Memphis, TN; Oklahoma City) earned 100% or more than what they needed to afford an entry-level home.
• This very short list was all the more shocking because just one month prior, in September, it also included Kansas City, MO. And, one month before that, in August, Baltimore was also affordable for renters who wanted to make the move to homeownership.
• In only 15 of the 50 largest U.S. cities, the price of a starter home still fits the “old” definition of the term: Entry-level houses here were $200,000 or less.
• But even the definition needs to change. It’s now the lower third of homes available. There are no livable $200,000 homes for sale in San Francisco.

Cities Where Renters Can’t Afford a Starter Home

Congratulations to California. It has 8 of the top 15 least affordable cities in the nation for which to try to buy a starter home.

Affordable Starter Homes 

Point2Homes located four cities where renters can afford a starter home.

They are Detroit, MI; Tulsa, OK; Memphis, TN; and Oklahoma City, OK.

In Detroit, Tulsa, and Memphis, renters made $5,901, $5,515 and $3,007, respectively, more than the income needed to cover their first home mortgage expenses.

In Oklahoma City, renters made $140 above the amount required.

The starter home’s new and simplified definition is “the most affordable home in town.” However, this simplified definition does nothing to simplify matters for first-time buyers. The change in definition can’t mask the painful reality: Even starter homes — which should represent the epitome of affordability — are increasingly becoming anything but.

Can You Work From Anywhere?

If you really want a home in a good neighborhood, perhaps to start a family, you may need to think outside California.

If you are one of those who can work from anywhere, then you might also have a skilled job that pays more than the average renter.

This will open up your horizons a bit more than the above four cities.

Existing Home Sales Decline 8th Consecutive Month, Down 1.5% Says NAR

Meanwhile, please note Existing Home Sales Decline 8th Consecutive Month, Down 1.5% Says NAR

Mortgage rates are around 7 percent. Few can afford them.