Think in opposites to find fresh business stories
Stacey Vanek-Smith of American Public Media’s Marketplace offers listeners a segment weighing the pros and cons of renting versus buying real estate. She writes:
“And [personal finance expert Jordan] Goodman says, couples who rent can invest that extra money, instead of sinking it into a house that may go down in value. A quarter of homes in the U.S. are currently underwater; that number is expected to jump to nearly half this year.”
Today’s Tip: Think in opposites.
Many stories about the mortgage meltdown, such as this Baltimore Sun article, have discussed the issue of tenants being evicted because landlords didn’t pay the mortgage. Not many stories have explored the issue of people choosing to rent instead of buying because of declining values and rising property taxes.
When you think in opposites, you’ll more easily question the current news. For instance, with so many bank fees, are check cashing operations getting more business? Or with more people paying down debt, has the percentage of cash purchases increased?
