What's the difference between a home's assessed value and market value?

Preparing to buy, sell, or refinance a home? It’s important to understand the worth of the property. But there’s more than one way to determine the value. In fact, there are two primary measurements of value to be aware of here: house assessed value vs. market value. Assessed value is the home’s value come tax time, while fair market value is the cost to purchase a home in that area. Each type of valuation has its own purpose: one applies to property taxes, and the other to resale value.

Read my latest article for Rocket Mortgage to learn more about property tax assessment vs. market value, why both metrics matter, how fair market value is calculated, and how home assessed value is determined so that you can make a more informed decision when you’re preparing to purchase, sell, or refinance a home.

Are electric vehicles worth it?

Drivers today are energized about electric vehicles (EVs) and making the switch. For proof, consider that there are an estimated 116 million EVs on the road today worldwide, and the number is expected to rise 30% in 2026. That’s hardly a surprise at a time when gasoline is averaging over $4 per gallon.

But that begs an important question: Is buying and owning an electric car actually worth it? Truth is, the answer will depend on your driving habits, budget, location, charging access and other factors. Upfront costs, fuel savings, expected maintenance, charging convenience and the likelihood of long-term ownership need to be considered carefully.

To help you make a more informed decision, read my article on this topic, published by MSN, available here.

Cineversary podcast celebrates 60th anniversary of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

In Cineversary podcast episode #93, host ⁠Erik J. Martin⁠ celebrates the 60th birthday of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, directed by Sergio Leone. He’s joined in this installment by Sir Christopher Frayling, a renowned UK-based historian, art critic, broadcaster, and author of Once Upon a Time in Italy: The Westerns of Sergio Leone. Together, Erik and Christopher dig up the gold on this picture and explore its evergreen qualities, immense impact on cinema and popular culture, major themes, and much more.

Christopher Frayling

To listen to this episode, click here or click the "play" button on the embedded streaming player below. Or, you can stream, download, or subscribe to Cineversary wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Learn more about the Cineversary podcast at www.cineversary.com and email show comments or suggestions to cineversarypodcast@gmail.com.

Customer service gets supercharged

When it comes to contact centers today, no technology has been more transformative than artificial intelligence, and AI’s impact on customer service operations across all industries is only going to grow as generative and agentic AI technologies advance even further.

Up and down the contact center tech stack, AI has turbocharged virtually everything in just the past few years. For proof, read my latest article for Destination CRM, available here.

How your age and gender affects car insurance rates

Car insurance rates are based on various factors, with age being among the most critical. Consider that teen drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 are nearly three times as likely as drivers who are 20 or older to be in a fatal crash, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Truth is, car insurance for drivers younger than 25 is expensive. Teens and young drivers are largely inexperienced behind the wheel and are more prone to accidents, which makes them a high risk to auto insurance providers. Seniors also pay higher rates for car insurance.

Discover how your age and gender can affect what you pay for car insurance, how much you pay at different ages and how to save at any age by reading my latest article for CarInsurance.com, available here.

The Iran war's impact on mortgage rates

Mortgage interest rates dropped below the 6% threshold on February 26, hitting 5.98%: a four-year low and a genuine psychological milestone for buyers. Then, U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran begin two days later. The price of oil spiked, bond yields climbed, and it wasn’t long before we saw mortgage rates rising. If you were about to pull the trigger on a home purchase, this probably felt like terrible timing. Why should I buy a home now?, you’re probably asking yourself.

But here’s the thing that higher Iran war mortgage rates can’t erase: You likely have a lot more purchasing power today than you did a year ago. Learn why by reading my latest article for Better.com, available here.